philosophy

The way I work, painting with sidewalk chalk is performance art. Interaction with the public is part of the fun. My attention is comfortably divided between what's happening with the work and engaging my audience. The painting and I work together to capture the attention of passersby.

I only create original work. I don't like the idea of doing reproductions of "famous" work - the character of concrete is different from canvas or plaster, and every location has it's own unique opportunities. I usually arrive with some idea of what I would like to do that day, I may even have a photo or a sketch to guide me, but the people and the situation determine what happens. There is a lot of improvisation.

materials

I really like Prang® chalk. The sticks are large, the colors are saturated and the texture is velvety. The only complaint I have about Prang is the new plastic packaging which replaced the old cardboard boxes. The boxes could be used for storing the chalk, and were easy to recycle. Prang® chalks are all non toxic, which is important not only for the artist and helpers but also for the environment. Sidewalk paintings eventually get washed down the storm drain and into the local water system, so it was important not to have any pigments containing cadmium, cobalt, etc.

I have experimented with creating a fixative from water and corn starch, which I mix in a misting spray bottle. I also bring a smattering of nontoxic pastels, sections of foam camping mats, a couple of terry cloth rags, a metal scraper (for removing wads of gum), a couple of traffic pylons (to direct foot traffic around the work), a jug of juice, sunblock and a hat.

site selection

Find a stretch of sidewalk big enough for the intended work, a wide path for passersby and one or more observer areas. Cracked and buckled sidewalk might be fine, depending on the painting. Gum and hardened bits of goo on the sidewalk will not hold chalk as well as bare concrete. Remove or seal the goo if possible.

If it's a night work, try and get a streetlight overhead. Check the color of the streetlight the night before by noting how some familiar images are effected. If this is not possible, try and find out what type of bulb is used, sodium is yellow orange, fluorescent is blue, etc.

Try and create a safe haven for observers. Avoid commercial areas with frequent deliveries, or area's where lunch traffic is especially frantic.