CHRISTMAS CHALK WALK 2023
RULES
• Chalk art only to be produced in designated and assigned areas.
• Art must be Christmas-themed – both religious and secular art is allowed.
• The art created must be suitable for public and family viewing (no nude or lewd work). Only uplifting Christmas-related text is acceptable in the design. For example, no words or symbols intended as political or social statements may appear within the art.
• Christmas Chalk Walk Committee (CCW) reserves the right to refuse, stop or eliminate anything they views as objectionable material. The CCW Committee’s opinion will be final. If artists have questions about their art, it is recommended they confer with the Committee Chairs that will be present throughout the event.
• Please respect the other artists who are working near you. Do not walk on their paintings or have open beverage containers that could spill and destroy someone’s artwork.
• Please try to keep your supplies to a minimum and well contained by your space.
• You may bring umbrellas and or canopies for shade while drawing. Surrounding artists have to agree to your canopy being up.
• No boom boxes or portable speakers allowed. You may wear portable headsets.
• No pets allowed.
• Your artwork must only include chalk. Any non-chalk props will exclude art from judging.
• Chalk art festival is a SMOKE-FREE, ALCOHOL-FREE event.
• We are open to having photography and video to record the event, artist designs, artists, other
activities, and people at the event.
CHALK
• We will be using boxes of 12-count water-based pastel chalk. One box will be provided per stall for the registered artist.
• If you need additional colors, you may share or exchange chalk with other artists.
• You may also purchase or use your own chalk but it must be water-based.
• Only chalk can be used for drawings. NO paint, crayon, ink or other non-washable or permanent products.
• No fixatives may be used on the chalk drawings.
ARTIST TIPS
SELECTING YOUR IMAGE
• If reproducing an image originally created by another artist (living or deceased), it is important to credit the original artist and the title at the base of your painting.
• Make a color photocopy of the painting or bring the photo. Make several copies if more than one artist will be working on the piece.
• If you want your proportions to be correct, you might consider drawing a grid over the photocopies using a ruler and this marker. You can lie out a corresponding grid on the plywood. An example is half-inch squares on the picture to 6-inch squares on the plywood. Mount photocopies on cardboard to make them easier to work with. A carpenter’s chalk line is ideal for this.
SUGGESTED SUPPLIES
• A whisk broom or brush for cleaning the drawing surface. Do not blow the dust particles as this can ruin surrounding artwork.
• A 2 ft. × 2 ft. piece of heavy fabric, carpet square, or cardboard to sit on to avoid smearing your work or a soft towel, gardener’s pad, or knee pads to kneel on.
• A chalkboard eraser, foam terry cloth, or short-cut brushes for blending larger areas of color.
• Water and a cloth or sponge to erase unwanted parts of your design.
• Old towels or rags to clean up as necessary.
• Masking tape for creating sharp borders, or sharp lines.
• Additional chalk, if you need a lot of a certain color. (Or trade colors with other artists.)
• Cotton gloves to protect your hands. Latex gloves to assist in blending colors.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, or a hat for sun exposure.
• Snacks to eat while you work. Due to Covid restrictions, no snacks will be provided. Please keep beverage containers away from paintings. No glass is allowed anywhere.
CHALKING YOUR MASTERPIECE
• Start from the top of the painting area and work down.
• Lay a foundation of color using your fingers in small areas and a chalkboard eraser for larger areas.
• Fill in the details of the image using various shades of colored chalk. Continue to blend colors to gain the right effect.
• Do not blow or fan excess chalk into the air. It will dull your colors, and chalk dust is not good to breathe. It can also ruin another artist’s artwork.
• To get intense color, apply the chalk more than once (the first time fills in cracks and crevices). The second time lets the chalk power rest on the top of the bumps. Then don’t touch it anymore!
• Sign your work when finished.
