Under the warm rays of afternoon sunshine, the sidewalk becomes a canvas, alive with color as artists crouch low, their hands stained in hues of blue, pink, and yellow. When pressed to the ground, chalk glides with gentle resistance, offering a smooth, blended finish. With each stroke, scenes emerge from the flat surface—detailed portraits of animals, messages of hope and encouragement, swirling galaxies—all brought to life on the blank concrete.
An artistic hobby
Many of these artists are young locals, others traveled in from surrounding areas. In an interview, a local resident recollected her experience with chalk art, stating: “I took a lot of art classes in high school… I’m going to be a senior in college next year so this is kind of a side thing I like to do.” When asked about her experience with chalk art, she noted: “I only really do chalk just for events like this… I do like to paint and do charcoal for drawings, but this is sort of similar.”
An inside look at the process
From late morning to early evening, these artists were hard at work. It takes hours to produce a final piece. Chalk art is a unique form of expression—requiring careful precision and attention to detail—as the powdery nature is messy. Not to mention, the sweltering heat on the day of the event added to this challenge. Artists spent long hours under temporary cabanas, attempting to bring their creations to life despite the warm conditions.
You’ll notice many artists chose to illustrate animals… from a fuzzy duckling to a radiant hummingbird. What is quite impressive is the texture of each piece—you can almost feel the softness of feathers or the glimmer of wings just by looking.
Through careful layering and blending of chalk, these artists managed to create depth, dimension, and lifelike detail on what is, essentially, a surface to walk on.
The finished product
As the day drew to a close, artists packed up their materials, humbly tagged their name next to their creation, and left their piece to be viewed by the public. When the evening commenced, passersby paused to admire these fleeting masterpieces. Here, in this shared space, chalk art transforms the everyday into the extraordinary, if only until the next rain.
Zeeland Chalk Fest occurs each year. These artists receive a $200 stipend for participating in the event.
Check out The Hollander’s coverage of the event!
Sierra Ozolins is a West Michigan native, currently a student at Hope College. As an athlete, she is passionate about fitness—from running to weightlifting. With a interest for politics and lifestyle, she is intrigued how local culture, community, and everyday events shape the world around her—often with an iced coffee in hand and her dog by her side.
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