Sidewalk chalk has been a fun, artistic, outdoor activity for people of all ages for decades. With origins that date all the way back to 16th century Italy, sidewalk chalk is an easy way to brighten up boring, grey pavement.
So, what is the best chalk for sidewalk art? The best chalk for sidewalk art is easy to hold, won’t break or snap easily, comes in a variety of colors, and includes a storage container for when you’re not using it. You may also want to consider using soft pastels instead for easy blending and more vibrant colors.
While the choices for sidewalk chalk may seem easy, there are certain brands and varieties that are more high-quality than others out there. In this article, we’ll present you with the best chalks available for your next fun day in the sun and even suggest a few brands of soft pastels to try if you’re ready to take your sidewalk art to the next level!
How To Draw With Sidewalk Chalk
While drawing with sidewalk chalk may feel pretty straightforward, there are tons of tips and tricks to learn if you’re new to it. Creating art based on a reference photo isn’t as difficult as it might appear.
To set yourself up for success, choose your reference photo. Either use your computer to place a grid over the photo, or simply draw one over the printed picture. Choose a grid size that makes sense for the space you plan to draw.
Once you have your reference photo with a grid, head outside with your chalk. Choose your space and gently trace out the grid first with a light color, using a straight edge like a yardstick. Keep in mind your desired scale (ex: 1”x1” squares equal 1’x1’ of pavement space).
Next, work in whatever way you choose! You can work your way through the grid square by square as you go., or you can draw the whole outline for your picture square by square, then fill it in after the entire outline is down. You can also use a combination of each method.
Of course, you don’t have to draw from a reference image. If you like, you can simply pick up your chalk and freehand whatever comes to mind!
Can You Draw With Chalk On Wet Cement?
The idea of “waterproof” sidewalk chalk is a bit of a myth, but what’s also not true is that chalk washes away immediately when hit with water. In reality, there are tons of ways you can incorporate water into your sidewalk chalk and create even brighter, smoother art!
One technique is to draw your art, then dip a paintbrush in water and brush it over your chalk drawing. This helps smooth and blur the edges of your drawing and brings out more vibrancy in your colors.
When using the paintbrush method, keep in mind to rinse your brush between colors, as you don’t want them mixing together and becoming a muddy mess.
You can also try filling a few cups with water and soaking your chalk in them for 5-10 seconds before drawing. This will help soften up your chalk and create a smoother, creamier line. You’ll also notice your colors will be brighter.
The final option is simply drawing on pavement that’s already wet. If you see rain and think your sidewalk chalk time is over, we have good news: this could be the best time!
Don’t let wet pavement deter you from your sidewalk art. Take that bucket of chalk outside and get drawing. Or, if it’s been sunny but you really want to try drawing on wet sidewalk, simply grab your hose or dump a bucket of water!
Choosing Your Sidewalk Chalk
When looking for a good choice of sidewalk chalk, you’ll want to keep your eye out for a variety of colors, pieces that are large enough to have a good grip, and a storage container to hold your pieces while not in use.
We’ll explore why these qualities are important below.
1. Color Variety
Nothing is more frustrating than trying to draw a rainbow but only having red, yellow, and blue. Since chalk doesn’t blend well, you can’t really create purple by overlaying the red and blue together. If you want to create a vivid, colorful artwork with sidewalk chalk, you’ll want to find a pack that has a wide variety of colors.
The number of colors is up to you and what you want to do with your chalk. But we recommend finding a pack with at least 5-6 color options, though the best have up to 12 or even 16 colors. Some of our options below have 24 colors!
2. Grip
When heading outside to get started on your next sidewalk chalk creation, you probably aren’t planning to just draw for 5 minutes and go back inside.
To create large, beautiful works of art, you’ll need to hold the chalk for quite a bit of time. That’s why it’s important to get chalk that has a good feel in the hand and is easy to hold for long periods of time.
The best chalks are about 4 inches long and wide enough to give you a good-sized streak with every swipe on the sidewalk unless you’re doing detail work, in which case you may need a smaller piece anyway.
3. Storage Container
Although not necessary, a storage container for your sidewalk chalk can be extremely helpful.
Sidewalk chalk tends to be fairly dusty, so keeping that dust safe from your clothes during transportation from inside to outside can save you the headache of washing more clothes.
A storage container also keeps your chalk protected from the rain in case you accidentally leave it outside when you’re done.
Finally, the storage container helps keep your chalks organized while you’re working. Rather than having them all splayed across the pavement and rolling into your workspace, it keeps them collected and easy to grab.
