Hymns Illustrated with Chalk

Manila, white, gray bogus, or colored paper may be used for chalk drawings. Purchase the Manila, gray bogus, and white paper size 28" x 42", from a paper company if one is available. The colored paper, called either art, poster, or construction paper, is obtained from school-supply and art stores in size 24" x 36". A 28" x 42" board is recommended. The board must be sturdy. It is best to keep 30 to 35 sheets of paper on the board at all times. The thickness of the paper helps to cut down noise. You may want to use a frame for your pictures. Suitable materials are velvet, corduroy, or wood. If a frame is used, make a light pencil line on the paper around where the frame will hit the paper. If a frame is not used, make certain to rub chalk to edge of paper. Use soft chalk, 1" x 1" x 3". The American Crayon Company, Sandusky, Ohio, will send a color wheel showing the shades of chalk available. Have a tray for the chalk built right under the board. Either blend chalk with hands or with facial tissues. Always blend colors unless instructed otherwise. Dusting the hands with talcum powder before using the chalk will fill pores of fingers and prevent chalk from penetrating too deeply. Learn to stand beside, not in front of, the easel when drawing. Practice each picture until you are confident of a successful result. Strive for speed with each attempt. Newsprint or the back side of a smooth grade of wallpaper may be used for practicing. After the picture is completed, a spotlight turned on it brings out the picture better. A Rotochrome spot lamp, obtained from display houses, brings out the picture under several different colors of light. If a blacklight is used, make the highlights of the pictures with florescent chalk. The easier pictures are in the front of the book and the harder ones in the back. The simpler pictures are best for rapid chalk drawings, which are most appropriate for evangelistic meetings, for example. - Introduction.