The Chalk Queen of York Region

Summer is here and what better time to find artists working outside in public places creating amazing works in chalk!

Since the beginning of recorded time, chalk as a medium has been used to create artwork. Kim Egan, a SOYRA member and lifelong area resident, has been bringing colour and vibrancy to the streets of York Region using her imagination and chalk.

Kim at the Grand Opening of Aurora Town Square in 2024. Inspired by a classic still life of flowers.

Kim has been creating art in one way or another for many years. Her artistic skills include designing and making beaded semi-precious and sterling sliver jewellery, creating handmade floral embellishments for hats, as well as acrylic painting.

Creating chalk art began about 6 years ago when Kim saw a blackboard beautifully coloured with Crayola chalk at a local store. It inspired her buy a box of coloured chalks and try drawing on pavement with them. She was impressed with the result and the 'Chalk Queen of York Region' was born! Though this is a self-proclaimed title, Kim hopes it will catch on and give her the opportunity to create more of these magical but temporary drawings.

Titled 'The Crown', this first public space drawing was done at Madison Greenhouse in Newmarket, an event space that has interlocking brick flooring inside, offering Kim the opportunity to create chalk art all year round.

Inspiration for Kim comes from many places. A love of nature, florals and fantasy themes combined with beautiful and pretty things, helps her visualize new ideas for her artwork. Vincent Van Gogh's story and his struggles offer a different kind of insight to her chalk art and acrylic paintings. Mainly self-taught, Kim plans on increasing her skills and experience in both of these mediums.

Titled 'Bird with Rainbow', an early chalk art piece at the Riverwalk Commons in Newmarket in 2020, Kim's third public space chalk art drawing, took 23 hours over 5 days to create for a Newmarket Today article.

Kim's chalk drawings are meant to inspire people of all ages. Children are easily attracted to brightly coloured chalk drawings, but Kim wants to awaken the chalk artist in adults too, and encourages them to get down on the pavement with her to draw what they love!

A floral design Kim created for "Chalk It Up", a chalk art drawing event during Culture Days in 2023, at the Riverwalk Commons, Newmarket. The theme of the event was "A Few of My Favourite Things!".

In 2024, Kim was thrilled to be in a CTV News Barrie interview based on her chalk art drawings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJyZ2IXTt54

Kim is currently working out her schedule for summer. Look for her at Town Square in Aurora and the Riverwalk Commons in Newmarket, as well as other locations in York Region where things are happening. She is likely to be there creating a beautiful, colour-filled chalk drawing that everyone who sees it will enjoy.

Titled 'The Queen Bee', this chalk drawing was created at he the Riverwalk Commons, Newmarket, in memoriam of Kim's grandmother who passed away at the age of 100 years old.

More examples of Kim's work can be found on Instagram @chalkqueenofyorkregion.

If you are interested in Kim's work or you would like to have her come out to your event (party, wedding, anniversary, business or corporate event) and create a chalk art drawing just for you, she can be reached by email at: chalkqueenofyorkregion@gmail.com.