Jasper Johns is an American painter, sculptor and printmaker who is well known for his depictions of the American flag. Turn a map into a Jasper Johns inspired painting of your own! This project also has an instructional video available!

Steps

• Step 1
  Start with a rigid board or canvas. You can choose from corrugated board, foamboard, canvas panel or chipboard.
• Step 2
  Cut one piece measuring 3-1/2 x 4" and a second piece measuring 6-1/2 x 10".
• Step 3
  Print or re-purpose 2 maps of the USA. Using a glue stick, adhere the maps to the boards. Coat the boards with clear gesso and allow to dry. The clear gesso will make the surface ready for painting.
• Step 4
  Paint the small piece blue, allowing some of the map to show through. Let dry.
• Step 5
  Print this flag template. Cut out the star field. Using carbon or graphite paper, trace the star field onto the blue piece. Paint the stars white.
• Step 6
  Cover the large map with 1/2" wide masking tape strips. This will make your guide for the flag stripes.
• Step 7
  Starting with the second strip, remove every other strip of tape. Using white watercolor, paint the exposed map stripes. Allow the map to show through a bit. Use a small amount of blue in your watercolor to give it an Expressionist look.
• Step 8
  When the paint is dry, replace the masking tape strips and remove the unpainted strips. Paint the red stripes, again using a small amount of white and blue to create an Expressionist look. When dry, remove all the tape.
• Step 9
  Glue the blue star field on top of the red and white stripes to finish the flag.
• Optional: Example 1
  Canvas panel and acrylic
• Optional: Example 2
  Chipboard and colored pencil
• Optional: Example 3
  Foamboard and Expressionistic watercolors

Products Used

• Glue Stick
• Clear Gesso
• Transfer Paper
• Masking Tape