I have a small garden flag stand beside my front walk and have a lot of nice seasonal flags for it, but I was never able to find a flag with a harness horse on it. This past week, I bought some canvas duck fabric at JoAnn’s to make a floor cloth and thought I would try making a small banner out of this material, using the same general procedure I have used for floor cloths.
The duck canvas gets several coats of Gesso to provide a good surface for painting. The design is painted with acrylic paint and inked with a Sharpie fine or ultra-fine pen on the canvas and then several coats of clear satin acrylic varnish are applied.
I cut a piece of fabric for the back from an old county fair panel I’ve had for years. This was also coated with the varnish.
This piece is something of an experiment for me since I know the process works well for indoor floor mats and the acrylic works well for outdoor wood items, but I’ve never combined the two processes before.
I like the banner very much. The barn is from a photograph of the horse barn my father had for his harness horses for many years.
It was a gathering place for the family in the 1950s and 60s, especially during county fair time when everyone congregated.
I’ll see how this banner works out in all kinds of weather and I may be making a few more throughout the year.
Heavens, Lillian! You are so creative and talented! Love your banner…
I love your banner. Since I’m your basic stick-figure artist, I so admire anyone who can draw and paint and have it look like what it’s supposed to be! You did a beautiful job.
You did something different on your blog? Or have I just now noticed the banner and background seem new?
I changed it about a month ago – the first change since I started blogging 5 years ago. Lillian
You never cease to amaze me Lillian with your talent. What a nice idea for an outdoor flag. What a great looking barn. Like your new banner and background.
What a great idea and a beautiful flag! you are so talented Lillian!!
It is beautiful. I’m interested to see how it holds up–fingers crossed, hoping for the best…such a treasure.
I have to tell my mother to look at your blog when I Skype with her today. Her cousin trains harness horses for racing and would love this flag.
Hugs from Holland ~
Heidi
Your banner looks great – I hope it withstands the elements so you are able to make more!