1. Street Art: Perception vs. Reality
Julien Beever
Street Art:
Perception vs. Reality

2. Julien Beever creates unusual chalk drawings on public sidewalks
Julien Beever creates unusual chalk drawings on public sidewalks. Beever started
drawing pavement art as a way to make money while traveling. Since then, he
has garnered international recognition. Beever chooses to draw on sidewalks so
that everyone can have access to his art. He says, “My work appeals literally to the man and woman in the street and is not confined in galleries.”
Setting a Purpose: Beever has developed a special technique of using distortion
to unequally magnify images in his work. When seen from one special angle, these
images come together to create the illusion that his “anamorphic” drawings are truly
three dimensional. Viewed this way, his drawings seem to come to life.
Beever’s pavement art gives viewers the impression that they are entering a very
real, physical place that exists in the drawings. As you view the drawings, think
about that it would be like to be a passerby who suddenly walk across– or into—
one of Beever’s works.

3. A Slight Accident in a Railway Station
Question 1:
In what two ways did the artist
fool your eyes in this chalk
drawing? Hint: Think setting
and character.
As you view… Artists make choices about the works they produce and the techniques they
use to create those works. Perspective is the technique that artists use to give the illusion of three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface, which in Beever’s case is the
sidewalk. One way that Beever creates this illusion is through his use of lines. Beever uses thick and thin as well as long and short lines to frame the stairway in the drawing.
Notice how the lines make the stairs look thinner the farther away they seem to get from
the viewer.

4. Meeting Mr. Frog Question 2:
How does the artist create the illusion of movement in this chalk drawing? (Hint: look at the water).
As you view… In addition to lines, Beever uses colors and shadows to create the illusion that
we are seeing something real. Artists can use color to create mood and to create images that
imitate life. Notice how the colors Beever uses at the top of the frog seem brighter or lighter. He
uses shadows or shading at the bottom of the drawing where the frog sits on the lily pad. Color
and shadow work together to give the whole image a sense of shape and depth.

5. Question 3:
What did the artist do to create
the perception that the butterfly is
flying and not just sitting on the
sidewalk?

6. Question 4:
What is the purpose of this
chalk drawing? Explain your answer.
(Hint: Refer to notes on author’s
purpose for help.)

7. Question 5:
In 3-4 sentences, describe what is
happening in this chalk drawing.

8. Question 6:
What do these last two pictures of Julien Beever’s art tell you
about how the perception of depth (three dimensions) is created
in the artist’s pieces?

9. Honors Enrichment Assignment
Research Julien Beever’s art online and choose one drawing that interests you.
Copy the drawing onto a google slide and complete the following:
Write a paragraph that analyzes the chalk art drawing you have chosen. You must discuss artistic style such as color, shadow, line, etc. Then explain how this artwork changes the perception of the viewer (fools the eye). Finally, include a personal reaction to the artwork.
Share the slide with me