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Here are the chalk art essentials for beginners that I wish I knew on day one. Make sure you bookmark this post so you can refer back to it as needed.
What type of chalk or chalk paint should I use?
1. Sidewalk Chalk.
The brand you choose really comes down to personal choice. My favs are Loddie Doddie and Crayola. Both have the most vibrant colors. The thing to remember most with sidewalk chalk is your colors won't be as vibrant and it will wash away more easily.
2. Chalk Pastels.
Level up your chalk art with chalk pastels when you’re ready. Blick Art Materials Studio Pastels are my go-tos, although Amazon has a few good kits too. Sargent Art is another good brand. And Target has a good starter set for only $5 (they are very soft though so you’ll go through them faster). Go for anything that’s soft or chalk pastels, do NOT use oil pastels as those will stain.
3. Tempera Paint.
Tempera paint is water-based/washable craft paint. Basically chalk paint but WAY better than what’s marketed as chalk paint. Blick's Studio Line Tempera Paint is my go-to, usually the Premium, but the Student grade is also good.
Be careful! Though it’s washable, chalk pastels and tempera paint can be more difficult to get off of some surfaces. Power washing almost always takes care of it though if Mother Nature doesn’t. Test a small space before starting and make sure to get permission if it’s not your property.
What blending supplies should I use?
1. Pool Noodle.
Pool noodles are a cheap and effective blending tool for chalk art. You can cut up into small pieces (or any size you prefer). Some types of foam packaging work well too. Just remember that the more rough your surface is, the faster you'll go through these.
2. Gloves.
I HATE the feeling of chalk on my hands. 😩 Gloves keep me mostly in the safe zone. Use your fingers/gloves to blend and save your fingers from going numb. I couldn’t feel my fingers for days after the first large piece I did on my driveway. Not fun. Maybe you’re driveway is smoother than mine though. Higher quality gloves (I use these) will hold up longer, but be prepared to use multiple gloves per artwork, especially for rougher surfaces.
3. Carpet Square.
This is a secret weapon of chalk artists. No carpet square is the same, so experiment with different ones that you can find at any home improvement or carpeting store. Here are some from Amazon that are similar to the ones I use.
With anything in chalk art, it will all depend on the surface area, weather conditions and artist’s style for what will work best. Experiment with lots of things to find what works for you!
Here are some other things I use for chalk art:
WATCH: The video for a visual of how to get started in chalk art in less than 60 seconds.
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