Who invented chalk?
You may be curious as to who invented chalk, but the truth is that this question may not be the right one as it is a mineral compound readily available in nature. Their appearance is recorded since the Stone Age as writings or drawings on the cave walls.
There is a story behind the chalk sticks we see today. Since chalk comes in various shapes and sizes, artists had to settle for the edges of the stone that would work for their drawing, or mold them to suit their needs. Responding to the needs of these artists, this is how the shape of today’s thin stick chalk came to be, although there is no definitive answer as to who invented chalk. As for how artists would keep their work protected, they would use a layer of shellac or other similar substances to keep the art intact.
Chalk is basically made by grinding natural chalk into a fine powder, which makes it easy to shape. Then water and some color pigments, depending on what color you want, would be added to the powder so that it becomes a putty like clay. They are then rolled up and shaped in the mold into the desired shape, which is usually the thin stick, using cylinders. Then they are left to dry.
As mentioned above, artists use chalk for their sketches and drawings. But there are other uses for chalk as well. It is a popular choice for traditional schools to convey their lessons on the blackboard as it is cheap, easy to find and easy to clean. Some companies also use this method during meetings, although nowadays people go for markers and whiteboards because the dust doesn’t fall on their professional suits. Kids can use them to draw lines for a hopscotch game on the floor, which can be easily cleaned up later. Others may use them as a temporary bookmark to remind them of things or to take action. Chalk can be used for just about anything.
