Create shadow scapes, objects, and animals with stuff found around your house. In this Shadow Drawing video, Kelsey Holtaway demonstrates how to build anamorphic shadows, shadows that look like something other than whatever they’re made from. This activity is an excellent opportunity to try new things, revise designs, practice persistence, and stretch imaginations.
The video is one in a series of Create @ Home videos for San Francisco’s Children’s Creativity Museum.
Anamorphosis is a distorted projection or perspective requiring the viewer to occupy a specific vantage point, use special devices or both to view a recognizable image. Some of the media it is used in are painting, photography, sculpture and installation, toys, and film special effects. The word “anamorphosis” is derived from the Greek prefix ana‑, meaning “back” or “again”, and the word morphe, meaning “shape” or “form”.
Grab anything and see what kind of shadow it might make. What can you turn it into? Or what shape do you want to complete your shadow image? Go find something that makes it work. What do the shapes look like when you move the light source closer, farther, up, down, or to the side?
Choo choo! Watch these related shadow videos next:
• Anamorphic Star Wars Shadow Art by Red Hong Yi
• LEGO Dragon-Butterfly-Jet Magic Angle Sculpture
• How to Make Shadow Puppets – OliveUs
• Shadowology: Drawings completed with small shadows
• The Dark Art of Shadow Puppetry
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