Saturday, June 14, 2014

"June 14 USA Flag Day!"

June 14 is Flag Day In The US!


Acrylic Canvas 14" x 24"

Acrylic Canvas 14" x 24"

Front of our home decorated for "Flag Day!"
(We keep our flags up all year round!)

Neighbor's Tree


Flag On Our Garage











20 comments:

  1. Happy Flag Day!! Thanks for the reminder. Really nice flag paintings, especially the top one. I like when people keep their flags displayed all year. I love riding through the small towns out here and seeing the flags flying from the porches. I often stop to paint those.

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    1. Thank you Joan! Happy Flag Day right back at you! I am glad you like my flag paintings. I did them awhile back. I may have posted them on Memorial Day? Should probably paint some new ones! I can picture you in your car sketching the various flags scenes you encounter! I love your holiday sketches so very much! Thanks for visiting so often and always writing great comments!
      Take care Joan!
      Michael

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  2. Happy Flag Day Michael!! Love your paintings! The top one is very ethereal and poignant and the second one has a lovely spaciousness to it! Your house and garden look very festive with all the red, white and blue! It must be a very colourful day in general. Are there any other traditions that accompany the day?
    Your art cobber, Wendy

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    1. Thanks Wendy! Does Australia have any special holiday for its flag! I love the Australian flag! As an artist I think it is so cool looking! I also like the Australian Aborigine Flag! I am glad you like my flag paintings. Lisa asked me how I did the first one. I am eager to answer her comment! The day is very colorful. People decorate their houses with red white and blue. Huge flags are hung in municipal buildings. June 14 was also the 200th anniversary of our National Anthem! It's title, "The Star Spangled Banner", makes special reference to our flag. Also the words in the song. I find history very interesting! Schools do quite a bit on Flag Day! Speaking of my garden. Not many flowers are in bloom as of yet but when they do I so expect our hummingbird buddies to visit. I currently have a hummingbird feeder up but no visitors yet. I even have members of my family on hummingbird alert for my Australian Hummingbird Lover Art Friend to take photos!
      Enjoy planning your UK trip!
      Your Art Cobber!
      Michael

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    2. Hi Michael, I had to google to check if Australia has a flag day or not. I thought not as I had never heard of it, so I was surprised to discover that we actually do! I thought maybe my daughters would have heard of it being that it is a more recent phenomenon and wasn't an established tradition in my day, but no they hadn't heard of it either. Maybe it will be widely celebrated in a few decades time! I was very tickled to hear that you have your family also on hummingbird watch for me - I feel very honoured indeed!
      Your Up To Her Ears In Travel Stuff Art Buddy,
      Wendy

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    3. Hey Buddy! Why don't we start a universal flag day. We can pick one day and celebrate all the flags of the world!
      When does Australia celebrate its flag day?
      I have spotted quite a few humming birds since my last post! They are so difficult to photo! But at least they are back! I will keep trying. Family also!
      They are happy and quite excited to be on the lookout for hummingbirds for you!
      So excited for you and your upcoming UK adventure.
      Hail Brittainia!
      (Oh, I like to take idioms literally! When I was a teacher I used to have my younger students illustrate their interpretations of the literal meanings of popular idioms! So now I picture you literally "Up To Your Ears In Travel Stuff!" A funny picture indeed! Enjoy your plans Buddy
      Michael

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  3. Oh Gosh, I am embarrassed to say I didn't know it is Flag Day! I salute you and your Patriotism! I do have a flag pole and a really nice flag. I will display it for the 4th of July for sure! Love your flag paintings. So different from each other--both so good! Happy Father's Day!

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    1. Hi Celeste! Don't be embarrassed buddy! I think I know most of these little facts because my calendar gives me alerts to holidays and such! I do love patriotic things though. Especially with our country going through so much since 9/11! That horrible event seemed to kick things up a notch for me! I will be looking forward to your July 4th post Celeste! It makes me so very happy that you like my work! Thanks Celeste!
      Your "Yankee Doodle Dandy" Art Buddy!
      Michael

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  4. Me neither. I'm running to get our flag out, after I tell you what a great flag painting that is Michael. I like your use of green and ochre, the colors give it a colonial feeling. I don't know why? Stay painting; stay well.

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    1. Hello My So Very Talented And Very Wise Art Buddy Linda!
      I so loved your recent photo of you from back in the day! I will write more on your blog soon! I am glad you liked these paintings. And you hit the two colors I used as a glaze right on the money. Maybe even a bit of raw umber to the mix!
      I will stay painting and well. You keep painting and stay well also buddy!
      Your Lover Of L.W.Roth Art And Writing!
      Michael

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  5. Hey Michael... Mr Patriotic!
    Happy belated Flag Day! I missed it this year... was too busy reveling in the KINGS Stanley Cup victory! So great to watch them win it on our home ice this time!

