When Melbourne chalk artist Ulla Taylor first picked up some coloured chalk and hit the pavement, she had no idea that it would become a way of life.

“My first drawing was in 1987 in my first year of arts school and then I got a commission to do a Christmas star for Melbourne council,” Ulla says.

The artist will be in Cairns as part of the Cairns Buskers Festival that begins on Wednesday, September 14.

Through Ulla’s first gig, she met older artists and realised she could earn a living as a chalk artist rather than work as a waitress or bar attendant to prop up her income.

Having worked in an office for more than a year after art school, she was more than ready to say an enthusiastic “yes” when she was offered a chalk art tour of Canada by other artists.

“I was in a chronic depression,” she says.

Ulla has since brought pavements to life all over the world from Canada to Hong Kong and her forte is creating pavement chalk art in 3D.

“It’s about creating illusions. It looks like something is popping out from the picture,” she says.
“Even seven years ago people didn’t know what it was”

“They could see it in Mary Poppins where they jump into a picture and dance with the penguins, but it wasn’t over here.
“Now with digital cameras, pavement chalk art isn’t as temporary and 3D illusions really show up on camera.”

>> Ulla will give pavement art workshops as part of the Cairns Buskers Festival from September  14-19 and will also create a piece on a Cairns pavement. For more information and to book a workshop visit www.cairnsbuskersfestival.com. Workshops are $20.

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