Chalking Tools + Resources
Hello again!
I’ve got another bundle of helpful information for you. This one is specifically targeted to any aspiring chalk artists. Whether you had your first chalk gig last year, last week, or just booked your first gig that’s coming up soon, I hope this list of products helps you in any way! These are the tools and materials that I’ve stuck with; the ones that have proven to be extremely helpful.
A small disclaimer: This list is just a suggestion. Some artists may prefer different tools than ones I have listed and that’s okay! Everyone has a unique method or system to their craft. This is just a helpful list to get you started, not a mandatory shopping cart.
Below you’ll find the following categories: Chalk, Pastels, Cleaning Products, Towels, Spray Bottles, Rulers, Ladders, The Bag, The Box, Timelapses+Projectors, & Resources
Chalk- My previous post gives enough information already about markers, so we’ll skip those in this section. I want to talk about the non-liquid chalk; the beautiful, original chalk sticks. I ALWAYS use the Crayola Chalk 144 ct box. The box does have a small note on the back that says “not recommended for chalkboards”. I can say that I use these chalks for all of my non marker chalk art drawings, on both porous and non-porous surfaces. This warning is just good to note because you might see stains after erasing. I’ve been able to erase this chalk completely every time but some surfaces may be more sensitive than others. Test a small area first. The link to this chalk box will take you to Michael’s because they offer the best value if use the 40% off coupon. I ordered these from Amazon and I received faulty boxes, the colors were dull and poorly made. Don’t order from Amazon.
Chalk Pastels If I want extra vibrant art that I know won’t get erased, I use chalk pastels. Chalk pastels have a guaranteed high chance of staining your boards. Also, some pastels can ruin regular chalkboards because they have a thicker and almost oiler texture. I’ve had some scratch a little too deep onto regular chalkboards or even leave behind an oily spot on the board that can’t be erased. That’s why I use these only if I know the chalk art is permanent or if it’s on special pastel paper. The brand I’ve been extremely happy with is Faber Castell. This link will also take you to Michael’s because don’t you want 40% off? By the way, Michael’s doesn’t sponsor this. They just make it more affordable for me. They should hit me up though…. I have tried other pastel brands that have been great too, including the Master Touch brand at Hobby Lobby and Michaels Craft Smart brand as well. I think I just haven’t developed a pickiness for this area yet.
Cleaning Products
Mr. Clean Magic Erasers- These are every chalk artist’s best friend. If you don’t just paint over old art with fresh chalk paint, then these will save you time erasing those markers and even those stains from pastels. Be careful though, because while you are removing old chalk marker ink, you are also removing the blackboard. Make sure to study the board’s resistance to fading before applying many magic eraser uses.
Towels- I bought a few hand towel sets from Target - it is literally $3 for 6 of these. I’ve never had to replace them, I just wash them once I’m out. These are handy for anything you do art related. Chalk can get all over the floor or ink the tables. I bought these primarily for cleaning boards after I spray them. I realized some places don’t have towels to just give away or let you borrow, so I just use my own now. I don’t want to ruin someone else’s towels anyway. When they get too worn, I just throw it away and pick up another set. I’m still using the set I purchased 3 years ago! Microfiber towels are awesome too. They clean some boards better, they’re just pricey compared to 6 for $3.
Spray bottles- These are very easy to find anywhere! I bought a couple so that I always have one in my traveling chalk bag and one for my studio. You really only need water for erasing most boards. Some need an ammonia based cleaner, like Chalk Ink or VersaChalk. You can have one for each but I get by with just water and a magic eraser. Lately, I’ve been relying on Versachalk’s cleaning spray kit. It’s $15 and it actually does help with erasing as long as you let the spray sit on the art for at least 20 seconds.
Rulers/Straight Edge- This is a MUST for all of my chalk stuff. I don’t care too much to pre draw light chalk lines and measure out layouts. I mostly work with bar menus, so the T-Ruler replaces all of that and helps me write out beers quickly. Plus, I don’t like spending so much time afterwards erasing the guidelines. It gets messy in my opinion. The one I use is even better because it’s transparent. Basically you set the short edge against the side of the chalkboard, and the actual ruler part gives you a straight line for lettering, vertical or horizontal. I get the 12’ and the 18’ Transparent T Ruler from Hobby Lobby. Another important ruler to have handy is the level in case the edges are too far for the T Ruler.
