Soaking in the sun, senior Katie Morton stares at the ground in front of her. She draws a rectangular frame and then begins with the face of Emma, Lady of Hamilton, calculating its position and outlining the features. Using the "Portrait of Emma, Lady of Hamilton" by George Rumm, colors fly as Morton completes the painting, bringing it to life. "It just does itself," Morton said.

Italian street painting, an ancient Italian tradition, was brought to Paly by Morton, co-president of the Art Club. In Italian Street Painting, artists take classical masterpieces, and draw them on the street using soft pastels.

"The art club tries to bring activities that Art Club members have known or done before to Paly," said junior Alex Provo, co-president of the club.

Morton first discovered Italian street painting during the Palo Alto Art and Wine Festival two years ago. She had so much fun with it, she decided to bring it to Paly.

With the support of the Visual and Performing Arts department and the Social Studies department, Art Club members and curious students drew historical figures, classical masterpieces, and art history pieces, decorating the area between the World Language and Social Studies buildings.

Even Social Studies teachers Eric Bloom and Steve Foug joined the students, choosing to replicate an image of Mao Tse Tung.
"Mr. Bloom had been joking about the street painting all of first semester," Morton said.

According to Bloom, the "beautiful concrete" motivated him. "Right after the festival in downtown Palo Alto, we thought it was a great idea."

Senior Chelsea Schmitt, who also participated and drew "The Scream," by Edvard Munch, agreed. "I thought it would be fun to draw with chalk. It’s a different way to express myself."