Amateurs and Professionals Enjoy Street Painting
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Chalk art also referred to as street painting has been around for a long time. As far back as the 1500s, poor artists from Italy often used street painting as a means to earn enough money to get by. These street painters, called the "Madonnari," hung out besides religious institutions. They used pastels to create images of the Madonna on the street in hopes that the spectators would toss them a few coins. Street painting has become a big event since those early days.
Around the 70s, street painting began to reemerge in Europe and became a popular fashion at street festivals. Since that time, chalk painting has continued to grow in popularity with the first American festival launching in 1986 in Santa Barbara, California. Now, street painting events take place all over the United States. Today, festivals with street painting as the main theme occurs all over the world as a means to raise funds for many charities. Private donors as well as many organizations sponsor these events to raise money and awareness for charitable causes. These large events provide a means for chalk artists to display their artistic talents just for the enjoyment or to get recognition.
Most of the present day festivals include entertainment such as carnival rides and music bands, as well as street painting. Dozens to hundreds of street painting artists participate in these events. Large street festivals are not the only places that you can find street painting. Many chalk paintings are included in activities for children. Some high schools have used street painting competitions for over thirty years in their annual homecoming festivities. The high school street painters incorporate their school colors to create different themes each year.
Many street painters are amateurs. However, hundreds of professionals create very complex paintings. Some spend so much time drawing and painting their creation that their fingers become raw. They spend a lot of time bending over or position themselves on their knees while creating their masterpiece. Working for several hours and days at a time causes a lot of pain in the knees and back. As uncomfortable as it can get, street painting continues to grow in popularity.
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