Stars & Stripes

For this project the goal was to redesign the American Flag using the principles and elements of design in the American Flag; pattern, contrast, emphasis, space, line, shape, and color. Knowing I had to use red, blue, and white I came up with a design that used both stars and stripes to mimic the American Flag. I knew I wanted to make my stars bigger and lay with the use of strips. I first made vertical stripes, then I made horizontal ones. In the middle I added some stars. When deciding how to distribute the colors, I used blue and white in the vertical stripes because usually they are red and white. I then made the strip with the stars red. I left the stars white to add contrast. I then used blue and white to finish the horizontal stripes, bringing emphasis to the stripe with the star. I chose to use watercolor (without water) to get the dark pigment needed to create this piece. I went over the colors a couple times to make sure they were not translucent. I then went and outlined the stripes and stars with a fine black pen to make the shapes really stand out. If I were to do this project again, I would make sure the vertical stripes started and ended with the same color because I feel as though it through the whole composition off balance.