The Art of Chalk: Techniques and Inspiration for Creating Art with Chalk

357 Pages·2016·83.5 MB·English

by  Tracy Lee Stum

the ART of
CHALK
Techniques & inspiration for creating art with chalk
TRACY LEE STUM
CONTENTS
PREFACE
1. THE ART OF CHALK: AN OVERVIEW
Chalkboard Artists: The Designers
Pastel Artists: The Observers
Street Painters: The Performers
2. CHALKBOARD ART
Inspired by Fonts
Featured Imagery
Gathering Inspiration
Essential Materials and Tools
It’s All About the Line
Kicking It Up with Color
Creating and Enhancing Dimension
Removal Techniques
Developing a Composition
Location, Location, Location!
Transferring Designs
Presentation and Preservation
3. PASTEL FINE ART
Inspired to Create
Thinking in Images
Essential Tools and Materials
Working in the Studio
Working en Plein Air
Essential Pastel Techniques
Fixing and Framing Pastel Artwork
4. STREET PAINTING
A Multidimensional Art Form
2D or Not 2D?
Evolution of an Art Form
Where to Find It
Choosing an Image
Planning and Design
Developing an Image
Chalk Pastels for Street Painting
Tools for Working On-site
Constructing a 3D Street Painting Layout
Preparing the Surface
Transferring a Design
Street Painting Techniques
Viewing the Art
Interactive Opportunities
When All Is Said and Done
MAKING YOUR OWN PASTELS
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
RESOURCES AND PHOTO CREDITS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
INDEX
PREFACE
The Art of Chalk is for those
inquisitive artists who would like to
venture into new and unfamiliar
territories of creativity involving chalk,
pastels, and other mediums used to
create chalkboard art, pastel painting,
and street painting. It’s also for those
who have taken the plunge into these
art practices and would like a clearer
understanding of how the creative
process works for accomplished artists
in each of these areas.
Many artists have a will and desire
to explore these art forms but don’t
know where or how to begin. My aim is to provide inspiration, guidance, and
instruction, and to demystify these processes by offering the tools, methods, and
tips that will assist and inspire you in your art-making exploration.
The Art of Chalk is also intended to help you navigate some of the surprises
that may come with working with these mediums. When I began street painting
many years ago, I had to figure all of that out on my own, first by simply
participating then, thankfully, through the generous sharing of information by
my peers and colleagues. Street painting found me, as if by accident, so I wasn’t
fully prepared for what was to come—the long hours sitting on hard pavement in
the heat, the ephemeral reality of a lost drawing when the rain suddenly let loose,
or the energy of the crowds of thousands who came to see our work.
So here is one road map that takes you from idea to finished work, ideally
with confidence and ease. And who knows? With practice, application, and
concentration, perhaps a new masterpiece is waiting to be revealed.

1 THE ART OF CHALK: AN OVERVIEW
Mini Zoo by Tracy Lee Stum. Even when given only a small area in which to work, a 3D chalk image can be
very convincing when designed and shaded effectively.
You’ve probably seen various types of chalk or pastel artwork in your journey through everyday life,
either on a street, in a restaurant, on a sidewalk, or in a museum or gallery. Artists have been
“playing” with chalk for centuries. And yes, I say “playing,” as this medium most certainly allows for
some very free expressions of creativity.
No longer thought of as just a schoolroom tool, chalk has come into its own
with the advent of new and fascinating applications. These days one may see
chalk art in a home, on the exterior of a building, or spanning a sidewalk as big
as a football field.
While pastelists continue to exhibit their works in galleries and museums,
some chalk artists have moved their delicate art form outdoors, with street
some chalk artists have moved their delicate art form outdoors, with street
painters creating works on pavement that are subject to the conditions of an
external and often unforgiving environment, and chalkboard artists creating
works in public environments such as retail shops, restaurants, interior spaces,
and even on the sides of buildings. What’s really fascinating about these
artworks is that the ephemeral quality of the medium is not only embraced but
also celebrated. Some may not last very long at all, but they do inspire,
illuminate, and demonstrate the nature of creativity in all its temporal glory.
“FINDING STREET PAINTING WAS LIKE FINDING MYSELF. IT IS
THE MOST FREEING CREATIVE EXPRESSION THAT I HAVE EVER
ENGAGED IN. NEVER MIND THAT IT’S CREATED ON PAVEMENT!
IF SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME TWENTYYEARS AGO THAT I’D BE
DRAWING ON SIDEWALKS FOR A LIVING I WOULD HAVE
LAUGHED AT THEM. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT CHALK
ON PAVEMENT WOULD HELP ME REALIZE MY POTENTIAL AS A
VISUAL ARTIST?”
—TRACY LEE STUM
CHALKBOARD ARTISTS: THE DESIGNERS
Who hasn’t written on a blackboard at some time in his or her life—to solve an
equation, demonstrate a scientific formula, elaborate on a historical discussion,
or repetitiously copy an “I will not” punishment statement over and over? We
think of a blackboard as a teaching tool, which it most certainly has been, but
today we see the evolution of a new art form that treats the chalkboard as a
contemporary canvas.
Once the domain of professional sign painters who created unique
commercial displays with ornamental fonts, chalkboard art can now be seen in
all sorts of locations, from restaurants and retail shops to corporate offices and
marketing events. Chalkboard artists are also embellishing well-dressed home
interiors and, in the case of Dana Tanamachi, a well-known graphic designer
widely recognized for pioneering the current chalkboard art trend, creating their
own home decorating product lines for retailers such as Target and West Elm.
The popularity and appeal of chalkboard art have been rising worldwide, as is
evident on various social media sites such as Pinterest and Instagram. New
designs, new font interpretations, and new approaches are growing
exponentially.
Today’s chalkboard artists are, in many cases, designers first. They share a
fascination with and an appreciation for typography and historic graphic styles.
They turn to the chalkboard to create pleasing compositions that are also often
pragmatic and functional. One may think their creative process is restricted,
constrained by content and structure, yet the level of detail and inventiveness
within these works make it clear that such limitations can actually be quite
liberating. These stylistically adept designer-artists offer up delightful and
pleasing ephemera to enhance our everyday lives.
Catherine Owens used botanical motifs to transform an ordinary wall into this room’s focal point.