    Great flag painting (the top one), I think I remember it from an earlier posting? Very cool! And the other one too, it has a poignant quality to it, so simply painted and so effective.
    Keep painting...
    Your West Coast King Reveler

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    1. David!
      I so thought of you when the Kings won! Yippee for you and all California. With all the weather related problems out west you all deserved some happy times! Sports certainly can bring joy to a community. Also agony!!! This time joy for you guys! Yippee! Next year Bruins vs Kings!!! It is nice to win at home! Didn't hear any news about fans bad behavior either! Good for LA!
      You are right! I think I posted the flags on Veterans' Day? Not sure when! I am glad you like my work David. Means so much to me!
      I so like the monikers you give me. "Mr. Patriotic!" So very cool. Do you remember "Happy Parrots' Day!" Even our Australian Art Buddy, Wendy got a kick out of that!
      Enjoy your team's win David!
      Keep on painting also my friend!
      Your Happy That His Art Buddy Is A West Coast King Reveler!
      LA Michael

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    2. Thanks Michael, sports can have that way of uniting and making us forget about troubles, even if only for a time.
      And yes, I am also a proud Angeleno that people behaved after the victory, there were no problems with celebrations.
      Kings vs Bruins would be great, we almost had that last year (but you would have to pray it did not go to 7 games or overtime. It seems the Kings kind of own those victories ; ) )
      I do remember your post "Happy Parrots Days" LOL, can't believe I misread it!
      I think you are the monikers moniker!
      Keep painting...
      Your STILL Reveling West Coast Reveler

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  6. That first flag painting looks like it is painted on wood - what is your technique on this one, Michael, the paint looks so luminous!

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    1. Hello My First Art Buddy! So very good to hear from you Lisa! The one who got this all started! I am so glad you noticed the "wood like" effect! This technique came all by accident. The luminous look was an unexpected gift! I wasn't happy with the direction the painting was taking. It was looking too tight! Too representational? Wasn't getting what I had in mind! So the effect came just as I began to wipe over the painting with an old rag that had some paint left on it! As soon as I saw the strokes of paint it made I got one of those rare but ever so thrilling "Aha!" moments. I thought it looked pretty good so I decided to stop. Never put any more detail on the remaining stars or stripes. I am so glad you noticed that Lisa! I was so happy to get some emotional effect that I unconsciously sought! Thanks buddy!
      Hope all is well on your end!
      My MFA class is over! Thinking of a Boston Gallery or ICA adventure soon?
      Best to your and of course Brie!
      Michael

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  7. Happy belated Flag day Michael ( and Father's day) !

    I love your paintings of the American flag, both so different from each other. There is a great effect on the flag in the top painting, it is very unique. Beautiful sentiment to the lower painting. Your garden is beautiful as well and it is great to you keep your flags up all year. The Italian flag is displayed only for soccer tournaments-true!

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    1. Hello My Dear Italian Art Buddy Celia!
      I am so happy you enjoyed my two very different flag paintings buddy! In my hometown of East Boston and Boston's North End there are huge Italian American Communities! Italian Flags are constantly flown! My wife's family is from Trieste and they have always kept their Italian culture alive. Language, music, food, customs, dance, stories, and so much more! I was thinking of you when Italy won against England in the World Cup. I even was wearing my Italia Soccer Futebol shirt! I have so many teams I am routing for in the World Cup! Of course USA is my main team but I still love Italia, Portugal, France, Brasil, Australia, Mexico, Netherlands,and so many more! Too bad they all couldn't win! I plan on watching Portugal and Germany today as well as USA against Ghana!
      So good luck to all the countries! May the best team win!
      Grazie Celia!
      Ciao!
      Abbracci!
      Michael

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  8. My Flag is always up...however, I have to get a light so it shines on it at night!
    Also, since I just got back from vacation, I'm catching up with my bloggers and I LOVE your last "Portuguese Caravel"...! love the colors and texture!!

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  9. Hello Hilda! You are so right about the light on the flag at night. I am so guilty of not shining a light on my flag! I have some neighbors who have their flags on poles and they have small spot lights shining at night! So very patriotic and important. Especially with all the issues our country is facing today! I hope you had a great vacation! Welcome home! I am so happy you love my "Portuguese Caravel!" Love colors and texture!
    Take Care My Right To Shine A Light On Your Flag At Night Art Buddy Hilda!
    Michael Who Is So Looking Forward To Boston's Annual July 4th Celebration!

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  10. love that first one especially the flag has a wonderful abstract shape

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