As
I like to tell it...
way back when - the peasants were too poor and smelled too
bad, the big Church would not let them
in. So the artists came and drew pictures of the Saints
on the streets so the people could still connect to spirit.
Over
the last 13 years I have been involved in chalk drawing
festivals: Santa Barbara, San Rafael, Valencia, Tahoe. Businesses
are invited to sponsor squares that the artists draw on.
The event is visited by thousands of people and takes place
for 2 days. The money goes to support various causes, mainly
to help keep the art's alive in a local communities.
Great
fun, you see the many chalk covered artists and students,working
away, sun burned, smiling, happy, having fun creating in
a festive community environment. Some of the artists are
invited to created larger works, these are the "featured
artist"and they get paid.
Since
the original creation of the event came from Italy, many
of the artist recreate old masters like Raphael and Michelangelo.
Great chance to study from the masters.
Over the last 3 years I have used a computer and photoshop
to help me understand shapes better. I apply a grid to my
color copy and then make a larger grid on the street - a
piece I worked on was 14 x 16 feet. The grid helps me not
get lost, it also helps other people who might help me not
get lost.
I
did work with a fellow artist named Phil
Roberts, we were the featured artist at the Mission
in Santa Barbara. We had six days to do a 15 x 20 foot chalk
drawing of a Michelangelo. Phil didn't use a grid, he didn't
need to, he free handed the entire piece - my hero! |
