Embedded Files
Baseline Painting
JJ VanDerGinst “American Freedom”
6“ x 11“, acrylic paint on paper, 2025
My first idea for my baseline painting was something simple that still represented something I liked or was proud of. I decided to paint the American flag blowing in the wind because I am proud of our country and our freedom. Seeing the American flag blowing in the wind is a sign of our country’s past, present and future, with the liberty of having freedom. I also took inspiration from a well known photograph called “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.” It’s a picture of multiple U.S. military soldiers raising the American flag showing their victory in the Pacific.
My process was pretty simple since I didn’t know many techniques to make it look better. I started off free drawing the American flag looking at a reference picture just using a basic pencil. In the painting process I mostly used shades of red, white, and blue. When I was done with the flag I decided to paint the background with going around the flag.
My intention for my first painting was to create a flag that was easy to do. The meaning of my artwork is showing my patriotism to the country of America. When people see my artwork I want them to think about the U.S.A.
The most difficult thing for me was completing the background of the painting because I did that very last and I had to menouver around the flag. I did the best to get around it and look smooth but it didn’t look as good as I had hoped it would. If I would start over I would definitely paint the background first and then trace the image and paint the flag. Starting with the background I have found to become a lot easier on you when you start painting.
I would consider this to be a sort of realistic piece of artwork. This painting is unique to me because it was my first painting in a few years. It shows that I like the American flag because it is showing my country. I do really love this painting because I don’t think it’s that bad for the first time painting in a few years.
Finish line Painting
JJ VanDerGinst “Military Demonstration”
9” x 12”, Acrylic paint on canvas, 2025
My idea for my first painting was to make a F/A-18 Super hornet, a fighter jet used by the U.S. Navy. I got the idea to create the painting because of airshows that I go to. I got my inspiration from these past airshows with these specific jets flying overhead and snapping pictures of them.
I started my process of this painting by painting the background of the canvas a light blue for the sky and then traced the picture of the jet onto the canvas. Once that was done I used various colors ranging from white, light/dark gray, and black. I mostly used flat tipped brushes for straight lines. When I was done with the paint part I used a paint marker to make the small details like numbers and some different color variation.
My intention was to create a fighter jet using a reference image and get it to look remotely close to the actual picture. The meaning of this painting is showing the power of the U.S. Navy and military in general. I hope the audience can know what it is just by looking at it.
The most difficult thing for me to do during this painting would be doing the shading. Getting to blend all those colors right was my biggest fault in the painting. I tried my best trying to shade but I also asked my teacher for tips on how to blend the colors together. If I were to start this entire painting over I would change the colors of it. I think the primary gray of the jet was a little too dark and just didn’t look like the color from the picture.
Page updated
Report abuse