by James H. Pence

The use of chalk to communicate a message goes all the way back to the late 1800s. Back in those days, people called it “chalk talk.” That was because most chalk drawings were done either on blackboards with white chalk or white paper with black chalk. Most of the time, the artists didn’t draw what we would consider “artistic” pictures (e.g. landscapes, seascapes, still life); rather, they would do line art—more like a cartoon.

And as the artists drew, they would talk...

By James H. Pence

If you are going to be a chalk artist, obviously you will need the right kind of chalk and paper. Unfortunately you can’t just run out to your local art supply store and buy a set. In fact, most art supply houses not only don’t carry the right kind of chalk, most of them haven’t even heard of it. The chalk you need is called “lecturer’s chalk”, but if you go into your local arts and crafts store and ask for it, they’ll look at you as though you told them you just flew in from Mars.