Stars and Stripes

Artist's Statement:

The idea was to create an image based off of the elements in the american flag. This meant using stars, stripes, and the colors red white and blue. We could also add black if we wished to. One of the first ideas I had was to use the stars as the links of a chain. Then I had the idea to use the stripes as prison bars.

I wanted to have reletively flat colors, so I used acrylic on bristol paper, which i knew could hold it. I left the white of the bristol paper showing throught. I didn't use canvas because I did not like the texture of canvas. I ended up using gel pen for the stars, because they were so detailed. I really didn't like how blank the shirts looked either, so I decided to add words. After some perusal of the internet I decided on "Land of the Free" to show the hypocrisy of the american ideal versus the reality of its prison system.