How to Do Street Painting

An Italian tradition since the 16th century, street painting is enjoying a rebirth throughout Europe and the United States. Festivals celebrating the art have taken place from Italy to California. Using the pavement as their canvas and chalk as their medium, "i Madonnari," or street painters, transform streets and sidewalks into beautiful works of art.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Sun Hats
• Sun Visors
• Cardboard
• Masking Tape
• Measuring Tapes
• Portable Vacuums
• Rags
• Whisk Brooms
• Latex Gloves
• Sunscreen
• Chalkboard Eraser
• Colored Chalk
• Permanent Markers
• Knee Pads
• Chalk Line
• Rulers

Selecting and Prepping Your Image for Street Painting

1. Select the image you'll be re-creating with chalk. Traditional street painters select works from the masters (Raphael or Michelangelo, for example), though you may want to re-create a modern piece or your own original artwork. Selecting a photograph is also popular.
2. Make color photocopies of the painting you'll be re-creating. Several copies will be needed, especially if more than one artist will be working on the piece.
3. Draw a grid over the photocopies using a ruler and thin marker. Half-inch squares are ideal. Measure carefully so that all photocopies are gridded identically.
4. Label the graphed columns on your photocopies horizontally with alphabetical letters and vertically with numbers.
5. Mount photocopies on cardboard to make them easier to work with.

Preparing the Work Area

6. Sweep the area you'll be working on with a whisk broom to remove dirt and leaves.
7. Measure out an area for your street painting, usually a square or rectangular shape. Measure out the four corners and then use a carpenter's chalk line to mark straight lines on the pavement.
8. Affix masking tape to the pavement along the chalk lines to create sharp borders.
9. Using a tape measure and marker, measure out points on the masking tape that will be used to create a grid on the pavement. The graph will need to correspond to the grid on your photocopied picture. Measurements will differ, but a good ratio of pavement-square size to photocopy would be one 6-inch square on the pavement per half-inch square on the photocopy.
10. Line up the chalk line first to the horizontal and then to the vertical points marked on the masking tape.
11. Snap the chalk line to mark out the grid on the pavement.
12. Label the masking tape border with the letters and numbers that correspond to those noted on the photocopy of the image. These will serve as location guides.

Painting Your Masterpiece

13. Use your photocopy and grids to guide you as you chalk out a rough outline of the complete image you are painting on the pavement - just enough to map out the image and get the proportions correct.
14. Start from the top of the painting area and begin painting the image with the colored chalk.
15. Lay a foundation of color using your fingers in small areas and a chalkboard eraser for larger areas.
16. Fill in the details of the image using various shades of colored chalk. Continue to blend colors to gain the right effect. Leave some chalk color unblended on the surface of the pavement to bring out colors, highlights and details.
17. Work your way down the area of your painting.
18. Remove the masking tape to reveal clean, crisp outlines.
19. Sign your work. If you've reproduced an image originally created by another artist (living or deceased), give the artist credit by noting his or her name and the title of the piece at the bottom of the street painting.

Tips & Warnings

• The most traditional street painters will select only works representing the Madonna and Child - hence the name "i Madonnari," or the Madonna-makers.
• To use the chalk line correctly, it's best to have three people helping - one on each end of the chalk line holding the line tight and one snapping the line in the middle of the painting area.
• Wear knee pads while working on pavement.
• A piece of cardboard will allow you to kneel or sit on the drawing without disturbing it.
• Disposable latex gloves or small rags are good for blending colors and protecting fingers.
• A portable vacuum cleaner is helpful for removing excess chalk dust. Do not blow or fan excess chalk into the air. It will dull your colors, and chalk dust is not good to breathe.
• If working outside in the sun, wear a hat or visor and apply plenty of sunscreen, especially to your ears and back of your neck.
• Keep open beverage containers away from paintings.
• Keep dogs leashed and away from chalk paintings.