22 American Flag

by Sarai Ekblad
(Marion, IL)

22 American Flag

I painted this in oil. It is on a 16 x 20 canvas. It took me about 3 weeks, painting only one day a week. I painted about two hours at a time. I'm not a great artist, so I don't know what all the techniques are called. But I was pleased, as were my friends both at the local arts association, and at work.
I’m a fairly new painter, especially in oils. My friend recently started showing me how easy oils can be. I painted 2 paintings side-by-side with her. Then I painted another work on my own at the same time as working on this painting. This painting is actually up for auction at a charity event on June 6. I’m excited as it’ll be my first ever painting to sell.
This painting is inspired by a lot of things. Each time I have been out of the country, I have a renewed appreciation for our country and the freedoms that we have. I am a veteran. I was in the Army for four and a half years, until I was medically discharged for injuries I had sustained. I had been wanting to paint a flag for some time. I finally had the courage to give it a try on my own, after having been taught a few things about oils from my friend. I had no guidance while painting this flag. But I enjoyed every minute of it.
You may ask me, why the 22 in the corner. The 22 stands for how many veterans take their own lives each day. The auction that this painting is going to be sold at, is a charity benefit for a local organization that is working to make a difference. They are working to lower the number of veterans taking their own lives. So I donated this painting to them. That is why I added the 22. So that whoever buys it will have a perpetual reminder of the 22 veterans that die each day.

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