About the process:
The event location of the Artlandish Gallery was quite unusual, and I spent quite a few weeks figuring out where it'd be best to do my chalk drawing during the event. Eventually I settled on a large spot of parking lot pavement. The surface area seemed more uniform and manageable than irregular sidewalk panels nearby and the other cartoonists could keep an eye on me through the garage door windows during the night.
I used several tools to help in the process:
- Kneepads and gloves - To protect from scrapes.
- White Markal railroad chalk - For the main drawings.
- Crayola sidewalk chalk - For color accents.
- Car wash sponge and water pail - For attempting to erase chalk.
- Chalk line reel & tape measure - To create a grid on the pavement.
I started out the process by tracing a grid in the alloted rectangle I was using. I measured and snapped some chalk lines to get things straight as possible. I was left with roughly 40 inch squares for each panel, with the total size of the comic being roughly 14 feet wide by 21 feet long.
Next, I spent a few hours inside sketching out what to put in the panels. Chalk does not erase well, so planning was essential. I decided to create a story about my character Izzy the mouse falling into the center of the earth.
I started drawing my character in the panels and eventually went back and added word balloons later in the night. The 54 degree high of the day turned into a cold 40 degree night. A nearby lamppost lighted things pretty well as I bundled up and got to work. In the morning I added some colored shading and retraced the panel borders.
The finished product as seen from above. The comic was up for a couple of days before a rain washed it away.
About the idea:
I got the idea for sidewalk comics one day when I was, of course, walking on a sidewalk. Sidewalks are already broken up into panels, so it seemed to me like an intuitive place to make comics. I also liked the idea that it can thrust a comic artist out into public view for immediate feedback and visibility. As I did some short tests for this project in a local park, I was really surprised at how passers by doted over my work and it brought a smile to their face. Doing my project in a 24 hour period was a physically draining experience, but I think doing 3-4 panels at a time might be something I'm up for in the future. Anyone else want to give it a try?
Final Comments:
