Apex mom's incredible murals are something to chalk about

Johna Ritchie never planned to launch Peak City Chalk -- it just happened.

The Apex mom of three was already skilled in calligraphy and lettering, so she began designing sidewalk chalk murals in her driveway and neighborhood to keep her kids entertained and create a little positivity when the COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone to stay home.

People loved the murals, and Ritchie's idea to bring some happiness to others quickly became her own therapeutic workout -- and a chance for some "me time."

"I guess my artsy side needed something that I could do anywhere," she said. "And this was a good thing for me with the kids. I just started writing things up the street, because we have a lot of walkers in our neighborhood, and they started saying we can't wait to see what the next thing says."

Next, she offered to create sidewalk chalk displays for the birthday parties of her friends' children. Later, she created murals to thank her children's teachers.

"It just really caught on, so then I just thought I should create an Instagram," Ritchie said. "So I just came up with Peak City Chalk. It was just random, more of a formal name for what I was doing."

She's also made signs for local businesses and decorated windows.

When Ritchie began creating designs at the park she visits with her kids, she included her Instagram handle, and the followers began to trickle in. Now Peak City Chalk has more than 630 followers.

Her kids, ages 3, 5 and 7, are some of her most loyal fans.

"I thought it was interesting how I feel like my kids squeezed a little bit more of it out of me," Ritchie said.

The crisp designs, which resemble paintings more than chalk, are incredible. Ritchie said her only secret is the amount of chalk used and the quality.

Peak City Chalk has already been commissioned for a few designs. Ritchie said it could slowly grow into a business, but it's important to her that it remains enjoyable.

"I think I'm finding the balance of what it is and could be, which is exciting," she said. "I think I learned my lesson recently that if I put too much on my plate things start to fall apart. So I'm trying not to put too much stress where it doesn't become fun anymore."

Many of Ritchie's chalk designs are as tall and wide as 12 feet, she said, and the murals in driveways tend to be the largest. The average large mural takes her about two hours to create, she said, but others are smaller.

"The ones that I do in my neighborhood, I just walk out there with the box of chalk and I do it, and it doesn't take me long at all, which is the point of it," she said.

There's something special about chalk art and the fact that it isn't permanent, Ritchie said, explaining, "I love the idea that it doesn't last forever think that's the fun part about it, you know, it's like your canvas is washed and cleaned and you can keep going."

To request a chalk mural, you can send a direct message to Peak City Chalk on Instagram. You can also see Ritchie's other designs!