Suggested: Soft Pastels For Sidewalk Art
While many beginners can certainly make use of actual chalk for their creative vision, many professional artists actually use soft pastels. They blend far easier than chalk, come in highly pigmented colors where chalk comes mostly in pastel colors, and tend to last a bit longer on cement and pavement.
So if you’re only just realizing you’re looking for soft pastels and not actual chalk for your artistic exploits, here are a couple of suggested products to get you started.
1. Prismacolor NuPastel Artist Pastels
These pastels from Prismacolor have a soft and creamy texture that is perfect for blending over rough surfaces.
However, they also happen to be more durable and less prone to breakage than other brands. They are also highly pigmented so you don’t have to use too many layers to make your piece really shine.
These pastels are, of course, non-toxic and safe for kids and classrooms. They can be shaved or use wet or dry for different effects. With this set of 12 colors, shading and blending will be a dream!
Easy to grip with a rectangular shape, pigmented with bold colors, and able to be sharpened, these pastels are sure to become your new favorites!
2. Faber-Castel Soft Pastel Crayons
Like Prismacolor, Faber-Castel is a well-known name in the art community for producing high-quality materials at a lower cost.
This set in particular offers 72 bright colors in a convenient travel box to take with you on the go when you decide it’s time to unleash your creativity.
These pastels are easily blendable, as they have a creamy consistency and include transition shades between colors so you won’t have to mix and match to get the shade you need.
These highly pigmented colors will offer vivid and bold results, whether you’re a beginner or professional sidewalk artist.
The 5 Best Chalks For Sidewalk Art
There are a lot of ways to be creative with sidewalk chalk. Whether drawing from reference, sketching freehand, or creating in the rain, the options with sidewalk chalk are limitless.
Now that we’ve reviewed some of these and highlighted the best features to look for, take a look at our top 5 picks for the best chalks for sidewalk art.
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Feela Sidewalk Chalk Set | 162 pcs, 18 colors, pre-organized |
| 2. | Joyin Sidewalk Chalks | 160 pcs, 16 colors, organized box |
| 3. | Joyin Jumbo Sidewalk Chalks Set | 60 pcs, 3 containers, 5 colors |
| 4. | The Best Crafts Jumbo Sidewalk Chalk | 20 pcs, 7 colors, storage case |
| 5. | Crayola Sidewalk Chalk (For Kids) | Easy for kids to use, 24 colors |
1. Feela Sidewalk Chalk Set
The Feela pack of sidewalk chalk is definitely one of our top choices when it comes to color variety and a comfortable grip.
With 162 pieces in 18 different colors, this set can’t be beat with the vast options it presents you with.
While they don’t come with an actual storage container, they do come in a large, cardboard box where the colors are pre-organized. You can simply carry the box to transport your chalk.
2. Joyin Sidewalk Chalks
The Joyin set is another fantastic option with a wide color variety. With 16 different colors to choose from, you’ll be able to create whatever masterpiece your heart desires.
Like the Feela set, the Joyin set doesn’t come with an actual storage container. This is fairly normal for larger packs like this that contain over 100 pieces, as it would be difficult to fit all of these in one plastic container.
However, they do come in an organized box like the option above. If you want the large quantity and color variety of a jumbo pack like this, we recommend buying a simple storage container like this one for your chalk when you’re on the go.
3. Joyin Jumbo Sidewalk Chalks Set
Although our first two options don’t come with their own storage container, this smaller set by Joyin does! Each of the 3 containers in this pack holds 20 pieces each. The best part is that when your chalk runs out, you can reuse the containers.
This set only has 5 different colors, but the colors they do include are vibrant and sure to make any sidewalk art beautiful.
These chalk pieces are also 4 inches long, a great length to feel comfortable in your hand as you work on your creation.
4. The Best Crafts Jumbo Sidewalk Chalk
This set by The Best Crafts, or TBC, combines the best of all our main features: color, storage, and comfortable grip.
While it only contains 20 pieces in total, it offers 7 different colors. This may seem like a small amount, but each of these colors are bright and vibrant, bringing life to your creations.
It also comes complete in its own storage container with a lid and handle, making it easy to bring in and out between coloring sessions.
5. Crayola Sidewalk Chalk (For Kids)
Our last pick comes from none other than Crayola, of course. A long-time leader in craft and art supplies, it should come as no surprise that Crayola also offers sidewalk chalk.
It will also probably not surprise you that Crayola’s chalk collection includes the largest variety of colors so far – 24 of them to be exact. While you only get one of each, it will give you more freedom to use whatever color you want.
Crayola also offers a 48 count option which has 48 different colors, found here.
And of course, Crayola offers their chalk in a convenient, cardboard carrying case, fully decked out in the classic yellow and green Crayola design packaging.
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