The Chalking Dad adds beautiful, albeit temporary, works of art to sidewalks
Through the early times of the pandemic, Erik Greenawalt invested a great deal of time in his driveway.
Making use of gentle pastels and tempera paints, The Chalking Dad, as Greenawalt is internationally identified, reworked the asphalt into will work of artwork that uplifted all people passing by his North Huntingdon community — at least right until it rained.
Photo courtesy of The Chalking Dad.
It’s an appealing way to provide art to people who are intimidated by or really do not have uncomplicated entry to museums and art galleries, he claims.
Greenawalt’s inventive side didn’t absolutely emerge right up until 2006 when his young daughters requested him to attract Disney princesses on the driveway utilizing sidewalk chalk. The skilled monetary planner before long learned he experienced a knack for impromptu, outdoor art.
He experimented with distinctive techniques at residence for 5 many years and then begun traveling to street portray festivals throughout the place to discover from fellow “chalkers.”
Photo courtesy of The Chalking Father.
These days, he’s a member of the Florida Chalk Artists Affiliation (the Sunshine Condition is a excellent area for this ephemeral medium) and an in-demand from customers talent at all kinds of functions, in which he generates lifelike portraits and interactive 3D items that can take wherever from a number of several hours to a number of times to entire.
Very last weekend Greenawalt bought his arms dusty at Chalktoberfest in Marietta, Georgia. During previous month’s Pittsburgh Pierogi Pageant at Kennywood, Greenawalt modified the amusement park’s renowned yellow arrow and compensated tribute to Mrs. T’s racing potato dumplings.
He’s put Winston Churchill on a sidewalk in Halifax, England, produced folks exclaim “Crikey!” with a Steve Irwin tribute in Florida and brought “The Sopranos” actor James Gandolfini back to life at Chalk the Block in Columbus, Ohio.
Image courtesy of The Chalking Father.
Greenawalt happily chats with observers when he is effective. Chalking and chatting are just 2nd character to him now.
“I like to do items that are applicable to the moments and make some kind of connection with the audience,” he states. “Most of them are whimsical and pleasurable and put smiles on people’s faces.”
Just one of the most meaningful assignments of his lifestyle took place on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Greenawalt and 10 other chalk artists drew portraits of United Airlines Flight 93 travellers and crew members at the national memorial in Shanksville. By means of his pastels, images of Jeremy Glick, Todd Beamer, Toshiya Kuge and Capt. Jason Dahl emerged.
Jason Dahl, captain of United Airways Flight 93. Image courtesy of The Chalking Dad.
Once in a while, Greenawalt makes use of far more long term materials these as acrylic paints, but chalk is his accurate adore.
Does it bother him that the art he invests so substantially time in doesn’t previous very long (primarily in the stormy Steel Town)?
“It’s basically form of neat since with pastels the shades will run and fade more than time,” he claims. “I’m only sad when I really don’t get to finish my artwork just before the rain comes.”