Attending a chalk festival is not the same as seeing pictures on the internet. It’s an immersive experience. Whether a festival is 10 artists or 80, watching street painters transform the everyday road into a living gallery is like no other.

Maribeth McFaul pointed out recently that “street painting is less about a finished piece and more about performance art.” Think about the difference between attending a rock concert versus listening to a CD. The concert is about the experience, while the CD is about the mastery of sound. In other words, street painters use an ephemeral medium to showcase the creative process with community members who may otherwise never see the inside of an artist’s studio.

Fellow street painter, Jennifer Chaparro created the International Street Painting Society. The Society website maintains an ongoing list of festivals around the world. Click HERE to see the list.