A simple task that gets your creative juices flowing definitely has to be chalk drawing. Our campers love this activity at Sugar Bay. It’s such a quick and easy way to keep them occupied should any of our programs run a little off-schedule, and, in the process, allows us to discover some remarkable talents. 
 
Here’s some ideas on how to prepare for and run this class:

The Art of Chalk Drawing

 

You will need:

• · Previously prepared artwork (Sourced from the internet and printed out)
• · Clean floor surface that isn’t too rough or too smooth
• · Chalk (in every colour)
• · Tape Measure



Instructions:

• Step 1: Selecting an image
  You will need to provide your campers with a wide variety of previously prepared artwork that is inspirational and easy to duplicate. You can divide the artwork into three categories of difficulty: beginners, intermediate and expert, to accommodate the different age groups.  
• Step 2: Analyzing the image
  Once your campers have selected their favourite images, you will need to help them analyze the image in order to make it easier for them to duplicate. Break the image up into the following categories: line, colour, composition and form. This technique will help the artist to better understand the aspects of the image.
• Step 3: Create a scale for the drawing
  After choosing an appropriate floor surface, it’s always good to prepare a grid according to a certain scale as a guideline for the drawing. After analyzing the drawing, use a tape measure to draw a grid of an appropriate size. This will prevent the drawing from turning out too large, or too small, but rather, drawn according to scale and looking balanced.
• Step 4: Clean the drawing area
  Get a broom and sweep away any pebbles or dirt found on the floor in and around the drawing area.
• Step 5: Think about what you want people to see
  Begin drawing. Encourage campers to focus on their drawings and to think about what they want people to see as they continue to draw. This psychology helps the artist to create a drawing that is almost close to what they are trying to duplicate.
• Step 6: Analyze the drawing from all angles
  Get the artist to step back from their drawing to give them another perspective from how it looks up-close. Get them to walk around it and even climb on something higher if they have to.
• Step 7: Add finishing touches
  Get your campers to add their finishing touches. Show them how to add line work and lightly blend them it into the drawing. Dark lines work the best. Add highlights, but don’t smear them in so that they can get the desired colour effects.
• Step 8: Take a picture of the finished work of chalk art
  Chalk drawing is a temporary art form. Many street paintings and chalk drawings are washed away in a day or two. Taking a photograph of the artwork to keep it as a memory is a great way to preserve the temporary form of art and use it to inspire future campers. 

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