Temecula Announces Best In Show Winner Of Sidewalk Painting Festival

TEMECULA, CA — Artist and photography teacher Inez Valencia won the title of 'Best of Show' at the 2022 City of Temecula Art And Street Painting Festival.

A total of 30 chalk artists like Valencia were registered to paint sidewalk murals under the late summer sun Friday Sept. 16 and Saturday Sept. 17.

Valencia says she was inspired by "Batman: The Killing Joke," a graphic novel comic book, written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Brian Bolland.

See more: Temecula Art And Sidewalk Painting Festival A Family Affair For Many

"I am a fan of The Joker because of his dark sense of humor," Valencia wrote on her Instagram page. The cover inspired her as the Joker character is holding a camera, and she teaches photography. "I chose to not include the hat from Bolland’s original because the (Joker's) hair is more vibrant," she wrote.

Valencia started the project Friday at 5 p.m. for two hours, returning Saturday to work from 9 a.m. until three minutes before the 3 p.m. deadline, she said.

"It was quite the challenge doing this while chasing my 3-year-old daughter Rylee around because she wanted to run with the colors I needed," Valencia wrote. "I had to keep her from running, smudging and chalking over my work."

In the end, Valencia used her hand to smudge the last of the background before the deadline.

"I rushed to fill In the background and used the side of my fist to blend it in. When I stood up I realized I had broken skin and was slightly bleeding!" she wrote. "Not to mention it was mandatory to take down our canopies by 1:45. The sun was doing a great job that day too! I can say blood and sweat actually went into my work!"

Congratulations on a job well done.

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Temecula Art And Sidewalk Painting Festival A Family Affair For Many