Step Ladders- It’s such a lifesaver to always have one of these in the car. I mean just the 2 or 3 step ladder. Some places don’t have ladders and you may not want to try using a chair or a table to stand on because that’s just an accident waiting to happen. I have a few taller ladders at home and I ALWAYS ask the client if I will need to bring them. Most boards are reachable so the little step ladder comes in handy often. I’m very very short haha. I found most of mine at great deals from At Home and Target. Most places like TJ Maxx and Marshalls have ladders too. Home Depot is also a good stop to make for investing in a high quality 5’ ladder or taller. And lastly, Walmart has GREAT deals on ladders. Side note: Keep a floor pillow in your car. There have been many times that I originally planned to draw straight onto a wall but then had to move the board to a floor in order to stay out of the way from customers. Sitting on the floor is painful, but luckily I just grab the back up floor pillow in my car.
The Bag- this is very optional but I figured someone might wonder what I use to transport everything. I absolutely love my Vera Bradley Grand Cargo bag but it is discontinued. You can find these being sold on ebay and other sites. Any of VB’s travel bags will work just as great though. They all have plenty of pockets for storing everything mentioned above. (Except for ladders of course) It looks like this:
Obviously, there are cheaper options you should also explore if you’re not a fan of the floral quilts. It’s just so sturdy and reliable for 4 years now and still going strong. A cheaper bag may end up unraveling or rip from all the materials pretty quickly. And my huge chalk box fits in there perfectly.
The Chalk Box- I absolutely love this chalk box. Art Bin makes high quality art storage and I highly recommend it! I bought this from Michael’s in store and used the 40% off coupon. The link on the chalk box in the last section will take you straight to the Art Bin website for more options.
Timelapses + Projectors-
This section gets pricey but it saves SO MUCH TIME. Timelapses If you’re interested in making your own timelapses, you’re definitely going to spend $100+ depending on the quality of videos you are okay with. This is such a great way to attract more followers and show your process. It’s so impressive to see the hard work that goes behind art when it just looks super easy to the general eye. The timelapses I have with the best quality were recorded with a goPro provided by Terrapin Beer Co. I don’t have a GoPro personally because I’m just not ready to make that purchase, but I would definitely consider the standard version or the cheapest model they make once I’m ready. I actually just use my phone for my personal timelapses. They have been ok for the most part until the new software made iPhone 7s perform terribly because they just want me to buy a new phone. Tripod I use this $30 58” tripod from BestBuy to hold my phone or my projector. It comes with changeable holders for GoPros, Phones, and Projectos. Projector I use the Nebula projector which is exactly the size of a soda can, so it’s great for traveling and setting up in public places. It’s $250 on Amazon but has already paid for itself a very, very long time ago. It is an android product but does have compatibility for Apple. I’ve used both just fine. These are great for chalkboards or small murals but may not be very clear for giant murals. iPad The iPad is probably the most common tool among lettering designers and artist. It’s the new way to draw, sketch, and create quickly. If you have the iPad with the pencil compatibility, you definitely need the Procreate app. I use this to take pictures of chalkboards and draw on them with the apple pencil. Then I project the final product to the real board using my Nebula.
Rough Draft on The iPad using Procreate
The Final product
Resources I didn’t go to business school and most freelancers will tell you they had to teach themselves everything business related. It’s hard! I’m still figuring it out but these resources have made my job SO MUCH EASIER. Hoodzpah has great tools for proposal templates and books that tell you everything you need to know when starting from nothing. I have their book, it’s AWESOME. I used their proposal template for a really important job AND got the gig. So, it’s been tested and approved. Pandr is a design company that WANTS to help other people do the same thing. This link will take you to classes, contract templates, and more. I love these girls and they are the reason I have continued doing what I am doing now. The contract template is GOLD. You need to protect yourself and the client.
I am still learning so much about freelancing as I go. Every new project will usually present a new process or skill to learn. I definitely wish I had a list like this when I was starting out. I went through so many boxes, rulers, and bad experiences. I hope I can save you from some of these hassles! Let me know if there are any other tools that I should’ve mentioned. These are just the first ones I could think of and I’ll come back to update this through time.
Thank you for reading and happy chalking!