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Chalk it up to Long Beach

The artists ranged from seasoned professionals, to amateur hobbyists in the eleventh annual Belmont Shore Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest on Saturday.

A variety of different types of chalk art were displayed along Second Street, and passersby could walk down the street and take in each artist’s unique style and technique.

“In Long Beach, this is the fifth year that I’ve done this competition; I’ve had the good fortune of winning it twice,” competitor David Gilmore said. He said he has been a professional artist for 20 years.

The contest began at 10 A.M. and lasted until 4 P.M. giving the artists participating six hours to concoct their vision and placing it onto paper using their own colored chalk.

Many of the pieces, including portraits of Frankenstein’s monster and his bride, were Halloween themed to showcase the season.

There were also two Dia De Los Muertos skulls in a loving embrace alongside drawings of ghouls and demons.

Another popular theme was the ocean; many projects were comprised of detailed waves, mermaids and surfers, which hinted at the beach-city vibe of Long Beach.

The object of the contest was to win one of a handful of prizes, and the top prize was $1,000. However, many of the artists said they saw this contest as a great way to simply present their work and gain exposure.

After the six hours where over, judges would make their rounds to photograph each of the 125 plus entries for scoring.

The contest was founded, and is still run, by local photographer and community activist Justin Rudd. Justin has played a part in the organizing and also in the judging of the contest ever since its inception in 2003.

However skilled or experienced the artists were, they always met their viewers and admirers with smiles and conversations. Often times they would pause from their work and explain their drawings and the stories behind them to the onlookers in the crowd.

Randall Williams, has been a chalk artist for fifteen years, and he said he is always excited to see other people’s art at the event.

“It’s a really good way to get people to see your work,” Williams said. “If you like to make art, don’t just keep it to yourself or in your house, bring it here and show people.”

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