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Pavement Chalk Artist: The Three-Dimensional Drawings of Julian Beever
Fascinating pavement chalk art by a master of the craft. The pavement chalk artist is a master of art, perspective, creativity and performance. Julian Beever is one such extraordinary master. More than just traditional flat drawings, the works Beever creates are uniquely three-dimensional anamorphic drawings. They are drawn in perspective and distorted so the subject can be viewed properly only from one particular viewpoint. For those who are standing in the right place, his chalk drawings invite them to step right into the scene or, in the case of the artist's well-known Swimming Pool in the High Street, dive right into the water. Pavement Chalk Artist includes a fabulous selection of Beever's most intriguing anamorphic drawings. Each one is accompanied by a description of the techniques he used and the challenges he overcame. These photographs record the development of his unusual skill and understanding of perspective. Readers can see how his art progresses and matures as he takes on commissioned works and a wealth of original, inventive subjects in locations worldwide. The photographs tell the story, giving readers both an understanding of the principles of this 3-D art form and the pleasure of sharing the scenes that passersby once enjoyed before these unique works disappeared forever.
110 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 58 reviews
April 27, 2011
I’ve gotten many emails with these types of drawings, and I love them, so I wanted to read this book, but I’m glad it’s a library book because my favorite artist(s) are different. Many of the included pictures are great though. My favorites often, but don’t always, involve water. Some of my favorites in this book are Make Poverty History, Escape to Australia, Feeding the Fish, White Water Rafting, Meeting Mr. Frog, Turkish Delights, and Barrowford Mill. I liked many more, but there were quite a few works I actively disliked too, though all were interesting.
These chalk drawings are all three-dimensional anamorphic pieces. What was disappointing to me, but interesting too, is that to see the full effect, they have to be viewed through a lens or other special means. I hadn’t known that, but it makes sense.
What’s fabulous about this book is that the artist reveals so much of his process. Each picture is shown large and shown small with explanatory text explaining why each piece was done, some of how each piece was done including artistic technique, etc. Fascinating stuff!
This is both a (mini-) autobiography and an art book.
I like how the artist-writer’s daughter, himself, and others appear in the photos of the art; the real humans enhance the experience of viewing certain drawings.
These chalk drawings are all three-dimensional anamorphic pieces. What was disappointing to me, but interesting too, is that to see the full effect, they have to be viewed through a lens or other special means. I hadn’t known that, but it makes sense.
What’s fabulous about this book is that the artist reveals so much of his process. Each picture is shown large and shown small with explanatory text explaining why each piece was done, some of how each piece was done including artistic technique, etc. Fascinating stuff!
This is both a (mini-) autobiography and an art book.
I like how the artist-writer’s daughter, himself, and others appear in the photos of the art; the real humans enhance the experience of viewing certain drawings.
May 14, 2012
This was book 14 for the YALSA Best Books challenge.
Basically this is a book that has dozens of amazing 3D sidewalk drawings made by Julian Beever. It is quite impressive to see an illustration of something that looks like a swimming pool or a skyscraper and realize that it is not in 3D. They really look like they are. Although if one looks closely you can see the lines in the paving stones or sidewalk cracks in many of the drawings. Of course there is some technique to drawing in such a way that the illustrations seem 3D. Beever explains a bit about each drawing--both how it was created and how he got the idea.
I really enjoyed looking at the photographs of the sidewalk art. There were quite a few that I did double takes on. And then after reading the detailed captions I had to look once more. I didn't like how when in a caption he referenced another drawing and I had to go to the index or table of contents to figure out where in the book that illustration was so I could look at it and cross reference. This was especially annoying when a lot of the works he mentioned were earlier illustrations (I got this idea from when I did xyz work or whatnot) and the earlier illustrations came later in the book. I had twinges of frustration when I felt like because it was referenced as an earlier illustration I should have already known about it even though I hadn't read about it yet. So, that being said if they had only included page numbers so I could say, "Oh, I haven't gotten there yet." I would have been fine. As it was it annoyed me. I also didn't like how he kept talking about how he used various vanishing points or would talk about how he drew so it would seem 3D from only one view point. But there were only a couple of photographs that showed the illustrations from the side so I could actually see what he was talking about.
