Cool's blog

September 16, 2007

I'm not giving up my Web career to become an illustrator

Adelbert Hall


My chalk rendition of the photo

Every year I get a group of friends together to draw pictures at chalkfest. And every year I come up with some idea that is more ambitious than it should be. Over the years I've had better luck with buildings than with other subjects. This year the day approached quickly and in my rush to pick a subject I chose a building I know well, Adelbert Hall. So I printed out pictures, one with a grid, and traipsed over to the museum.

As drew out my gridlines and stared at the pictures, I quickly ascertained that I had made the same mistake I always do. I'd bitten off far more than I could chew. The sidewalk was rough of texture, the colors of chalk were few (though I had more than the standard box of 24) and the details in Adelbert were many. I'd never noticed how many hues can be found in that stone.

Daunted by the task I plugged away, and if nothing else can be said, the final output is clearly a building rather than a three-toed sloth. But the outcome isn't what chalkfest is about. The comraderie of friends drawing under a rich blue sky, live music in the background and the people who wander by is what makes the weekend. Scores of people turned out, all friendly, and many more complimentary than was warranted, but overall it was a great weekend and a great way to clear the head from one's every day world and just immerse oneself in the task at hand.

Year after year, rain, shine, heat or chill, this is the nature of chalkfest. It doesn't matter if I try to draw an Egyptian sculpture that looks like an alien frog (my first year's effort) or a building that somehow has far fewer details than the original, chalkfest is a great way to clear the mind and enjoy the moment. This year a number of people asked me if I minded that all the work would soon be washed away by the rain. And I don't, it's not the result but the process.

But for those of you who missed it, some of the results are quite cool. From the extravagant work of the professionals to the creativity of the kids, many moods and styles were expressed. As the skies are still clear, their results are still there, if but for a few more moments. So if life takes you to University Circle in the next few days, take a walk in front of the museum. There is much to be seen in the pavement. And if University Circle isn't in walking distance, you can see the photos I took this weekend at Flickr. I'll probably take more tomorrow and will add them to the same batch.