Photo by Melissa Cooperman for Dorchester Center for the Arts

Chalk Artist Community Guidelines:

• A minimum 5’x 5′ space will be provided for registrants.
• Chalk art only to be produced in designated and assigned areas.
• Art can be any subject. No inappropriate content, or commercial or political advertisements are allowed.
• The art created must be suitable for public and family viewing.
• 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.
• Keep your supplies to a minimum and well-contained in your space.
• You may bring umbrellas and or small canopies for shade while drawing in your area. Canopy weights required.
• No boom boxes or portable speakers allowed as there will be live musical performances at the event. You may wear portable headsets.

CHALK

• We recommend purchasing at least one 24-count box of square soft pastels. Amazon sells several brands, any of them should be fine. We will have pastels on hand for your use as well.
• If you need additional colors, you can also share or exchange chalk with other artists.
• Only chalk/soft pastels can be used for drawings. No acrylic paint, crayon, ink, or other non-washable or permanent products.
• No fixatives may be used on the chalk drawings.
• Watered-down tempera paint is permitted as a base coat. Must be washable!

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 marker. You can lay out a corresponding grid on the ground. An example is one-inch squares on the picture to one-foot squares on the ground. 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 2×2 ft. piece of heavy fabric, carpet square, or cardboard to sit on to avoid smearing your work or, a 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. Blue tape works best
• Additional chalk, if you need a lot of a certain color. (Or trade colors with other artists.)
• Nitrile gloves to protect your hands and assist in blending colors.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, or a hat for sun exposure.
• Please keep beverage containers away from paintings. No glass is allowed anywhere.

Artist’s work will be judged by the Chalk Mafia and recognition given for the top 3 pieces in adult and youth age groups.