The Art of Hand Shadows

by Albert Almoznino

Making hand shadows on the wall is an age-old pastime that has provided countless hours of entertainment for children and adults alike. In this entertaining how-to book, a master of the art goes far beyond the basics to reveal his secrets for creating realistic, lifelike hand shadows.
With practice and patience, you too can soon learn how to arrange your hands and fingers to form shadow images of a lumbering dinosaur, a pair of playful monkeys, an eagle slowly taking flight, a cat scratching itself, a howling wolf, and a neighing horse. You'll also discover how to create profiles of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Fidel Castro, and other notables; and how to make recognizable silhouettes of churches, a pagoda, the Eiffel Tower, and more.
Clear explanations and over 70 illustrations show precisely how to hold your hands in order to make the shadows seem lifelike. You'll also find expert advice on finger exercises to make it easier to produce hand shadows, and even how to organize a performance of your own shadow art. Ideal for children, this book will also appeal to adults, especially to magicians and other stage performers.

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 4, 2002

Reviews

[Eddie Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good instructional book for creating Hand Shadows, but I just haven't gotten around to mastering any yet. My goal is to learn how to represent an entire menagerie by the time my daughter is 3 or 4, so instead of shelling out to take her to a circus or a zoo I can entertain her on the cheap at home.

There's also instructions on how to shadow Nixon and Lincoln, so I can also throw a history lesson into her poor man's circus.

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I agree with another reviewer here: The Museum of Jurassic Technology is one of the only things in the 213 area code that shouldn't be swallowed by the sea. Book includes a few old standards, useful hand positioning diagrams, a compelling photo of the author, and Vatican prelates, John F. Kennedy, Charles de Gaulle, Fidel Castro, Nixon, Nasser, Ben-Gurion, Stalin, as well as vegetation. The animals presented are often well-suited for motion, making them totally groovy choices for characters or as inspiration for shadows of your own design. Life's pretty okay sometimes.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've collected quite a few favorite books at the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Los Angeles. Its LA's best hidden secret, (possibly one of the only redeeming places about that city)