I do think this is a good book for reluctant readers. I think many people will find the illustrations absolutely amazing. However, I don't see many people actually reading the text and caring. They probably will just look at the pictures and be amazed. I think I would have been if I hadn't been annoyed while reading. If I had read it more as a coffee table book instead of cover to cover, I think I would have really enjoyed it.
Basically this is a book that has dozens of amazing 3D sidewalk drawings made by Julian Beever. It is quite impressive to see an illustration of something that looks like a swimming pool or a skyscraper and realize that it is not in 3D. They really look like they are. Although if one looks closely you can see the lines in the paving stones or sidewalk cracks in many of the drawings. Of course there is some technique to drawing in such a way that the illustrations seem 3D. Beever explains a bit about each drawing--both how it was created and how he got the idea.
I really enjoyed looking at the photographs of the sidewalk art. There were quite a few that I did double takes on. And then after reading the detailed captions I had to look once more. I didn't like how when in a caption he referenced another drawing and I had to go to the index or table of contents to figure out where in the book that illustration was so I could look at it and cross reference. This was especially annoying when a lot of the works he mentioned were earlier illustrations (I got this idea from when I did xyz work or whatnot) and the earlier illustrations came later in the book. I had twinges of frustration when I felt like because it was referenced as an earlier illustration I should have already known about it even though I hadn't read about it yet. So, that being said if they had only included page numbers so I could say, "Oh, I haven't gotten there yet." I would have been fine. As it was it annoyed me. I also didn't like how he kept talking about how he used various vanishing points or would talk about how he drew so it would seem 3D from only one view point. But there were only a couple of photographs that showed the illustrations from the side so I could actually see what he was talking about.
I do think this is a good book for reluctant readers. I think many people will find the illustrations absolutely amazing. However, I don't see many people actually reading the text and caring. They probably will just look at the pictures and be amazed. I think I would have been if I hadn't been annoyed while reading. If I had read it more as a coffee table book instead of cover to cover, I think I would have really enjoyed it.
May 4, 2011
Street art has been found in cities ever since cities have been around. Whether it's performance, drawing, music or magic, street artists compel as well as entertain the masses. Julian Beever began creating pavement drawings over 20 years ago in England. His chalk art creates the illusion of three dimensions if viewed from a specific angle. In the book Pavement Chalk Artist, you can see photographs of many of the works he's created around the world. A number of his works have been paid promotions (an artist has to eat as well as buy chalk!) but other are clearly fanciful illusions created purely to astonish and astound those passing by.
This book is truly a feast for the eyes of anyone who loves art for the people, on the sidewalks and streets where they walk.
This book is truly a feast for the eyes of anyone who loves art for the people, on the sidewalks and streets where they walk.
March 17, 2015
Mostly visual, so this is a delight to page through. It's all the drawings this guy does that look 3 dimensional from a particular angle (you've probably seen online the marching Lego army). Full size pictures are on each page, then on another page the picture is smaller with a paragraph about the making of the drawing.
I'm totally impressed and amazed by these drawings, so I liked them. I enjoyed his introduction-how he got into doing this-but I wish he talked a little bit about the commercial aspect, since clearly many of the pictures were commissioned by companies. Oh, and apparently there was a German tv show about him. I think this came from the Quick Picks list.
I'm totally impressed and amazed by these drawings, so I liked them. I enjoyed his introduction-how he got into doing this-but I wish he talked a little bit about the commercial aspect, since clearly many of the pictures were commissioned by companies. Oh, and apparently there was a German tv show about him. I think this came from the Quick Picks list.
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May 14, 2017You have to see it to believe it! An incredible book filled with Julian Beever's amazing sidewalk illustrations. So realistic you'll feel as though you're going to fall right into them... Mary Poppins style!
-Lindsey D.-
-Lindsey D.-
April 29, 2011
I love illusions in art. This anamorphic street art by Julian Beever is just ... wow.
May 13, 2018
Interesting but flawed.
Whilst clearly the product of talent, Julian Beever's art comes over as being rather crude and a bit gimmicky, which may just be because of its very nature. The texts help somewhat in understanding how the techniques lead to the finished product but would have been greatly enhanced by photographs showing work in progress and the appearance of the images from different angles. Nevertheless, a good book, worth holding on to and dipping in to from time to time.
