Tips & Guidelines

General Rules & Guidelines

• Chalkers and their art must be in Eau Claire County, Chippewa County, or Dunn County to participate.
• Chalkers must select a category to be placed with and voted on.
  Those include: single adult (18+), group adult (18+), single child (in 4 age brackets), group child (in 4 age brackets), and family (mixed group of kids and adults). You will select your category when you upload your final images.
• Keep it safe and make sure to follow the latest recommendations of national, state, and local health officials.
• Space is technically unlimited! Use what you have available to you. Traditional Chalkfest spaces are roughly 6x6, but larger is possible and may be favored by the public. Concrete sidewalks work best, but blacktop works too.
• We encourage you to chalk at your own home whenever possible, but if you do not have chalkable space, you may go to an open public park. Remember to follow all city and park rules. Try not to block public sidewalks for too long. If you need to go to a park, find an out-of-the-way corner, but do not block it overnight.

Tips to maximize the virtual event

• Document as you go!
  Take in-progress photos and videos to share on social media, and to possibly submit with your final images for the online gallery. Tag @VolumeOne on Facebook and Instagram.
• Social Media
  Facebook or Instagram Live videos are a perfect way to participate in this virtual event. Tag @VolumeOne on Facebook and Instagram.
• Submit your best photo.
  Take your final submission photo as soon as you are finished, to avoid any wear from weather or foot traffic.

How to get the best possible photos of your work

Your photo is what the public will see to vote from, so your art has to shoot well in the end. Plan ahead before you start and make sure you keep in mind:

• Get up high to shoot your photo, looking down.
• Photos may come out better on a bright overcast day instead a full sunny day.
• Consider where the sun will be when you photograph it, and what shadows it may create.
• Avoid shooting when there are any harsh shadows/light on your art.
• Do NOT use a flash.
• If your artwork is particularly large, consider how you can show that scale in the final photo so it’s clear to the viewer.

Tips to keep you & your artwork safe

• Be ready!
  Completing a drawing can be physically challenging depending on the complexity and size. Be ready to work hard and stay focused.
• Plan ahead for weather! Pay attention to forecasts.
  Make sure you have enough time to complete your drawing and get photos before any rain falls. If rain does come, cover your work with a tarp, but know that there’s still a big risk that water can get under the tarp and ruin your art. If you work over multiple days but there’s no rain in the forecast, still cover your art at night with a tarp to prevent any dew buildup or other risky things.
• Protect your work!
  If your work is being drawn in a public space of some kind over multiple days, know that you are risking your work because you can’t really fully protect it from community traffic. Keep this in mind as you plan.
• Protect yourself!
  Wear a hat and sunblock to prevent sunburn and/or work under a pop-up tent.
• Focus on comfort!
  Knee pads are strongly recommended, and old pillows or other comfort devices are also encouraged.

How to submit your final photos

Deadline to submit is July 18, 2021.

What images we need:

• 1 finished photo of your work
• 1 photo of the individual/team who worked on the art.
• 3 in-progress photos (if possible)
• You may also share any video links of the process if you’d like, which we may or may not use.