Chalk it up: Artist Maewynn Padilla uses Albuquerque sidewalks as a canvas

Maewyn Padilla knew she loved making art. As a child, she painted and doodled any chance she could get. While her love for art never went away, Padilla found herself busy with life and could not focus on her art as much as she would have liked.

Later in life, Padilla found herself playing with her children in the driveway. She stumbled across some sidewalk chalk and decided to draw in front of her house as her children played. She found herself head over heels with art again.

In 2021, Padilla found her stride and started dedicating her time to bringing her chalk art to the streets of Albuquerque. Now, she scours the city in search of her next chalk art mural.

Local artist Maewyn Padilla chalk art brings life to the streets of Albuquerque

“I’ve always loved the idea of street art and temporary art,” she said. “The idea of art is that it’s for everybody. It shouldn’t be a luxury to appreciate art.”

Padilla specializes in paintings and outdoor art, specifically chalk art. Though she doesn’t have her style pinned down, she likes to describe it as a cartoonish style of art.

“I don’t ever go for a certain style, but it’s what comes out of me,” Padilla said. “I love video games and cartoons so much, sometimes I think I’m trying to act out being a cartoon character.”

However, Padilla says her style changes between mediums, but it’s clear she is still the one behind the art.

“Often times I’ll do a chalking I really like, so I decide to try and make it permanent as a painting, but it never reads right,” she said. “I’ve had little success, but I’ve come to accept they’re different things.”

Padilla feels that creating permanent and temporary art creates a great balance in her artistic world. Sometimes, she goes through phases where she prefers one form of art over the other, but she never can seem to put one above the other.

“I find freedom and pleasure in temporary art,” Padilla said. “It doesn’t feel restrictive. I put it down, I walk away. It’s a lot less pressure, and I do really like that people who see my chalk art just happen to come about it. If somebody sees and enjoys it, I feel like it was meant for them.”

Padilla finds her chalk art spots in town simply by walking around. As an avid walker for more than 19 years, Padilla tries to do her art in places she can walk to, as she hates to drive.

Padilla will load up a backpack with her art supplies and take a walk around the city to find a good slab of concrete to draw art. She uses sidewalk chalk called railroad chalk because it gives her the coverage she needs for her art. Padilla had struggled to find the right shades of black until a neighbor had gifted her with a package of charcoals, which she uses now.

“At my house, I leave chalk for the neighborhood kids to use and draw in my driveway,” Padilla said. “And one day, somebody left me a package of charcoal.”

Padilla typically finds herself doing chalk near the University of New Mexico, Downtown and Old Town as it’s the best place for her to work.

For her paintings, Padilla reaches out to bars and restaurants around the city. Her paintings can be found at Curious Toast, O’Niell’s Pub and Red Door Brewing Company. She also sells her work at Albuquerque Artwalk.

“When I head out, I might have a rough idea in my head and then I walk around,” she said. “I don’t always have a clear game plan, but I have certain areas I like. I’ve come to prefer certain types of pavement and concrete to work on.”

On average, it takes Padilla about 45 minutes to complete a piece of chalk art and she does two to three of them a week. She always has a new painting in progress at home.

Padilla tells those who want to pursue their interest in art to simply create and not worry about what others think.

“Expectations are a hindrance,” she said. “Some people don’t make art because they are afraid of how it will be received. Make what you like, don’t worry about what people think.”

Padilla will be in two group shows for Artwalk from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 5. You can also find three of her pieces about mental health at the Orpheum Community Hub, 500 Second St. SW; two pieces submitted for the street smarts show at OT Circus, 709 Central Ave. NW and two more solo shows in August.