it’s never too late to be patriotic ;)

Inspired by the fourth and a quote I found by MLK Jr… I got to work on a little painting that – yes, is great for “this time of year” but – I’ll be keeping up all year long.

{Just as soon as I find the right place for it!}

I took a few progression pictures {with my phone again – sorry!}

Thought I’d share my hot and sweaty painting process out in the stifling garage.

You’ll see why I had to hang out in the garage for this one in a just a sec..

the steps:

1: I had to google the American flag just to make sure I got the stripes correct!

2: I measured and marked with a pencil so I could distance the 13 stripes proportionally.

3: To begin, I ‘hurridly’ threw the correct amount of stripes on with red and white paint. I had to do this quickly so that the stripes wouldn’t completely dry and I could get the “dripping” effect I wanted by spraying the semi-wet acrylic paint with a water bottle.

{It’s just starting to get messy up in here.}

4. Paint the “blue part” – is there a technical term for this I don’t know about?

I made sure to make it messy =)

5. Sling white paint via paint brush - I also flicked the wet paint brush with my fingers to sling more paint - create “stars”.

I love this part, I may make a night sky painting with just this technique. You can’t tell here, but the white paint I used for the stars had a shimmery quality. Perfect for stars.

6. Use the same paint flinging technique to throw lots of bright color on the stripes.

I considered these my fireworks =)

This is the part where it got real messy.

When I finished, there was paint all over the garage, paint all of over my hands, ruined my manicure, and managed to get only purple paint streaks in my hair – just before company came over for the fourth. I was festive looking to say the least.

7: Adding the quote: “If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.” – MLK Jr

This struck a cord with me and I just had to include it.

 8: I added a little red and blue to the white letters to help them stand out a bit more. This really is more legible in person than in pictures, but I was going for the graffiti look, so it couldn’t exactly be perfect.

Un-perfect mission: a success

 

I have an idea of where it can go in the basement {which deserves an update post of its own – I’m loving all the change we’ve made down there!} but still thinking of what kind of frame I might make for it.

Now how to incorporate fireworks in a frame???

Finishing up our “late” patriotic post up with a couple photos of the red, white, and blue on our deck this year.

 

I’m always proud to be an American – year round!

P.S. – I’m posting about this giveaway at Little Birdie Secrets because I want another chance to win – but please don’t go check it out. You’ll lower my chances!!

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