Whilst clearly the product of talent, Julian Beever's art comes over as being rather crude and a bit gimmicky, which may just be because of its very nature. The texts help somewhat in understanding how the techniques lead to the finished product but would have been greatly enhanced by photographs showing work in progress and the appearance of the images from different angles. Nevertheless, a good book, worth holding on to and dipping in to from time to time.
September 19, 2018
N -- FINE ARTS
Reached the N's in my quest to read a book from each letter of the Library of Congress Classification. I chose this one because it reminded me of when I saw chalk artists in Florence, Italy. The author/artist is quite talented, and I liked the brief explanations behind each of his creations. Some of them were better rendered than others, but I think you get a very good sense of his work.
Reached the N's in my quest to read a book from each letter of the Library of Congress Classification. I chose this one because it reminded me of when I saw chalk artists in Florence, Italy. The author/artist is quite talented, and I liked the brief explanations behind each of his creations. Some of them were better rendered than others, but I think you get a very good sense of his work.
July 18, 2019
This was an enjoyable read to pass time waiting in the DMV. I was surprised that the artist didn't always plan out the anamorphic adjustments in advance, for most drawings he did it by eye by looking through his camera. The drawings ranged from beautiful to humerous to epic and adventurous. I'd recommend the book to anyone.
August 29, 2017
Gives a short history of how/why author began making his art. Remainder of book has photographs of drawings done on surfaces around the world. There are also explanations of some of the challenges that were posed by individual drawings and locations. I really enjoyed this book.
August 16, 2018
Creativity fuel.
The photos of Beever's chalk drawings are a lot of fun, but I'm just as grateful for his commentary. He explains the unique challenges he faced with each drawing, his solutions, and some fun anecdotes.
The photos of Beever's chalk drawings are a lot of fun, but I'm just as grateful for his commentary. He explains the unique challenges he faced with each drawing, his solutions, and some fun anecdotes.
January 16, 2019
I would love to learn how to draw a hole in my driveway, it would look really neat from the street
March 31, 2019
I have been captivated for some time by the work of pavement artists who create optical illusions of real depth with their art. This book is basically a collection of this anamorphic art by Julian Beever. There is very little script...just a bit to accompany each illustration and a short biographic piece at the beginning. However, Beever shares with us some of his trials in creating the art....from zealous officials through to shiny tiles that won't take the chalk too readily. Somewhere I think I have seen better works that this but maybe it is in my imagination. Beever explains quite well, I think, the fact that these drawing need to be seen from the one angle and really through the lens of a camera. He also explains that if he uses a wide-angle lens in his design stage then he has to allow for this ...maybe correct for it in his final art. I kind of feel for him in that he is working so hard and so creatively on ephemeral art ...which will be washed away by the next rain or vandalised by the guys in the nightclub nearby. What's left is the photograph and this book.
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January 22, 20203d madness
July 26, 2023
Oh Julian😘
January 21, 2016
I picked this up because I love nothing more than stumbling on a sidewalk chalk exhibition while out and about; it is a wonderful kind of art. Also because I wanted a quick read and a picture book from the library fit the bill. I am rather delighted that it turned out to be more; the artist writes a great introduction focused on his craft and the brain puzzles involved in the specific kind of work he does (3D pictures that have to be seen from a specific viewpoint to make sense to the eye). I am just going to pull some quotes from the introduction that I found interesting:
Volumes could be written on how to do street entertainment; it isn't easy to get started. Simply standing in one spot juggling is of no interest to anyone, no matter how talented you are. The secret lies in the ability to make a random collection of individuals into a cohesive audience, to create an expectation, to amuse them and keep them wanting more as you work through a structured and reliable routine, finishing in a climax - in my case, juggling fire torches. But perhaps more important still is an internal change - to believe in yourself as a street performer and lose your fear.
...
Until then I had never been outside the UK and I wanted to see more of the world. It seemed a way to travel and finance it in route. And so I came to pavement art.
...
I make no apology for being a populist. If as a pavement artist, you don't draw what the public want to see and you are dependent on them for tips, you will become discouraged and give up. Beautifully drawn portraits of well loved or national heroes and icons are popular. ... Good quality pastels used on a good cement or stone surface can give an effect second to none - better than on paper.
The above was my favorite (probably!), but I loved all the ones his daughter is in. He is definitely right that when he makes a small thing big it works really well. I love the way he connects his drawings to take in a person standing in them. He often performs as a part of them and completes them, and often they do not make sense without someone standing in them, playing the part. He loves to play with effects of light and water, and that is quite impressive at times. A few of the works have photos from other angles so you can see just how huge these drawings have to be to make the perspective work from the chosen angle, which I also thought was wonderful.
