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Now's the perfect season to break out chalk and draw on the pavement, and there are many people who do this at this time of the year. Though it's usual to assume that this type of activity is reserved for children, and it's common to see simple drawings done by them, there are people like Cuong Nguyen who take it to another level. The artist, who's a portraitist by profession, participates in various street festivals where he can hone his skills on an unusual medium.

More info: Instagram | Facebook | icuong.com

Here's what the artist had to say about himself: "“In Vietnam, I was trained to be a portraitist since I was 10 years old. When I was a kid, I spent most of my time drawing. I started going to art class when I was 10 and at 14, I was able to earn money painting portraits of people. After high school, I was accepted into the Saigon Art Academy."

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Using The Street As A Canvas, The Artist Makes Incredibly Realistic Drawings With Chalk

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Sue Clasen
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I admire so much these artists that dedicate their work and time to ephemeral art.

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Using The Street As A Canvas, The Artist Makes Incredibly Realistic Drawings With Chalk

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He also shared the circumstances which pulled him in into this type of art: "I had seen street paintings in San Francisco before, but it was in 2001 that a friend of mine from work, Sara Modercai, who is also a mural artist, encouraged me to try a small street painting in San Rafael, CA, at her annual festival of street painting. I did it and since then, I haven't stopped.”

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Using The Street As A Canvas, The Artist Makes Incredibly Realistic Drawings With Chalk

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BoredArab
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

tryna get my head around the fact that this was done with chalk

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Using The Street As A Canvas, The Artist Makes Incredibly Realistic Drawings With Chalk

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TheAnimalLady
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are absolutely gorgeous 🤩 but hard to appreciate the sideways ones to their full potential 🤪🙃 (Makes my neck ache a bit already.)

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Using The Street As A Canvas, The Artist Makes Incredibly Realistic Drawings With Chalk

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Using The Street As A Canvas, The Artist Makes Incredibly Realistic Drawings With Chalk

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TheAnimalLady
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get what y'all are saying but the article says he does "real" paintings too. Chalking is a quick and easy version of painting, like a hobby compared to a job.

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Using The Street As A Canvas, The Artist Makes Incredibly Realistic Drawings With Chalk

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TheAnimalLady
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At 1st glance, this looked like he's combing the beard with his fingers IN the hair. I had to zoom in to prove to my eyes that he wasn't 🙀👀

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Using The Street As A Canvas, The Artist Makes Incredibly Realistic Drawings With Chalk

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Sue Clasen
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know what to say, --Please give this man watercolours, or oil paints, or gouache or thank you for sharing your art with street walkers.

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Using The Street As A Canvas, The Artist Makes Incredibly Realistic Drawings With Chalk

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TheAnimalLady
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I started to ask why he's not avoiding cracked sidewalks, then I remembered they mentioned California 😬 (Earthquake County for all of you not in the USA.).

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Using The Street As A Canvas, The Artist Makes Incredibly Realistic Drawings With Chalk

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BoredArab
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These faces are a lot more lifelike than the misshapen potatoes I can manage

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Using The Street As A Canvas, The Artist Makes Incredibly Realistic Drawings With Chalk

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TheAnimalLady
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

👏 Wow, these cracks make it look like a puzzle or an antique oil painting in a museum 🤯🥰

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Using The Street As A Canvas, The Artist Makes Incredibly Realistic Drawings With Chalk

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TheAnimalLady
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That dazzling smile 😃 He looks like one happy guy. Like fun to hang out with 🥳

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Using The Street As A Canvas, The Artist Makes Incredibly Realistic Drawings With Chalk

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TheAnimalLady
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stunning and I just love the way that he frames them. Makes them feel so finished and professional.

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Using The Street As A Canvas, The Artist Makes Incredibly Realistic Drawings With Chalk

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TheAnimalLady
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At first glance, this looked like he's an archeologist cleaning dirt off of a buried statue. It's too cool 😎

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Using The Street As A Canvas, The Artist Makes Incredibly Realistic Drawings With Chalk

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Annie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such an amazing artist! How does he get everything to perfect scale??

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Using The Street As A Canvas, The Artist Makes Incredibly Realistic Drawings With Chalk

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Using The Street As A Canvas, The Artist Makes Incredibly Realistic Drawings With Chalk

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TheAnimalLady
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can just feel the peaceful strength emanating from this woman's gaze. **I looked back after writing that and now she seems as dramatic as a telenovela actress. It's awesome 👏🤩👍