The type of media, or medium that artists use is one of if not the MOST crucial aspects of their works of art. So what kind of medium does a sidewalk artist work with? You probably think it's as simple as a Crayola ® Brand bucket of sidewalk chalk, however, that is far from the truth.


Most sidewalk artists use high-quality chalk pastels. The most common brand of these would be Rembrandt pastels. They are made from the purest pigments mixed with the finest quality kaolin. Rembrandt soft pastels have for years been one of the most popular artists’ pastels in the world. They have a number of characteristics and unique features including the perfect degree of softness. They are so soft that a large amount of colour is immediately released, and yet hard enough not to powder quickly. The very high color intensity and purity ensure that each piece of work has a brilliant finish.


One of the 15 most frequently asked questions that Kurt Wenner receives is "What kind of chalks are you using?" To which he replies, "My 'chalks' are actually handmade pastels which are stronger and more permanent than commercial products. When I first started street painting I used commercial chalks and pastels. I soon found the chalks to be too dusty and constantly blowing away on the street. The pastels were more permanent, but very costly as I would use a couple hundred sticks per picture. It didn't take long before I began experimenting and making my own pastels with pure pigments and binder."