Lisa Frank Meets Art Nouveau: My Journey Into Chalk Art
- Danielle Meyer
- Aug 25
- 3 min read
On a hot summer afternoon in Buffalo, I found myself kneeling on the pavement, chalk dust on my hands, people gathering around to watch. A little girl tugged her mom’s sleeve and whispered, “Wow, that looks so cool!” That was the moment chalk art became more than a hobby. It became my stage.
Early Days
Q: Who were you as a kid—what were you drawing, what were you obsessed with? I was always creative. As a kid, I drew horses, unicorns, and fashion sketches. I loved mixing and matching outfits with those Barbie drawing toys where you could swap tops and bottoms. And I always had a sketchbook. As I got older, I gravitated toward animals and illustration. That’s what I spent most of my time drawing.
From Hobby to Art
Q: When did it shift from a hobby to something bigger? Honestly, only recently have I felt comfortable calling myself a capital-A Artist. For years, it was just a hobby. In grad school, I taught myself to knit. Later, I dabbled in photography and sketching. During COVID, I leaned on smaller creative outlets—paint-by-numbers and holiday ceramics. But chalk art was the breakthrough. It gave me a medium I could share publicly, where I finally felt ready to put my art out into the world.
“Chalk art was the breakthrough. It gave me a medium I could share publicly.”
The First Festival
Q: What was the spark that got you out on the pavement? It was a time of transition. I had just lost my brother to colon cancer at 46 and was burned out at work. Around that time, I reconnected with my best friend from high school, artist Lisa S. She told me about chalk events, and when I found Buffalo Riverworks Chalk Fest in 2024, we decided to go together. I almost just helped her, but eventually I said, “I think I’m going to do my own.” That was my first chalk festival.
Q: What did you create for that debut? The theme was mythical creatures, so I drew Medusa—styled like an Art Nouveau medallion, inspired by Alphonse Mucha. I even practiced first on plywood and on my own driveway. At the festival, it came out beautifully, and it’s still one of my proudest pieces. More than the art, though, it was the community—the kids, the conversations, the energy. That hooked me.
Finding My Style
Q: What makes people stop at your square? What’s your signature? Bold, saturated color. That’s my thing. I’ve called my style “Lisa Frank meets Art Nouveau.” Imagine neon pinks, electric blues, and fire-orange blossoms wrapped in Mucha’s elegant lines. It’s colorful, joyful, and unapologetic.
“Lisa Frank meets Art Nouveau.”
Breakthrough Moments
Q: Which pieces have defined you the most so far? The big one was June 2025 at the Denver Chalk Art Festival. I created an 8x8 koi and blossoms piece in a Japanese style, but with my bold colors. It was my first time competing there, and I won Best Use of Color. That was huge—validation after working so hard.
Another milestone was Buffalo Chalk Fest 2025, where I worked on the vertical grain silos. The theme was video games, so I drew a Mortal Kombat dragon—fire on one side, ice on the other. I was nervous about pulling off realistic flames in chalk, but when someone told me, “I can feel the heat from this,” I knew I’d nailed it.
“It’s like I can feel the heat from the flames.”
Looking Ahead
Q: So what’s next? Short term, I want to keep growing through festivals—return to Denver, hopefully get into Maple Street in Minneapolis. I’m also branching into murals, starting with utility boxes. Five years from now, I’d like to compete in California, which has some of the biggest festivals. Ten years? Overseas—Germany, and especially Italy, where street painting was born. That’s the lifetime goal.
Ultimately, I don’t want this to be just a side hustle. I want it to be another avenue for creativity, something that could support my family while letting me keep traveling and creating.
The Reaction That Matters Most
Q: When people walk by, what do you want them to feel? Joy. I love seeing eyes light up, hearing people say, “Wow, that looks so cool,” or “I love all the colors.” That’s what keeps me going.
“Wow, I love all the colors.”
✨ Thanks for Reading!
This “interview” made me realize how much ground I’ve covered in just over a year of chalk festivals—and how much more is ahead.
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