About The
Artist...
Clay Rice is described by author Pat Conroy as a “great talent who combines soul and passion.” Hand cut silhouettes and storytelling have been in his family for almost a century. His grandfather, Carew Rice, was described by Poet Carl Sandburg as “America’s Greatest Silhouettist” and traveled worldwide, sharing his mesmerizing cutouts with delighted customers.
SILHOUETTE PRINTS
From the Low Country
Clay Rice Galleries offers a unique collection of silhouettes that capture the essence of the low country. Each piece is meticulously crafted to bring the coastal charm into your home or space.
#ClayRiceArt
About Silhouette Cutting
Silhouette cutting began in France in the mid-1700s. The art form takes its name from one of its most famous practitioners, Eteinne De Silhouette, the French Minister of Finance during that period.
Although a talented artist, Etienne wasn’t much of a bean counter, and soon he raised taxes to the point that the French people were not able to make ends meet, much less afford expensive portraits. They called the whimsical black paper cuttings silhouettes, and dressed in black proclaiming, “we are dressing a la Silhouette, we are just shadows!” Eventually Eteinne’s unfair taxation led to the French Revolution, but the given name of the artform, silhouettes, remained.
Fortunatly, silhouettes lost their negative connotation, and became an inexpensive and quick way to have one’s likeness captured in profile. Eventually silhouette portrait art made it to America, and became the rage in the late 1700s and remained a popular artform until the advent of photography. As photography became commonplace, silhouettes became popular again for their uniqueness, charm, and artistic quality.
Partner with Us – Beautiful Art, Wholesale Pricing
Are you a retailer looking to stock unique, hand crafted artwork? We offer exclusive wholesale pricing to qualified partners! Simply email (button below) to request your custom discount code—once approved, you’ll be able to use it at checkout for instant savings on your orders. Let’s bring beautiful art to your customers together!