Kids’ Korner

Chalk Drawing Outdoors

Painting and drawing outside in the fresh air and sunshine is fun and exciting.  One way you can easily do this is to make chalk drawings on the sidewalks and driveway around your home.  If you live in the inner city, curb décor is a neat new idea for urban dwellers and is just as easy to do.  All you need is a box or bucket of multi-colored chalk.  You can draw some designs on paper and then transfer them to the walks and drives.  Or you can simply strike out with a pail of colored chalk and “let it happen.”

As a starting step, do a rough outline of the scene you want.  This will help you keep the drawing in perspective, especially if you are working on an extra large image.  Use a light color for the outline.  It’s easy to see and very easy to cover or alter as the drawing progresses.

If this type of drawing is new to you, you might want to start with a few smaller-sized scenes.  This way you can see how easy it is to draw on the smoothness of concrete or the challenges you face with a rough surface.  But drawing small to start is a good way to test your ideas.

One of the more challenging things to try is a scene that appears to be three-dimensional.  That might include a building or other structure, a road that regresses into the distance or a river or stream that enlarges as it comes toward you.  There are a multitude of ideas that work very well done in chalk.  But doing work outside lets you enjoy the outdoors and the sunshine and be creative at the same time.  You might also entice your friends into joining you and creating a huge scene; or perhaps start a drawing group that continually refreshes or changes the picture.  It’s a lot of fun to work on a project with others for additional ideas and different uses of color that will be interesting to all participants.

Unfortunately, there is not a way to save the drawings you create (except perhaps with a camera).  The very nature of the chalk drawings is temporary and that makes it an ever-changing image.  As the colors diminish, the look of the drawing changes.  At some point, you may want to wash it away and start fresh.  That is as easy as turning on a garden hose. 

So, gather up lots of chalk in the most vivid colors you can find, invite friends, and go out and have some fun.  Enjoy your summer!

New Destination to Open

Noah’s Art at the Skirball, Los Angeles, CA, will open on June 26.  Inspired by the ancient flood story of Noah’s Ark, this indoor and outdoor attraction offers a multi-sensory, interactive experience. Visitors board a gigantic wooden ark to play, climb, build, discover, nurture, problem-solve and collaborate alongside handcrafted, one-of-a-kind animals that range from life-sized elephants and giraffes to snow leopards, flamingos and iguanas–186 species in all and all crafted from recycled materials and everyday objects.  Unique to the experience are impromptu “happenings,” surprise interactions and drop-in activities.  This project was five years in the making, occupies an 8,000 square-foot gallery space and will be on view permanently.  310-440-4500; www.skirball.org.

Sketching at the National Gallery, Washington, D.C.

Sketching in the Galleries is designed for children and adults to participate together and includes drawing instruction in the galleries and an activity booklet to help families investigate works of art.  For children ages 8-12 with an adult companion, this is a free drop-in program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Activities are ongoing and families can move at their own pace.  “Drawing Degas” is scheduled for July 13, 14, 27 and 28.  Explore paintings and sculptures by French artist Edgar Degas through sketching activities, a film and a tour of the sculpture galleries. Call 202-789-3030.  www.nga.gov.

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 17 No. 8 — June 2007