Artist's Block

What Happened to Fun With Chalk?

Maribeth McFaul and Renee Keady - Featured Artists 2009

The first Italian Street Painting Festival, I Mondonnari, established in the western hemisphere 25 years ago in Santa Barbara in late May, was inspired by the festival in Grazie di Curtatone, Italy. “Fun with Chalk” was initiated at the Norman P. Murray Community Center in Mission Viejo by Frank Lieberman, Ph.D and his Advisory Board in 1998. I was a member of that board for 9 years.

For the first time in April of 2010, “Fun With Chalk” partnered with Artes de la Vida (previously Tierra Nativa Earth Day celebration) to create a combined festival called “Arts Alive.” In past years the two events had occurred in approximately the same location in April and early May.

The City of Mission Viejo has provided significant financial and logistical support to “Fun With Chalk” since it’s inception 13 years ago. Considering the budget restraints of recent years it made sense to combine efforts by paring the two events last year.

The residents of Mission Viejo look forward to the Street Painting Festival every year. We hope to continue the Street Painting tradition in the City of Mission Viejo established by Dr. Lieberman and the “Fun With Chalk” Advisory Board.

Additional Street Painting Festivals in California include:
I Mondonnari Festival Santa Barbara - Memorial Day weekend
Pasadena Chalk Festival - June 18 & 19
Temecula Street Painting Festival - June 24, 25 & 26
Carlsbad Art Splash  Sept. 24 & 25
I Mondonnari Festival San Luis Obispo - September
Chalk La Strada  San Diego - October
San Rafael Italian Street Painting Festival - July 2012

Circle Painter at Arts Alive 2011 in Mission Viejo

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeCDBsmH-R

Developed by a fellow CSULB Art Education student, Hiep Ngyuyen

Since 2007, Circle Painting has served 50 communities, traveled to 10 countries, engaged over 10000 participants.

Now coming to Mission Viejo - Saturday, April 30

Mission Viejo Street Painting Festival - 2011

April 30 & May 1

Mission Viejo is seeking NEW and RETURNING artists for 

Arts Alive - Featuring Art of the 1940's and 1950's

SEE  "Rosie the Riveter"

recreated in Pastel Chalk at Arts Alive 2011

For More Information City of Mission Viejo

 

Carlsbad Art Splash 2010 - Edith Comes to Life

Step 1 - Grid and Line Drawing

 

Step 2 - Begin with the Focal Point

Edith Francis Moier after William Clarke Wontner 

from above with artists Renee Keady & Maribeth McFaul

~

More Sreet Paintings and Activities at Art Splash 2010

Honorable Mention - Alphonse Muncha piece

 





Best in Show by popular vote - Oops, she forgot her sunscreen!

See you at the next Street Painting Event in 29 Palms - Nov. 6th

http://www.oasisofmurals.org/chalk.html

Creative Name Cards

The assignment was to make a Creative Name Card with a Theme using colored pencil and/or markers. A  9" x 12"  piece of white construction paper was folded in thirds, two thirds is covered with a design. The name card stands on students desks during the first few weeks of school in order for me to learn their names as well as assess their creative abilities. 

I am looking forward to working with this imaginative group of talented students!

 

 

Carlsbad Art Splash 2010- Sept. 25 & 26

 

Our 2009 piece - Art Nouveau - Alphonse Mucha

Come and see us at the Festival above the Flower Fields next weekend!

Sketchbook Project

Click on the sketchbook above to find out about the sketchbook project!

A Few More Magiclal Children - Watercolor Portraits

 

Taylor

Brendan

Avery

Mari

Jeremy

 

Jason

Jesse

Skye

Part of the Magical Child series of portraits painted from 1998 - 1999.

Artist as Mother

 I am the mother of five boys, I gave birth to two and acquired three through marriage. Much of  Artist’s Block has been consumed with things related to the business of art. However, I am much more than that.

Relationships are where I learn the most about myself. Family and friends are my mirror.  After all...there is NO ONE ELSE in the room.

Humans are the most magical before they become tainted by school....and life. The Magical Child series began with a painting I did for Brendan while he was away at a school in Montana. His struggles lead us to a seminar series in which we took a personal inventory in order to seek a deeper understanding of ourselves and therefore our relationship with others, including our son. It was one of the most enlightening experiences of my life....where I realized that I had forgotten to save myself a seat on the Life Boat.


 
 

We are Family - August 1997

Last Weekend at Art-a-Fair

As Art-a-Fair closes this weekend. This group of 125 hard working artists, devoted to their craft, spent countless hours to provide an art experience for visitors to the world renowned Laguna Beach Art Festivals. I am still laughing about a comment I overheard made by an artist from the Sawdust Festival as he got on the shuttle from the Act V parking lot; “I don’t even know what day it is...I get up every morning and come to work for the pleasure of earning 85 cents/hour!”

Seriously, sales were improved at Art-a-Fair this summer, as compared to last year. There were 30 new artists, me included. I’d like to think it was the “new blood” that helped boost the numbers. Giam Truong, as predicated, was the top seller. (Remember I shared in a previous post that I was concerned about competition from the guy next to me?) He was also chosen as the “Favorite New Artist.”  I learned a great deal from Giam, he is one of the kindest most giving artists I have ever met, in addition to being an excellent artist.

I also enjoyed new friendships with other artists in the “newbie” section, Gina Cordova (photography), Alice Hernandez (oil), Adrian Sandstrom (ceramics), Alex and Nicole Fritz (glass), Keith Alway (acrylic), and veteran Susan Driscol (oil).

I am satisfied with my 85 cents/hour income this summer. The experience was well worth my time and effort. I was honored to be voted “Favorite Watercolor Artist” by my peers at Art-a-Fair. I am richer in friends and inspired to take my work to the next level. I look forward to returning next summer, armed with a new series of paintings and ideas to make the show even better!

Closing Night Party tonight!