Sidewalk Color Camp: Lettering Geeks
Prep: 15 min | Draw time: 15 min per square | Geek out: up to 1 hour
Most likely, your summer chalk bucket is down to the nubs and all of the crazy chalk products are on clearance at Walmart. You’ll need to grab a fresh box of Crayola Sidewalk Chalk for this lettering activity. (Don’t worry! We’ll do our best to use it up.) Crayolas are worth it for their vibrant color and no-roll shape. Be sure to buy the classic colors and refrain from neon and glitter. I know it’s hard. Trust me. You’ll see why on Day 2!
Supplies
Crayola Sidewalk Chalk, 24-Count, Classic Colors
Qty: 1 box for 1-4 artists / 2 boxes for 5-8 artists | Also available at many groceries
Draw one letter per square, with a few pieces of chalk in each. This will give each artist their own canvas of sorts. Do your best to follow styles in the photo. Don’t worry about being perfect, mine certainly is not!
Making the Chalk Letters
Draw the word S-U-M-M-E-R on the sidewalk. One letter per square. Do your best to follow the styles in the photo. Don't worry about it being perfect, mine is not! Note: If you have more artists than letters, just extend a phrase down the sidewalk, like “YaY for SUMMER!”
Lay 2-3 chalk in each square.
Ask each artist to pick 2-3 squares, and work with the colors provided.
“Design” each letterform. Encourage them to trace it, color it, add shadowing, patterns and illustration. Whatever their heart desires.
Team Goal: Start off working as individuals, but try to finish as a group to give them a sense of completion. I had 6 kids (ages 3-9) for this project, and each worked on 2-3 letters. The older kids started helping the younger kids complete their letters. To see the whole word completed was a fun team effort.
Take Letter Selfies!
Gather up the remaining chalk and start prep for Day 2 (It takes 5 minutes). You should have a bunch left, in half sticks and nubby pieces. Follow prep directions here to soak the nubs overnight.
Grab that hose, wash down the sidewalk and cool off!!
Geek Out on Lettering
Once you’re done getting chalky, check out the world of letters. We all know about bold, italic and serif. But did you know letters can have eyes, ears, shoulders, arms, beaks and tails? Check out this glossary from FontShop to see just how cool and complex letterforms really are!
Learning about letters is also important in the field of graphic design. They are key to communicating with your audience. It’s a super fun challenge, and requires creative problem solving. Here are three main ways letters are used in graphic design:
Letters are often designed into fonts, or typefaces (Type Design).
They are set on a baseline, with specific spacing, so they can be easily read (Typography).
They can also be can be beautiful works of art—designed to draw you in. (Lettering).
Lettering Inspiration Board
Much like your gorgeous sidewalk chalk letters, here is an inspiration board from Good Type and my new favorite artist Stefan Kunz.
QuickChalk Quiz!
(Use the glossary from FontShop. Answers at bottom of post)
Which letter has an eye?
Which letter has an ear?
Which letters have shoulders?
Which letters have arms?
Which letters have tails?
Happy lettering!
Check out the rest of Sidewalk Color Camp:
“No Mix” Chalk Painting (1 hr)
Neon Box-Top Tree Line + Necklaces (2-3 hr)
Quiz Key: 1. e | 2. g | 3. h, m, n | 4. E, F, T | 5. Q, g, j, p, q, y
