CHALK IT UP TO ART VALENCIA FESTIVAL PUTS BEAUTY AT THE FEET OF ONLOOKERS.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

VALENCIA - When Ron Juncal got to work at the Bella Via Italian Street Painting Festival on Saturday, he not only gave inspiration to others but found some for himself.

The professional artist enjoys being able to inspire people who witness his work firsthand and finds motivation in working alongside other artists.

``I love hearing the comments'' from kids, Juncal said. ``I love seeing their faces light up and watching them being inspired by my work.''

Besides the passers-by, Juncal says that he enjoys working with people who are making art their living and others who are just starting off.

``The thing that is the most inspiring is that you have young and old all working together,'' Juncal said. ``People don't often get to see the process of art.''

Owner of Studio 2, Juncal says that he often invites younger artists to work alongside him so he can offer encouragement and support.

``I have a love for art,'' Juncal said. ``I want people to be able to see my art.''

As one of the featured artists in the weekend event, the Carlsbad man knows that using the right amount of chalk and blending into the street is the key in getting a vivid, distinct separation of colors.

The process is slow and methodical. With one hand, Juncal carefully colors in parts of his drawing. A combination of fingers are then used to blend the colors while the palm will finish the smoothing.

``It takes a lot of stamina,'' Juncal said. ``By the end of the day you know you've worked hard.''

Seemingly a kid at heart, the 52-year-old says he prefers to shy away from traditional older Italian pieces and opts rather for the more playful work that people can relate to.

For this event, Juncal worked on ``Little Squirt,'' a brightly colored illustration using vivid reds, purples and blues depicting a young girl underneath water refilling her water gun and getting it ready to aim.

``It's kind of a crowd favorite,'' Juncal says. ``People come by on a hot day and see her about to hit you. It's fun.''

The event is Juncal's second appearance. He also attended the inaugural event last year.

Next week, he will paint an original at Chalk La Strada Festival in Little Italy in San Diego.

Working nearby Juncal was Jon Gomez, 19, of Valencia, who was using the event to give his mother a present.

``I'm drawing a portrait of my grandmother and dedicating it to her,'' Gomez said. ``It's a way of expressing myself. It's more personal.''

Gomez, a student at Santa Monica College's Academy of Entertainment, made a picture of his grandmother who died two years ago.

``She does so many things for me,'' Gomez said of his mother. ``I wanted to do this for her.''

While viewing a family snapshot, Gomez blended the colors of red and dark brown to capture his grandmother in a red suit, red hat and wearing sunglasses.

``It's fun,'' Gomez said. ``I don't do it for any other reason.''

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5 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Jane Portaluppi of Santa Barbara works on a chalk rendition of Fredric Leighton's ``Mother and Child'' at the Bella Via Italian Street Painting Festival.

(2 -- color) Above, Jane Portaluppi, at left, and Ting Borfreeund, both of Santa Barbara, work on their chalk masterpiece, Fredric Leighton's ``Mother and Child.'' Below left, admiring crowds explore the street art, which continues today in Valencia.

(3 -- 5 -- color) A sketch on a grid, above, guides a chalk copy of Caravaggio's ``The Incredulity of St. Thomas'' on Saturday at the festival. At left, the hand of artist Melanie Stimmel takes on the smudged color of her work.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer