Chalk Pastel Art For Beginners

covid-chalk-art

Casey Drake/@caseydrakemakes

Getting outside to take a (socially distanced) walk is one way to stay sane and keep your body moving during the COVID-19 quarantine. And if you're based in Orlando, Florida, you might even be lucky enough to stumble upon some street art that will make you smile.

Casey Drake, an artist and former high school science teacher, has been brightening up her local sidewalks with some cartoon-inspired chalk art. The pieces, which so far have featured the likes of Ariel from The Little Mermaid and Rapunzel from Tangled, also have tongue-in-cheek COVID-related captions to make passersby smile.

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So how did Drake's adorably witty chalk art come to be? "It honestly started as a way to unwind for just myself," Drake told Woman's Day. "I was so sick of being cooped up in the house and my daughter wanted to get outside." So she went outside with her daughter and drew a chalk Olaf — the lovable snowman from Frozen. Her daughter loved it, as did her neighbors who came out for a chat (six feet away, of course). So Drake began to draw more.

"I started getting some positive feedback from people when I posted them on Facebook, and a neighbor posted them on Nextdoor," Drake said. "Pretty quickly it became a daily tradition to sit outside and talk and draw."

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Drake describes the new tradition as "immensely therapeutic." It gives her something to look forward to each day, and a bit of a challenge in coming up with what to draw next.

"I look forward to the conversations with my neighbors and the chance to put something positive into the world when everything seems so dark," Drake said. "I try to keep the drawings relatable, funny, and family friendly. We have several neighbors who have changed their walking routes to come down my street to see the new drawings each day."

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Drake hopes her chalk art is able to make others crack a smile in this difficult time. "Solidarity is so important in times of isolation like we're experiencing," she said. "This is new territory for the world, and navigating it without losing our humor or sense of community is important." You can follow her on Instagram @caseydrakemakes to see what she draws next.

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Kelsey Hurwitz Assistant Digital Editor Kelsey Hurwitz is the assistant editor of WomansDay.com, and covers entertainment, holidays, pets, and good news.

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