Julian Beever’s Fantastic 3D Pavement Drawings

English chalk artist Julian Beever creates truly fantastic pavement drawings in 3D using a technique know as anamorphosis. More examples of his work can be found on his website and his Flickr photostream.

Some have dubbed him “the Pavement Picasso,” as his work, like the Spanish Master’s in his Cubist period, centers on three-dimensionality. Each drawing must be seen from one special viewpoint and if the viewer moves from it the illusion is lost and the drawing becomes an unrecognizable distortion.

Last year the BBC did a story on the “Pavement Picasso”, covering his process of creating Chinese New Year 3D sidewalk art in Birmingham.

Here’s a timelapse of Julian creating the Fountain of Youth chalk drawing in Union Square, New York City commissioned by skincare products company AVEENO.

photos by Julian Beever