Jasper Johns-Inspired Map Flag Project
Time: 2-3 Class Periods
Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced
Cleanup: Soap & Water
Materials:
Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced
Cleanup: Soap & Water
Materials:
Rigid Surface (see examples in Step 1)
Watercolor Paints (Blue, Red, White)
Glue Stick
Clear Gesso
Graphite Transfer Paper
Masking Tape
Scissors & Craft Knife
Pen or Pencil
Paint Brushes & Palette
Maps
Ruler
Colored Pencils or Acrylic Paints (optional)
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 1Start with a rigid board or canvas. You can choose from corrugated board, foamboard, canvas panel or chipboard.
- Step 2Cut one piece measuring 3-1/2 x 4" and a second piece measuring 6-1/2 x 10".
- Step 3Print 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 4Paint the small piece blue, allowing some of the map to show through. Let dry.
- Step 5Print 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 6Cover the large map with 1/2" wide masking tape strips. This will make your guide for the flag stripes.
- Step 7Starting 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 8When 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 9Glue the blue star field on top of the red and white stripes to finish the flag.
- Optional: Example 1Canvas panel and acrylic
- Optional: Example 2Chipboard and colored pencil
- Optional: Example 3Foamboard and Expressionistic watercolors