Turning chalk sticks on their sides allows artists to fill broad areas of color quickly
A realistic sidewalk drawing accomplishes realism by creating an image with technique and color. A properly designed sidewalk drawing will have pedestrians stopping in their tracks to question the reality of the image. Sidewalk drawings often allow artists to experiment with a different canvas and gain notoriety for art that depicts a realistic hole or surprise image on the ground.
Instructions
1. Locate a sidewalk section where you can freely make a drawing. Bring some visual reference for what you want to draw. Reference with realistic subject matter will assist you in creating a drawing that looks real. Decide on a background color, and use a piece of chalk to color in the entire square. Look at your reference, and begin drawing the basic shapes of your subject with chalk that contrasts with the background. Draw the basic shapes in outline form, with no details.
2. Proceed to fill in your basic shapes with color. Study your subject, and look for the overall color of each basic shape. Some colors will have to be composed of two or more underlying ones. Apply the color to all basic shape areas. Go back into these areas with a contrasting color to create details such as facial features in outline form.
3. Add shading to the subject by mixing darker colors into those already put down. Blend the shadows into the colors with your fingers. Colors can also be blended by adding water to the chalk. This creates a paste effect that produces brighter colors. Shade areas where cast shadows are, to create a sense of depth.
4. Add elements to your drawing that can be placed in perspective. This creates a greater sense of depth. Linear elements such as buildings can be drawn as if they are projecting up out of the drawing. A guide for perspective can be created by placing a point in one location, and then drawing straight lines from that point. Use a yardstick to draw the lines with chalk, and then match parts of objects up to it.
