‘Thank you from a distance’

Professional artist in Brooks expressing chalk-art thanks to health care workers in a city needing it

An artist is using her talent to spread a message of gratitude to frontline health care workers in Brooks.

Cyrstal Hancock, professional artist, has taken chalk sidewalk drawings to a new level in an endeavour to express thanks to those who are caring for people battling COVID-19.

During social distancing we can’t touch them on the shoulder or look them in the eye and express that thanks, she explained.

“I just wanted to say we’re all in our houses but don’t forget for a second that we are grateful, we are very grateful,” said Hancock.

She selected images from the internet and used those as models to depict health care workers in her artwork.

This expression of gratitude has been infectious. Hancock says there are school children taking on the challenge to create similar chalk art and others are also getting busy.

Because not many people are out and about to see the artistic expressions of thanks, Hancock has established a website so that everyone, including frontline workers can go online to see photos of the art.

“I bought the domain for ‘thank you from a distance’ yesterday,” said Hancock.

The website is thankyoufromadistance.com.

The artist has also been careful to protect her sidewalk works of art so that they are not obliterated during a rain storm. She sprays a clear coating on to the finished piece and that can preserve it for weeks or even months.

Chalk is a readily available substance that is relatively inexpensive. You can even buy tubs of chalk powder that you mix with water to create an opaque paint.

Hancock says to avoid going out you can even make your own chalk paint. She says there are recipes online that use baking soda, cornstarch and water. You then use food colouring to get the shades you want and achieve a substance that you can paint with.

Hancock’s website is still in the process of being set up but the plan is for people to have a place to post photos of these works of art.

“I want health care workers to be able to go to it and see it,” said Hancock.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Brooks artist Cyrstal Hancock works on a chalk portrait in her driveway depicting a health care worker as an expression of gratitude. She has inspired others to do the same and plans to post photos of all the artwork on a website so that those they are thanking have an opportunity to see these expressions.