New York artist covers car in chalkboard paint, invites strangers to draw on it

Nadine Kalinauskas
New York City visitors and residents draw on artist Philip Romano's car. Romano covered his 2004 Hyundai Elantra into a moving canvas by covering it in chalkboard paint, then inviting people to get creative and draw on his vehicle.

Artist Philip Romano, 20, from Armonk, New York, recently gave his 2004 Hyundai a paint job — and transformed it into a moving, interactive art installment.

Thanks to a few coats of chalkboard paint, Romano's vehicle can now be drawn on with chalk, and that's just what he invites strangers to do.

(His license plate: DRAWONME.)

"It's sort of a chameleon. You never know what it will look like," Romano said of his car.

"I got the idea a few years ago, that when I got my first car, I wanted it to be used," Romano told Fox5, "and I wanted to cover it in chalkboard paint and let people draw all over it."

Last Thursday, Romano parked his fun car in front of NYC's Museum of Modern Art and let passersby doodle all over his vehicle. He even provided the chalk.

"When I’m going places, I park it and write, ‘Draw on me,'" Romano, who is currently majoring in psychology and linguistics at upstate State University of New York-Geneseo, told the New York Daily News.

Romano said that his car often boosts busy city dwellers' moods.

"I love it when people write, "Thanks for this,'" Romano said. "It's kind of like a puppy, you can’t help but smile when you see it."

Romano's mother posted photos of her son's "smile machine" in action on imgur. Check them out here.

According to Fox5, Romano hopes "his newfound notoriety" will land him a graphic design internship for the summer.