Another form of street art which is becoming increasingly popular is chalk drawings on pavements. Traditionally it was a kind of art “busking”, with artists drawing pictures for the enjoyment of passers-by who would then show their appreciation by making a small donation to the artist.
Chalk drawings are often copies of famous paintings by the Old Masters such as Rembrandt or the Impressionists, and can take hours or even days to complete. Religious works are also popular especially in Christian countries where the devout are more likely to contribute to the artist’s fund.
In the UK, artist Julian Beever has taken pavement drawing to a new level. He has worked using the medium for over ten years in the U.K., Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Germany, the USA and Australia, and has developed a number of distinctive styles. In particular he has created some amazing 3-D or “trompe d’oeil” pictures which can be seen on many websites devoted to his art.
The question which surely occurs to anyone seeing these works is why the artist takes so much time and effort to create a fantastic piece of artwork which is only temporary. Ulla Taylor is a New Zealand artist who has performed at Festivals and events as a pavement artist since 1987. She explains the art form in the following way:
“The art is a performance, it out-lives itself in people's memories, but what I like most about street art is the way it can be a delightful surprise to strangers, a little sacred site in the midst of the grey city for all to enjoy...” In fact, many cities sponsor events for local artists to participate in chalk drawing competitions the proceeds from which often goes to a charitable cause.
Chalk drawings are often copies of famous paintings by the Old Masters such as Rembrandt or the Impressionists, and can take hours or even days to complete. Religious works are also popular especially in Christian countries where the devout are more likely to contribute to the artist’s fund.
In the UK, artist Julian Beever has taken pavement drawing to a new level. He has worked using the medium for over ten years in the U.K., Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Germany, the USA and Australia, and has developed a number of distinctive styles. In particular he has created some amazing 3-D or “trompe d’oeil” pictures which can be seen on many websites devoted to his art.
The question which surely occurs to anyone seeing these works is why the artist takes so much time and effort to create a fantastic piece of artwork which is only temporary. Ulla Taylor is a New Zealand artist who has performed at Festivals and events as a pavement artist since 1987. She explains the art form in the following way:
“The art is a performance, it out-lives itself in people's memories, but what I like most about street art is the way it can be a delightful surprise to strangers, a little sacred site in the midst of the grey city for all to enjoy...” In fact, many cities sponsor events for local artists to participate in chalk drawing competitions the proceeds from which often goes to a charitable cause.