Pandaberry

So Ray and I were in Harvard Square this past Sunday on a gorgeous weekend in Cambridge, and ended up in the middle of Harvard Square Mayfair. A big annual event at MayFair is the Cambridge Rotary Club’s Chalk on the Walk competition. I lamented that yet again I had forgotten to sign up, but Ray noticed there were a few empty squares and encouraged me to go ahead and ask if there were any empties I could use – it wouldn’t hurt, right? I got really lucky – ‘Come back at 1 PM and we’ll see what we can do!’ is what I was told by the organizers. I took the time to think about what I would draw if I got a space. I happened to have my panda messenger bag, and I was walking through the craft vendor booths and I saw some nice designs with strawberries. So a pandaberry seemed in order. I ended up getting a large space (the last one left), so I went for it!
First I sketched out (in black charcoal brick, much cheaper than artist’s charcoal 🙂 ) the entire scene…
MayFair Harvard Square 2010
Then I blocked out the color…
MayFair Harvard Square 2010
Then added highlights…
MayFair Harvard Square 2010
Finally, finished it off with a background of bamboo!
MayFair Harvard Square 2010
It took a little over three hours in total. The kids at the event really liked the little hungry panda a lot!
Some notes for next year:

  • A dress is probably not the best attire! (Will the chalk wash out? 🙂 )
  • Hairties are a good idea as well.
  • Knee pads or some kind of pad to kneel on would be awesome.
  • Sunblock.

There was lots of great chalk art there, take a look in my album if you like! Next year I’d like to do some kind of free software-themed design! What do you think?

13 Comments

  1. Ted says:

    Nice! Every road should get decorations like that 🙂

  2. Nom nom nom!
    Very nice 🙂

  3. Scott says:

    Nice work Máirín. I wish I was that good. Oh btw you need a tan, you're very very pale woman 😛

    1. I don't tan! It's either white or red. I am Irish 🙁

      1. Jack Straw says:

        Same thing here and I'm not even Irish.
        Nice dress anyway

      2. Scott says:

        I tan too easily, I have some Mexican in my White bloody xD

  4. heathenx says:

    Awesome! 🙂

  5. Cool! Have you seen the 3D pavement art of Edgar Mueller? It's quite impressive: http://www.metanamorph.com

    1. I have! It might be cool to try something like that next year… if i can figure out how he does it 🙂

  6. Stéphane says:

    "A dress is probably not the best attire!"
    Indeed, but it so much sexier… 😉
    Joking aside, the artworks are amazing. I like the "glossy shading" you've made on your strawberry. I love also the "rowers" and the "Madagascar's penguins". 🙂

  7. andrej says:

    Cute! It inspires me to make such charcoal drawing event for kids here…

  8. Its very nice! Very well done. It shows amazing skill 🙂

  9. MartyD says:

    Holy crap that's awesome!!

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