Chalkfest 2017 – Eau Claire, WI

First, I haven’t posted anything for a while, but I am still creating! It’s harder and harder to find time to sit down at the computer and type anything up. Smartphones are too convenient. If anyone is looking for more current content, I’ve been posting semi-regularly on my Instagram @arclarkart.

Second, I am thankful that Volume One & UW-Eau Claire continue to put together an amazing event for local artists and community to join together and create and view sidewalk art for the day!

Let me tell you a little about our time at Chalkfest.
Saturday, July 29, 2017. In the beginning, there are composition sketches.
It’s easiest to work through sketches in the same room as your partner, but Kim and I had to send concepts and sketches through the ol’ text-machine since we are no longer in the same city. As an adult, it becomes a logistical nightmare to get two people in the same room at the same time and digital communication was our friend. End result of combined sketches, brainstorming and Photoshop Magic below:

The munchkins, posing in front of their Minecraft square, are the same talented models that helped us with reference material:

Mid-Process #1 with myself; smudging some shadows on to the “pages”:

Mid-Process #2 with Kim; time to let everyone know what number we are:

Dirty chalkwater and paintbrushes. I love using water to start blocking out and painting in big blocks of color. Less of the sidewalk shows through if you can saturate the area with chalk+water (Kim is more of a blend-until-your-skin-is-in-the-cement.) Both methods produce similar results, but I think the brush is quicker.

Mid-Process #3 with some eyes still missing. Shadows and highlights are still a work-in-progress at this point. We worked very quickly in the morning as the threat of sun started to get more and more real. Due to the fast pace, there wasn’t time for much process documentation.

Finished square! Kids, Yog-Sothoth and Nyarlathotep.

Audience Choice Award!!! <3<3<3 Thank you from #113!