TODAY'S TASK  is to create drawings or other designs for the chalkboard wall (previous post promise). 

To make it easy we'll just TRACE & TRANSFER. 

Let's print some favorite images or gather all those random sketches plus clippings of interesting quotes so we can create a carbon copy using simple TIPS & TECHNIQUES:

• Print out a favorite image.
  
• Rub a charcoal on the back of the paper.
  
• Any color chalk works well too.  
  
• Trace
  
• Smudge a little
  
• Stand back
  
• Take a look, admire the rendering
  
• Smudge again
  
• or not at all

A favorite image is a Fornasetti Plate I found on Pinterest, speaking of, here is one of my boards full of tracing ideas: Sublunay Sillhouettes  

I prepared a contrasting surface so I could see my transfer.  It also created a plate shape.  

If there is anything that needs to be changed it can be easily erased and traced again, which makes this a great time to practice smudging and softening the edges for future pastel drawing originals.  

Now we just wait around for the rest of the surface to become invaded with impromptu notes, grocery lists, cute quotes, menu items, and imprints of a witty passerby.  OR Maybe the whole chalkboard wall can be covered with a life-size rendering of a horse. Maybe. 

See you later!

(above) The first regular coat provides an even layer but it will still show the wood grain.

(below) The right side shows the second coat using the chalkboard paint mix.

This was a fast drying paint mix.  I let it cure for a day and then used charcoals and chalks.

All done. Now it's time for the interesting part of this project, which will be on the next post: 
What to draw or write on your chalkboard wall.  Some ideas and designs coming up.

I did not want to bring up a when-I-was-young observation, but I have to because as I mentioned in the last post, it’s all about recollecting.

In my day a chalkboard was all about function, not decoration, and it was all that there was.  Then when my classroom upgraded to white boards and erasable markers we thought it was the best thing ever.  But when my kids were younger and I visited their classrooms, I made the comparison and described the original boards with nostalgia and fond memories.  Even when I was in college, way before this trending décor, I used a chalkboard for projects in my photography class, just to have fun reversing the images.  
             ---  yes, back when we would develop and print our film and photos  --- 

So I had told them so much about it that I decided to make one for them outside.
Why outside? One, because I remembered how messy chalk powder is.  Two, because I wanted them to play outdoors like I did when I was their age.  And three, because on the passage to the patio there was a long wall that felt like wasted space and had the perfect surface for it. Now that I think about it, it was for a decorative purpose too.

I painted 3 boards so each one could have their own.  I wanted to motivate them to use it so I wrote the word “illustrate” on top of one.  Trying to be consistent, I looked for other words that started with the letter “i” and discovered a few more (such as these here).

Then the cutest thing happened.  They assigned themselves a board and explained the order.  My daughter, at age 7, told me that board labeled illustrate was hers because she was always drawing (she forgot to say masterpieces).

My 4 and 5 year old agreed.  The one labeled imagine was for the little comedian who was always telling stories and making up songs, and the one labeled invent was for the youngest, brightest, tinkerer in the family. They wondered why I even asked, as if I had done this intentionally.  

       That is how I became attached to those words. Together they inspire me.

I wish I had pictures of those chalkboards because each one had a unique, painted frame and detailed crown on top. Here's something similar from a side wall we had at the studio:

Students would work on some visualization-coordination exercises and would end up with such interesting abstract compositions that we could not dare erase.
Other times they would draw very detailed work that people actually thought they were signs for a store, like the time they drew some birds and people would stop by and ask if we had any parrots for sale.  True story.

If we are going to be outdoors we can keep going, chalkboard or not, that's what sidewalks, and stairs, and landings are for.

I'm so glad chalkboards are in.  They have always been fun and now adults have permission to play too.  It's time to make a new one.