On the whole, none of these really took my breath away (and I would say they probably need to be seen live, but if you see them live you have to look through the camera to "see" them; the photo of the drawing really is the finished form of the work of art in his case). But conceptually the whole enterprise is very interesting and I would still love to see one of his works in person. I enjoyed this and will probably read it again. It seems like it would be good to come back to.
And, so as not to spoil the book for you, here are some nice ones that are not in this collection:
May 30, 2012
Why I picked it up: A patron at the library asked me for a book about Julian Beever. I looked him up on google to make sure I spelled his name right and saw some examples of his art. Two days later, I noticed this book on the list for a YALSA challenge I’m doing.
The book starts with a few pages of Julian Beever discussing his path in art and how he came to do what he does. The rest of the book is single-page illustrations of some of his pavement drawings with a brief summary of some of the elements or experiences of that particular painting on the preceding or following page. Some parts are technical, some are not. The photos of his art are incredible. I did get frustrated that they clearly weren’t in chronological order, and he would refer to a painting that happened before the one I was looking at, but in the book I hadn’t come to it yet. But it’s an enjoyable look at an unusual art form and his mastery of it. I can’t pick a favorite drawing; there are too many that are amazing
The book starts with a few pages of Julian Beever discussing his path in art and how he came to do what he does. The rest of the book is single-page illustrations of some of his pavement drawings with a brief summary of some of the elements or experiences of that particular painting on the preceding or following page. Some parts are technical, some are not. The photos of his art are incredible. I did get frustrated that they clearly weren’t in chronological order, and he would refer to a painting that happened before the one I was looking at, but in the book I hadn’t come to it yet. But it’s an enjoyable look at an unusual art form and his mastery of it. I can’t pick a favorite drawing; there are too many that are amazing
July 14, 2014
So cool. If you spend any time surfing the web at all you've come across pictures of Beever's sidewalk art. It's pretty amazing stuff, drawing on the pavement as street theater is cool enough, but Beever has developed a special style which makes his draws three dimensional when viewed from the proper place.
this is what I want in an art book: Lots of really cool pictures that make me go "ooh" and "ahh"; a shortish introduction explaining how his unique profession came to be; very short blurbs about each work depicted relating anecdotes about trouble with local law enforcement, or weather conditions, or why it's more fun to put his daughter in the picture. It's rare that I bring home a book everyone loves, but this is that book.
PS. I forgot to mention his specialty: water. Beever does amazing things when he draws water. Someone at Disney is wondering why he isn't on staff.
Library copy.
this is what I want in an art book: Lots of really cool pictures that make me go "ooh" and "ahh"; a shortish introduction explaining how his unique profession came to be; very short blurbs about each work depicted relating anecdotes about trouble with local law enforcement, or weather conditions, or why it's more fun to put his daughter in the picture. It's rare that I bring home a book everyone loves, but this is that book.
PS. I forgot to mention his specialty: water. Beever does amazing things when he draws water. Someone at Disney is wondering why he isn't on staff.
Library copy.
May 26, 2012
3.5 Great for older art students. Readers should already have an understanding of perspective, vanishing point, trompe l'oeil, etc as Beever refers to the concepts but doesn't do a lot of explanation. I really enjoyed the photos of the chalk drawings and trying to see the flat sidewalk beneath. I wish he'd included mre photos of what the drawings looked like from other perspectives (they can only be truly seen from one vantage point, and best through a lens). One annoyance was that he would refer to other illustrations that would not be shown until later in the book (i.e. I was inspired to do this after drawing XYZ). Very cool to look at.
The dense introductory text told how he came to this style of art and a little about how he achieves the image. Shorter descriptions beside each photo explain the set-up, limitations and new discoveries made while creating that image.
The dense introductory text told how he came to this style of art and a little about how he achieves the image. Shorter descriptions beside each photo explain the set-up, limitations and new discoveries made while creating that image.
