Current Project: Stars and Stripes

From Flag Photograph to Stars & Stripes Painting

Laurence Kirwan describes a flag painting inspired by a photograph taken near a VFW post in Norwalk. The sequence of reference photographs, sketches and painted details shows decisions made while developing the composition.

This is an early-stage picture of a flag that was flying from the VFW post on Mott Avenue in Norwalk next to my medical office. The project is demanding. After painting so many military icons I thought that I should paint the most common one that attracts the eye and that is freely available without visiting a museum. Below is the original photograph. I chose to leave out the Eagle because it would take away the emphasis on the flag and also gobble some valuable canvas "real estate" to include it.

and here are some earlier line drawing and paintings:

Here is a detail of the current painting.

Final with signature

and detail mock-up

Related reading and artwork: View the Stars & Stripes fine art print.