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Monday, October 11, 2010

How to Make Chalk Art, 2010 Chalk Festival

Yahooo, Friends! Sketching the Chalk Festival was a great fun. The theme was "Blues."(Participants wore blue!)
Enjoy my results, 13 watercolor portraits.
Mostly, cloudy and very light rain. Jackets were needed, even though the sun sometimes burnt us.
I learned so many interesting techniques below.
1) Stretching Canvas

Because of moisture in the air, canvases got buckled on pavements. Oh, poor artists! Taping down, water spraying canvases, etc, etc. But
Jenny McCracken did stretch the huge canvas first and never

had that trouble! Yes, she tamed a wide canvas like watercolorists. Wow, Expert!2) Strings For Straight Lines
Strings are more handy and practical than scales. Please remember, a huge canvas is on a ground, not vertical.


3) 3D Composition
Images on a ground are distorted for viewers. In order to achieve a normal image, paradoxically, length and height get looooooong. A demonstrated work at Town Hall...was impressively and ridiculously long.

4) Use Bamboos for Brushes
Bamboos or long sticks are very good tools to prevent back or neck pains. Furthermore, an artist can easily step back and check an ongoing work. Imagine, if you were crawling on a ground, it is very annoying to stand up and set back often.

5) Hands Spread Chalk
OK, Girls, we know how to
spread flour on a cutting board. That's the way! Hands and fingers spread chalk painted and settle down it on a canvas. Artists painstakingly repeat the process over and over again.

6) Second Wind Available
Unlike watercolor, changing colors and drawings is very easy.7) Home-Made Chalk
An artist said he
made it by himself. Yes, pastels cost too much for a massive work. According to the artist, only a few cents were cost for a piece of chalk. Easy "piecy"?!

In a painting process, putting value and color seems to be different from watercolor or my watercolor. An experienced artist said, "Just upside down to watercolor." Mmmm...I'm not 100% sure.
Each chalk artist's style is very varied. Very fascinating, even though
I still do not get chalk painting in general.

In my eyes, the most beautiful thing is experienced artists helped new participants who were not familiar with chalk like me. But I'd like to add, all big names were so humble and respected others.


Another wonderful thing is that we all artists agree at this point ; joy in painting and drawing. Colorful joys poured over walkways.

Hey, guys, beer, wine and nice food tasted soooo good at a pub after the event.The organizer kindly allowed me to join their party and other artists urged me to enjoy it together.

Also, other backstage players and hard workers came. I courteously appreciated backstage players' hard work, saying, "You are the real heroes."
We promised to see again a next year instead of saying bye. Nice. We kissed, hugged or shook hands and went back to each life.

Friends, come join us a next year!! Yeah!!

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40 comments:

  1. Wonderful post. Great drawings/paintings. You captured the spirit of these artists so well.

    xoxo

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  2. Dear Vicki,
    Thank you sooooo much! Honest, I'm flat out. But a great fun. Come and join us, Vicki!
    Cheers, Sadami

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  3. Hola Sadami, veo al leer tu explicación, que pasasteis un día divertido y agradable. Supongo que era la finalidad... y, conseguido!
    Tu reportaje gráfico, a través de los dibujos, muy bueno. Como siempre! Te felicito!
    Un abrazo.

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  4. Hello Sadami, every one of your paintings is lovely..........is that a painting of Julian Beaver the fellow that does the 3D chalk drawings? Have you checked him out online yet? Some pretty cool stuff he does with chalk. Wish you a beautiful day.

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  5. Absolutely fantastic sketches SAdami! I felt like I was there watching you sketch the artists that sketched. Lots of personalities and great colors. I just enjoyed everything about this post. Thank you!

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  6. Oh Sadami, ... what fun! Your sketches are fabulous and made me feel I was enjoying the chalk drawing right with you! This is a absolutely wonderful post.

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  7. Me gustan mucho, son estupendos.Un saludo.
    I really like, very nice. A greeting.

