|Photo by Gage Vota| Third-generation silhouette artist Erik Johnson shows Sarah Miner the silhouette he made for her daughter Briar Howard.

MARTINS FERRY – Third-generation silhouette artist Erik Johnson held a pop-up shop at Deluxe Toy and Hobby in Martins Ferry on Wednesday.

The Charlotte North Carolina native, travels the country showcasing his artistry and providing

families with silhouette cuttings of their children.

He said that his family has been cutting silhouettes for more than six decades, traveling and creating keepsakes for families throughout the country.

“I mostly travel the east coast but I do probably 100 to 120 venues a year,” Johnson said.

He added that he started his journey into learning his craft 38 years ago and said it took him nearly six years to fully learn how to properly do the artform.

“It took about two to three years before I thought I was good and then about another two to three years to actually be good,” Johnson said.

Deluxe Toy and Hobby co-owner Constance Yeso said that there was a steady flow of traffic throughout the entire time Johnson was operating at her store on Wednesday.

Johnson uses the technique of silhouette art called “hollow-cut” silhouettes, meaning that the shape of the sitter is cut from an unmarked piece of paper. The positive cut-out of the silhouette is discarded, and the remaining paper bearing the negative outline of the sitter is mounted on a dark background, according to Indiana University’s website.

According to Colonial Williamsburg’s website, only about 20 in the world work “freehand,” meaning using just scissors and paper, without the aid of shadows, drawings or photographic devices.

On Wednesday silhouettes were $30 each, with duplicates of the same person being $15.

Johnson said that he appreciates the people of Belmont County who took the time to come to purchase a silhouette from him.

You can find Johnson on Facebook at Silhouettes by Erik Johnson, @silhouettesbyerik on Instagram or email him at silhouettesbyerik@gmail.com.