The window for street chalk art in Central Oregon is perilously small, according to Karen Eland, defending chalk art champion at the Bend Spring Festival.

There’s winter, which doesn’t work for obvious reasons. Then there’s summer, when baking asphalt doesn’t really allow for crawling around on all fours for hours at a time. Which leaves spring, when at any minute, as Eland notes, a quick rainstorm can wash it all away.

Climate-related difficulties aside, Eland has found chalk art a worthy complement to her novel but slightly drab full-time art career, painting with beer and coffee.

“It’s like water color, and of course its all brown and sepia tones,” she said. “So it’s fun to come out here and use all these big bright colors.”

Provided the weather cooperates, dozens of completed chalk art creations will be on display today on the final day of the festival in Northwest Crossing.

Four classmates from Cascades Academy of Central Oregon took a meticulous approach to their forest scene, working from a black-and-white sketch Anna Peterson had drawn during science class.

Using a borrowed chalkboard eraser to work green chalk in to the crevices of the asphalt, eighth-grader Kaila Ablao said even though the spark of their idea had come from Anna’s doodling during class, everyone at school was supportive of their entering the contest.

“Our art teacher lent us all of these supplies, she’s super awesome” Kaila said.

With his kneepads, work gloves, and soiled baseball cap, Dan Nunes looked as though he should be installing a tile floor instead of sketching out a panorama of the Cascades with colorful sticks of chalk. A retired firefighter turned photographer and visual artist, chalk is a newer medium for Nunes, and is proving to be a touch frustrating.

“For me, I’m learning patience today. … I’ve always been a speed artist,” he said.