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  8. I see a lot of fun!!!
    Coming next year, why not?
    I have to save a lot of pennies first...
    Kind regards.

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  9. Dear Joshemari,
    Thank you so much for a kind comment!! Yes, we had a good time. Sketching artists is more fun!! Hahaha!
    Hugs and smile, Sadami
    Estimado Joshemari,
    Muchas gracias por un amable comentario! Sí, tuvimos un buen momento. Dibujar artistas es más divertido! Jajaja!
    Abrazos y sonrisas, Sadami
    >>>>Joshemari said...
    Sadami Hi, I see from reading your explanation, you passed a day of fun and enjoyable. I guess that was the purpose ... and succeeded!
    Chart your story through the pictures, very good. As always! Congratulations!
    A hug.

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  10. Dear Carol,
    Thank you for the interesting information. I had looked up Julian Beaver on website. All other staff and artists knew him, except me. Jenny in the post does 3D and others too. 3D requires a huge space, thus, inappropriate for a limited given SQUARE. Anyway, chalk interests me.
    Cheers, Sadami

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  11. Dear Teri,
    Thank you! My sketches always make viewers feel, as if they were at a scene.
    Cheers, Sadami

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  12. Dear Juan,
    Thank you for a kind comment. Your work is, too, lovely!!
    Kind regards, Sadami
    Estimado Juan,
    Gracias por un amable comentario. Su trabajo es, también, hermosa!
    Un cordial saludo, Sadami
    Listen
    Read phonetically

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  13. Dear Elva,
    Thank you very much! Your blog, too, makes me feel, I were there with you and watching beautiful nature. I look forward to your next.
    Kind regards, Sadami

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  14. Dear Olivia,
    Yes, other artists and I said, "Money does not come from a heaven," but we laughed it away.
    ...and I love the song, "La goulante du pauvre Jean." Yes, without love, life is nothing!
    Cheers, wink, wink, Sadami

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  15. Wow! Great job, people are so hard to capture! You really got the energy and life of them!
    Vicki

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  16. Dear Vicki,
    Thank you! If you feel life and energy of them, I'm soooooo happy!
    Cheers, Sadami

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  17. Hola Sadami, te sigo desde blogs comunes, y me quedo por aquí para aprender de tus trazos y dibujos tan rápidos y generosamente mostrados.

    Parece que lo pasasteis muy bien con la tiza...

    Un abrazo!

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  18. Dear Joy,
    Thank you for kind visiting. Lines are interesting that lead my eyes to a right direction. The fewer, the better. No erasure. Yes, indeed, I enjoyed the sketching in the festival.
    Kind regards and a hug, Sadami
    Estimado Joy,
    Gracias por tipo de visita. Las líneas son interesantes que llevan los ojos a una dirección correcta. Cuanto menos, mejor. No borrado. Sí, por supuesto, me gustó el dibujo en el festival.
    Un cordial saludo un abrazo, Sadami

    >>>>>Joy said...
    Sadami Hi, I'm still from common blogs, and I'm here to learn your lines and drawings so quickly and generously displayed.
    Looks like you passed very well with chalk ...
    A hug!

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  19. Hi Hi Sadami!

    It is me, Monika (the pirate, aaargh!!)

    I love my little portrait... yes, my fingers hurt a lot after spreading the chalk TOO much! ^_^

    Lovely to see all the other portraits together, fantastic!!

    I am glad to be able to "follow" your work regularly now, I hope you update your blog a lot. I know I try to update a lot :-)

    See you around!!

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  20. Dear Monika,
    Thank you for kind visiting and encouragement. Yes, you were a hard worker and did a great work, indeed. I update the blog every Monday. If you have a spare time, please visit.
    Kind regards, Sadami

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  21. Excellent watercolors, which give me envy. I had wanted to draw and paint, but had no talent and I moved to the photos is easier. I admire you. Greetings.

