Not child’s play: Dad and his daughter bring the sidewalks to life through colorful chalk art
Concrete is the canvas for the father-daughter duo who creates images done with chalk — reminiscent of the dad’s first drawings for his little girl and her younger sister in the driveway of the family home in North Huntingdon.
Colorful characters appear to be smiling or laughing. Some have an optical illusion that makes them look three dimensional.
They are bold, bright and fun.
“Chalk art is like life,” said Erik Greenawalt, known as The Chalking Dad, a name given to him by friends and neighbors who saw him drawing in the driveway with his daughters. “It’s beautiful, but messy — and temporary. But the memories last forever.”
They certainly do, said Jaycie Greenawalt, 20, who with sister Jenna, 17, recalled those remarkable years with their dad. The two have traveled with him to chalk art events around the U.S.
“Chalk art has taken me so many places and created so many memories with my dad and my sister,” said Jaycie, who is following in her father’s footsteps as a chalk artist.
She and her dad are two of the more than 20 artists from 13 states who will be decorating the concrete at the second annual Pittsburgh Riverwalk & Chalk Fest on Saturday and Sunday on the North Shore.
It will include pieces from wildlife to river designs. There will be an area where people can help create art.
Becasue it’s located close to the Andy Warhol Museum, there will be images inspired by the iconic artist and leader in the pop-art movement that imitates popular culture such as a 3D Campbell’s Soup Can and a Brillo Box.
The Pop District and The Warhol Academy are thrilled to join forces with Riverlife and the artists for this year’s Pittsburgh Riverwalk & Chalk Fest, according to Matt Thornton, director of digital marketing for The Warhol Academy and producer for The Warhol Creative.
Jaycie Greenawalt, 20, a student at Slippery Rock University who will be making pop-art donuts.
“Being part of this event has been a wonderful experience,” she said.
That experience began when Erik Greenawalt, who is self taught, began doing chalk art when he was working nights. He would spend days with his girls. They would ask him to draw princesses, Cinderella and Snow White. He broadened his repertoire to include animals and other designs — including some in 3D so his girls could pose with them.
He currently works a day job in finance for Giant Eagle but continues to do the sidewalk art as a hobby. He’s created the late Queen Elizabeth II in a fashionable pink suit and hat, and the late Steve Irwin host of “The Crocodile Hunter” at an event in Australia.
He and Jaycie collaborated on drawing the Georgia Bulldog mascot for an event in Georgia.
An often requested character is Dora the Explorer, which Erik Greenawalt created when the girls were little. It’s still one of Jaycie’s favorites.
She hopes the art form will continue to grow.
“Showcasing art this way also brings it to the people so everyone can see it and experience art, “Jaycie said.
Erik Greenawalt said it’s exciting to welcome so many artist friends to Pittsburgh and to show off Pittsburgh.
Artists use various materials from soft pastels to tempera paint — which is like liquid chalk — and makes the design more vibrant.
Every artist does it differently, Greenawalt said. Some do it free hand. Others used a grid method, which takes a reference drawing and creates even squares on it and then makes a similar grid over the larger drawing.
Chalk art, of course, washes away over time.
Artists started working on their street murals Friday morning.
Onlookers are welcome.
Erik Greenawalt plans to do a 3D piece honoring beloved Pittsburgh Steeler Franco Harris who died in December, two days before he was to be recognized for the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception. The Franco image will be 10 feet wide by 20 feet tall.
People will be able to pose with the image.
“I have wanted to do this for several years,” he said. “It will look life-size when you take a photo with it. The magic happens in the camera.”
That same kind of magic he created for his daughters in the driveway all those years ago.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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