Back in September, I returned to Cliftonfest for my second year of chalk art, community, and fun. It’s a two-day event for me—I arrive on Friday to get an early start on the drawing before the festival gets into full swing.
Semesters sponsored me again this year, and we continued our series reimagining Cincinnati mascots as Greek gods. Last year, I drew the UC Bearcat as Ares, the god of war. This year, it was the Cincinnati Bengal’s turn—as Zeus, the god of the sky, thunder, and lightning!
About a month before the event, I created the design using pastel pencils on Pastelmat. Here’s the artwork that became the foundation for the chalk drawing:
One of my favorite things about Cliftonfest is the Clifton community. People show up, have fun, and are so appreciative of the artists. This was also my first time selling art prints at an event, and they sold even better than I expected!
If you’re interested in purchasing a Bearcat as Ares, Bengal as Zeus, or a print of both, email me at cincychalkguy@gmail.com.
To everyone who stopped by to watch or chat: thank you! Those conversations made my day and kept me going through the final details. I’m already looking forward to returning next year to complete the series.
Enjoy a few more photos from the event below!
