Types of chalk

• Soft artist pastels (craft stores, online—not oil pastels)—soft pastels contain more pigment than sidewalk chalk, creating bolder colors
• Sidewalk chalk (dollar stores, craft stores, online)—easy to find and clean up
• DIY sidewalk chalk (see recipes below)

Blending tools

• Sponge
• Foam cut into squares
• Balled-up plastic bag
• Thick paper or cardboard in small pieces
• Disposable gloves (when worn, can be used to blend chalk on pavement)

Other supplies

• Masking or paint tape for framing work or masking off lines, shapes, or areas
• Paintbrushes used wet or dry to blend colors and make a watercolor style
• Yardstick to mark off grid lines for enlarged pictures
• Kneepads, gardening pad, or cardboard to make sitting more comfortable

Find inspiration for your drawing by visiting the Cleveland Museum of Art or our Collection Online. Below are a number of basic tools and techniques for creating a masterful chalk drawing.

Blending colors with chalk
Color Blending with Sidewalk Chalk, Kristen Polson

Using sidewalk chalk in different ways
Sidewalk Chalk Techniques, Karen Wright

Using masking tape to make a frame, shapes, and clean lines
Stained Glass Sidewalk, Busy Brain Learning

Graphing a picture to enlarge it for the pavement
Chalk Art Lesson, Monte Vista Art Teacher (4 minutes in)

Using stencils to create a chalk drawing
How to Make a DIY Stencil, Wm. Walker Co.

Creating a stencil with wax paper and masking tape
Crafternoon: Chalk Stencils, Meadows Museum, Dallas

Sidewalk Chalk
Supplies

• Plaster of paris (dry powder, not mixed; can be found at craft stores)
• Tempera Paint
• Silicone Mold
• Water
• Disposable Cups
• Plastic Spoons

For each color you will need a separate cup.
Add:

• ¾ cup of water
• ¼ cup of paint
• 1 cup of plaster of paris

Mix well. Pour mixture into molds. Let dry for 24 hours. Remove them from the mold (be careful because they are still soft and you need to carefully pop them out). Let them dry outside the molds for an additional 24 hours.

Eggshell Sidewalk Chalk
Clean and dry eggshells. Place in food processor or coffee grinder and process until a fine powder. Or put in a resealable bag and crush with rolling pin until a fine powder.
In a bowl, add:

• 1 teaspoon of flour
• 1 teaspoon of hot water

Mix until blended.
Add:

• 1 tablespoon of crushed eggshells

Mix until blended. Add food coloring (fewer drops will make a pastel hue, more drops will make a bold color). Knead in your hand, adding more water if it crumbles or is too dry to hold shape. Mold the shape of your preference (such as a stick) or put into a silicone mold. Roll the final shape into a paper towel and let dry for a few days.

Sidewalk Chalk Paint
In a muffin tin, add to each cup:

• 2 tablespoons of corn starch
• 2 tablespoons of water

Stir until combined. Add 3–5 drops of food coloring (fewer drops will make a pastel hue, more drops will make a bold color). Stir until combined. Use a paintbrush or sponge to apply sidewalk chalk paint to surface.

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