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  22. Dear Leovi,
    Thank you very much! But I have to tell you that I could not take photos like I drew or painted. Then, I quit a camera club. I admire your photo techniques and marvelous work.
    Kind regards, Sadami

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  23. Dear Carlos,
    Thank you so much! You make great and beautiful watercolors, I love them all.
    Cheers, Sadami

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  24. I happen to see your paintings from visiting another blog friend and I am so happy that I did. You are so talented and I love your work.! Looking forward to your future paintings.

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  25. Wonderful, Sadami!
    I love the loose, fresh, lively quality of your paintings.

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  26. Dear Hilda,
    Thank you for visiting and encouragement. You, too, are very talented. Your pastel work is wonderful, very heart warming and charming. Please keep up!
    Kind regards, Sadami

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  27. Hiya, Teresa!
    Thank you for encouragement. It seems, "the quicker, the better" for me?! to make a cheerful loose style. The artists(=models) loved my works.
    Cheers, Sadami

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  28. Fantastic capture of the poses Sadami. I love them all. And thanks for sharing your experience.

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  29. Dear Evelyn,
    Thank you! Your photos are,too,fantastic and art works make me happy. Yes, if you have a spare time, come to Sydney.
    Cheers, Sadami

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  30. Oh, how wonderful your work is! Beautiful, Wishing you all the best!
    Bravo!
    Caroline

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  31. Dear Caroline,
    Thank you. You, too, all the best!
    Kind regards,
    Sadami

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  32. The artist painting artists what a treat! Sounds like double espresso: strong and tasty :)

    Great work of art Sadami!
    Irina

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  33. Dear Irina,
    Thank you for a nice comment and elegant metaphor. I'd really appreciate it.
    Kind regards, Sadami

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  34. What a wonderful blog you have! I enjoy your work, learn from it and enjoy your comments too. I am so glad to find you and look forward to more.
    Thank you for sharing.

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  35. Dear Maria,
    Thank you for visiting. You, too, have a wonderful blog that shows lovely work in different media and crafts. You can teach me pastel. Hope myself to keep up a good post to share joy in art. You, too, keep up!
    Kind regards, Sadami

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  36. Hi Sadami. A shame I have been so busy and haven't been able to visit your wonderful blog (I missed it).
    I have enjoyed watching the gorgeous figures you painted during the 'Chalk Festival'. You have such an artistic talent! I don't know whether I would be able to draw so beautifully in a crowded street.
    I also enjoyed seeing you surrounded by children eager to draw and paint. They look really happy. I'm sure they had a whale of a time.
    By the way, I think we have more than one thing in common. I also studied 'linguistics' as a subject at university.

    Keep painting, dear Sadami. All the best.



    サダムはです。恥は、私が忙しくされている(私はそれを逃した)あなたの素晴らしいブログを訪問することができていない。
    私はあなたのチョーク祭塗装ゴージャスな数字を見て楽しんでいます。あなたは、このような芸術的才能を持っている!私は混雑した通りのように美しく描画することができるだろうwhetheわからない。
    私はまた、子ども描画してペイントイーガーに囲まれて見て楽しんだ。彼らは本当に幸せそうに見える。私は、彼らが時間の鯨を持っていたと確信しています。
    ちなみに、私たちは共通の複数のものを持っていると思う。私も大学で対象として'言語'を検討した。

    サダムまあ、絵を保管してください。すべてのベスト。

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  37. Dear Anna,
    Thank you~~! I love your art work and am waiting for a next post. Linguistics is fun. I was the bad girl and asked, "What's the difference between language and music?" None of profs gave me an answer, but said, "Read (Ray)Jackendoff." I went to the library, opened Jackendoff and...next moment, slept on the desk, ZZzz...and became an artist?!
    Cheers, wink, wink, Sadami

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  38. Congratulations Sadami!
    by all your wonderful work!
    besides an admirable technique,
    there is also,
    much feeling and expression!
    greetings!!
    Denise,
    from São Paulo

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  39. Dear Denise,
    Thank you for visiting and encouragement. Your work is absolutely interesting, full of energy, humor, messages, etc, etc. Oh, I'll visit you again. Keep up your great art.
    Kind regards, Sadami

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