Silhouettes by Deborah O'Connor Dec. 14

Children and grandchildren are constantly growing and changing, and while today’s digital media capture countless moments and experiences, a silhouette is an artist’s rendition of an individual, the creation of an image in profile that stands the test of time.

Cutting portraits from black paper has been a practice since the mid-18th Century. While there are few active silhouette artists these days, the Ridgefield Historical Society is honored to present Deborah O’Connor, The Silhouette Lady, on Sunday, Dec. 14, from 9 to 2.

Reservations fill quickly, but there’s a way to make sure you don’t miss out: It’s also a way to have these precious mementos created if the subjects live elsewhere and aren’t available for an in-person sitting.

Ms. O’Connor’s website has all the information necessary for parents or grandparents to prepare to order silhouettes (she explains just how a photo should be posed to provide her with the necessary image). Get the photos at Thanksgiving gatherings, then visit https://thesilhouettelady.com to order and support the Ridgefield Historical Society. She’ll deliver the finished work on Dec. 14, when payment will be received (a portion supports the Historical Society).

The advance order with photograph is also a great way to get a pet’s silhouette.

All of the details for making an in-person appointment or pre-ordering, with pricing, are available on the Historical Society website https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org.