One World Flag: Reflection

TECHNICAL
Technical steps I took in creating this piece were using brushes, shapes and pictures and combining them to create a very simple one-toned flag.  I used a brush if the tree and then copy and pasted parts of it to create leaves blowing off of it.  I used different colours.

IDEA OR CONCEPT
Ideas I used in this piece were to show in this piece was to show one united world.  I showed a man's strength and individuality by showing one tree.  I showed undividedness by using a circle, I linked them together to show strength that comes with unity of everyone.  I tried to show freedom and peace by the gracefulness of a flying bird.  I showed an earth y using dots to show people across the world.  My idea which changed throughout the creation was using multi-coloured objects or a lot of colour within my flag.  I wanted to use this to show equality, but in using a few simple colours, which were balanced, I created the same effect.

INFLUENCES

The piece which influenced me the most in creating this image was an Internet example shown of the earth in red made into a cartoon heart shape, with a white circle around it with a blue background.  I liked the colour combination and simplicity of the flag.

COMPOSITION
I balanced my flag asymmetrically.  I put emphasis with my tree by putting it on top of the other graphics and creating it red.  Movement is created in this flag by having leaves blown off of the tree around it.  Movement is also made by having the birds fly in a group to the one side as well.  The viewer eyes move around my piece beginning looking at the tree, then to the circle surrounding the tree with the dots in it.  Eyes next move to the circle linked to the other and then to the flying birds.

MOTIVATION
Beyond fulfilling the requirements for this assignment, my motivation for creating this piece was to be able to portray a symbol or symbols which represent everyone across the globe.  I also wanted to show togetherness and something which could bring people together similar to how Olympic games are supposed to, only being able to reach everyone, unlike the Olympic games.

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT
Elements I find most successful and interesting are the contrast of the blue and red.  Although they are not direct compliment colours, they are so close they are able to create contrast and interest.  I also find my world successful as it unlike the classic image of the earth in the globe but still shows that it is the world as it has the effect of the dots inside the circle.  Parts of the process of the creation of this piece that surprised me was how difficult or how much thought must be put into such a simplistic graphic images.  With additional time, I would like to improve my tree.  Because my tree is composition of two tree brushes, there are parts of the trunk in the centre which do not mesh or blend together well.