Melting Pot

20 in x 38 in,

11/24

The idea behind this piece was to honor the diversity of the American population. We are a nation made up of a rich mix of different cultures and backgrounds. In thinking about how to represent this, I came up with the idea of replicating the American flag in different hues of human skin complexion. So, I ordered a custom sized canvas to match the 1:1.9 ration of the US flag. The dark navy of the flag is replaced with VanDyke brown, and the red and white stripes are laid down with light and dark shades of brown to pay homage to individuals with light and dark skin complexions. Finally, I chose to do an ombre of browns from light to dark for the fifty stars that represent the US states. I used glazing and impasto techniques to give the painting a "historic" feel. I realize that doing anything that alters the iconic image of the American flag is risky, but my intention here is to celebrate the multicultural fabric of America in this painting.