May 12, 2012
This book was a fascinating look at Julian Beever's artwork. His 3-D pavement chalk drawings trick the eye and he explains how and why that is. His descriptions are interesting, explaining a lot about drawing and how human sight works. I learned a lot from this book about perspective and things like vanishing points. I would have given this five stars, but the overall design of the book took away from things. Double page spreads were usually made up of two photos or four explanations of Beever's drawings. Forcing the reader to flip back and forth to see the artwork they were reading about. It made the process of experiencing the book tedious. The best layouts were the pages in which the drawings took up 3/4 of the page with a side panel explaining the work. This was much more effective for the reader.
December 9, 2012
Filled with phenomenal art, this book takes readers on a journey through the imagination and ingenuity of Julian Beever. From his early days in art school to his time as a street performer, Beever gives the reader a glimpse into how he became a pavement chalk artist. The book begins with a brief biography, followed by an introduction to his anamorphic drawing technique. According to Beever, the technique depends on preplanning and the use of the correct camera angle to achieve the desired effect. The real heart of the book, however, is taken up by beautiful, full-page reproductions of his work. Each work is accompanied by a short description of how each work was made, what influenced its composition, strengths and weaknesses of the piece, etc. Beever is at once proud of his work and cognizant of his weaknesses, making the process and the result much more fulfilling.
November 14, 2012
(More pictures on my blog)
It's always fascinating to look at anamorphic 3D street art. Every pavement drawing by Julian Beever is a joy to look at. You know your eyes are playing tricks on you but you can't really figure out what's happening. I think that's the attraction of these drawings.
All them come with interesting stories on how they were made. There was one where he had to draw a laptop computer but was told by the police to erase it as soon as he was done.
Great book.
April 20, 2012
A beautiful introduction to Julian Beever. He has a lengthy introduction to himself and how he because a chalk artist in the beginning and then short descriptions of each drawing.
I do wish he had more shot of the drawing from the "wrong" view.
That is, he makes drawings that are designed to look 3-D from a very specific point of view. If you look at them from a different angle, they are all weird and stretched and disproportional. And I don't think he shows that enough or talks about that enough. It's more a book to show prospective clients than up and coming artists.
I do wish he had more shot of the drawing from the "wrong" view.
That is, he makes drawings that are designed to look 3-D from a very specific point of view. If you look at them from a different angle, they are all weird and stretched and disproportional. And I don't think he shows that enough or talks about that enough. It's more a book to show prospective clients than up and coming artists.
March 26, 2012
A collection of photos of the amazing 3-D pavement chalk drawings by Julian Beever. The drawings truly only have all their 3-D affects when seen from one particular angle but the detail he is able to draw is amazing. He shares some information on how he draws the designs but doesn't go into all the math calculations he does to calculate some of the drawings perspective correctly. He also shares where he gets his ideas and how he got started. Just amazing drawings.
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April 1, 2011Do you ever get those emails that have the 3-D chalk art in them? Are you completely amazed, like me, by them? Then Pavement Chalk Artist: The Three-Dimensional Drawings of Julian Beever is the book for you to peruse. It doesn’t contain much reading, although there are small synopses of each picture. The pictures are amazing, and there are more than I have seen in the emails, although I did recognize some of them.
July 8, 2011
OMG- what this guy can do with plain old chalks and a piece of pavement. It's almost impossible to believe these pictures are just flat drawings they have such depth to them. Would love to see one in person to find out if they are as realistic and dimensional as they look in photographs. I enjoyed the brief descriptions of each work which included bits about how he accomplished certain effects, where he got ideas, what particular problems he faced, etc. So cool.
March 11, 2013
This colorful, glossy book is full of photos of amazing three-dimensional sidewalk art, the type that is often seen in Europe. (Though not usually as well-done as these by Julian Beever.) I only wish that there had been more photos taken from a side view, so that you could also see the way the actual drawing has to be distorted in order for it to look real from the proper viewing point. Plus, the photos make me want to get out somewhere and see the real thing!
October 27, 2011
This is such a fun book! I would love to see one of his creations in real life, although I guess that actually would not be as spectacular since he creates "anamorphic" drawings which can really only be "properly seen through the lens of a camera positioned in one specific place." I love the pond and underwater pictures best…they really do look real!
March 31, 2012
I have seen Julian Beever's work on the internet and always found it amazing. Now to learn how he does it makes me appreciate it all the more. This is a must read for anyone interested in art, drawing, chalking, or just in awe of his work like me. It would be a great book for budding artists to see how someone else found his path to the medium and the work he loves.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 58 reviews