Meet Ken Mullen and Hector Diaz | Professional Chalk Artists

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ken Mullen and Hector Diaz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ken & Hector, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Prior to starting our own business, we both worked for many years in the graphic design industry. Neither of us were in love with our jobs, and the grind of designing for advertising or marketing day in and day out left us somewhat unfulfilled. We both really enjoyed the opportunity to create chalk art when it came around, so we looked for every opportunity to do it. Once we realized that there was a market to make money with chalk, it was a pretty easy decision to take the first step and work towards becoming our own bosses.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
We have both had a long-term fascination with 3D chalk art. After seeing many of the viral 3D chalk images circulating around the internet many years ago, we knew we needed to give it a try. After many years of practice, we have been able to establish a reputation for creating fun, effective 3D chalk art. There are many chalk artists around, but experienced 3D artistry requires a higher skill set. What keeps us excited about our work is the positive feedback that we receive from spectators as they enjoy our work. The biggest lesson that we have learned is to respect fellow artists. We have been fortunate enough to be surrounded by artists who not only create amazing work, but are also generous with their knowledge and are interested in helping other artists succeed. Regarding our brand, we want people to know that chalk art can be fun. We usually try to keep things light and entertaining. After all, how serious can a couple of middle aged guys drawing with chalk on the ground really be?

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We are from Palm Beach County, and some of our favorite spots include… Downtown Lake Worth Beach is a cool laid back spot. You can hit the beach, grab breakfast at The Pelican Cafe, or hot wings at Daves Last Resort, or you can check into the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County to see what’s going on in local Arts. The Norton Museum just underwent a big renovation worth checking out, and the Kravis Center makes for a great night out, coupled with dinner at Rosemary Square. The Palm Beach Zoo Is a relaxing spot for an afternoon, or you can take your dog to play in the water at Marcinski Beach. For the outdoors types, Jonathan Dickinson Park offers kayaking and hiking and is near the Jupiter Lighthouse, and Peanut Island is awesome for snorkeling.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Obviously our families deserve full marks for encouraging us and putting up with our frequent travel. Beyond that, we would love to credit Marianne Webber and the Lake Worth Street Painting Festival for providing us space to hone our craft, as well as fellow. chalker, Jeanne Burns, who recognized something in our work, and helped introduce us to the world of professional chalk art. Lastly, a shout out to our super talented chalk artist friends, who inspire us to improve every day.

Website: http://chalkguys.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/thechalkguys
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chalkguys

Image Credits
Main photo is taken by Shawn D Moss