Street Artist David Zinn Charms With Chalk.

street art of david zinn

Peppering the sidewalks in Ann Arbor and elsewhere in Michigan are some adorable creatures drawn in chalk that appear to be interacting with lamps, pipes, gutters, grates, planters and more.

Street Artist David Zinn

A self-taught artist with a degree in Creative Writing and English Language, David Zinn’s chalk work began in 2001 as an excuse to linger outdoors. His temporary street art is composed entirely of chalk, charcoal and found objects, and can be found predominantly in Michigan.

rock fish by David Zinn

grasstail lizard by David Zinn

Though David has professional clients, his street art is always improvised on location. The cute creatures take on a 3D life of their own and make repeated appearances. Little woodland creatures, friendly reptiles, flying pigs, gnomes and particularly Sluggo, a friendly, green, alien-like creature from his own imagination, are part of his stable of characters.

sluggo and spring lever by David Zinn

drinking squirrel by David Zinn

sandbucket gnome by David Zinn

Like many other sidewalk street artist he can deftly create a three dimensional hole in the ground, but my favorite works of his are those that interact with utilitarian street objects and the rocks, plants, and cracked cement that can be found in most any neighborhood.

little light reading by David Zinn

Sluggo pigwalk tangled leash by David Zinn

Playground Mole by David Zinn

employee_entrance by David Zinn

cat prisoner and mouse by David Zinn

concentration by David Zinn

great hat gnome by David Zinn

sluggos street waffles by david Zinn

sing_as_if_noone_can_hear by david Zinn

corner dragon by david Zinn

Please note several of the above images were cropped for this post

He published his first book of chalk art, Temporary Preserves, by crowdfunding.  The 8.5″ x 11″ bound collection of full-color images with 133 photographs of his otherwise fleeting street art creatures was then followed by his second book, Underfoot Menagerie, in 2018. He has since published calendars, how-to books and more.

Temporary Preserves chalk art by david zinn

Shop David Zinn Books, Calendars and more here.

David Zinn:
david_zinn_russian_headshot800h

The illustrator and graphic designer has taught creative writing and scenic painting, performed in and directed several Gilbert & Sullivan operas, recorded audiobooks, and hosted two children’s radio shows (The Rug Rat Revue on WCBN-FM and The Mud Pie Cafe on Michigan Radio.

Don’t miss our newer post on his work here

See more of David Zinn’s work here