Since last fall, chalk drawings have graced Vancouver’s West End sidewalks. Artist Elizabeth Cartagena paints illustrations of small animals, monsters or other cute creatures with strange and strange activities. She hopes her ephemeral actions will make passersby smile.
Instead of throwing away the surplus chalk, Elizabeth of Cartagena decided to use it to decorate the sidewalks in her neighborhood.
Photo: instagram / violetncanvas
Elizabeth Cartagena explains that she embarked on this adventure last October in an effort to make her feel some happiness during the pandemic.
West End residents often withdraw in the middle of the night or early in the morning. I like the idea of someone waking up and seeing this in the morning
as you say.
However, the work wasn’t always easy. Some of the works required nearly four hours of work, and the artist sometimes had to ask his wife to bring him gloves to finish decorating the sidewalk while facing the cold.
Elisabeth paints Cartagena mostly at night or early in the morning, often in secret.
Photo: instagram / violetncanvas
It’s a bit like making little creatures in the West End and letting people imagine a story that goes along with it.
Elizabeth Cartagena can travel from 45 minutes to 4 hours in a single drawing.
Photo: instagram / violetncanvas
People are shouting thank you from their balcony which is really nice.
Elizabeth Cartagena explains that the rain makes the sidewalks quieter for her, but it makes her business disappear more quickly.
Photo: instagram / violetncanvas
Elizabeth Cartagena loves the idea of sometimes living in an animated world.
Some might have seen her early in the morning when she finished her job. It’s good to get people’s appreciation and connect with the community.
With information from the show First edition
Ryan MacDonald is a contributor at Vaughantoday.ca, covering a wide range of topics including local news, politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. He focuses on clear, accurate reporting and delivering useful information that helps readers stay informed about current events and community developments. Ryan is committed to presenting stories in a balanced and accessible way, highlighting issues, trends, and updates that matter most to readers in Vaughan and across Canada.