Sidewalk Canvas Chalk Pavement Art at Your Feet [Paperback]

Discover this vibrant art form that lives at your feet with examples from leading artists who also give insight into how to create your own chalk pavement art.Stumbling upon a detailed work of art in the middle of a street or sidewalk would make anyone stop, admire its beauty, and wonder why someone would create something so magnificent in such a non-permanent manner. Part folk art, part performance art, this fascinating genre known as Street Painting, where chalk is substituted for paint and asphalt or concrete for canvas, is being revitalized thanks to festivals like the International Street Painting Festival in Northern Italy and the Absolut Chalk Festival in California.Sidewalk Canvas is packed with vibrant examples from author and professional artist Julie Kirk-Purcell and other leading international street painters, and includes 3-D illusions, original twists on the old masters, and works by artists famous in other media. In addition to a gallery of the best street painting from around the world, there are insights into how the art form is executed, where to find it, and how to create it. This book isn't just for practicing artists. It is for art educators, commercial organizations looking to commission work for promotional purposes, and the thousands of people attending festivals worldwide who enjoy the beauty that can be found at the tip of their toes.TABLE OF CONTENTSI. Introduction*History and Tradition* Ephemeral Art* Modern Festivals and artist trendsII. Themes* Old Masters The historical tradition of street painting1. Paintings of the Madonna and the historical context2.The value of copying master paintings as a method of artistic education3. Reinventing the masters use of humor and/or perspective as applied to classical motifs in current original designs*Modern Twists1. Political and environmental themes2. Mythology and fantasy3. Commercially driven and publicity images4. Pop art/Manga/Graffiti influences*The Use of Illusion1. Historical traditionl&