Rust-Oleum Projects

Chicago Flag Wall Art

We love Chicago! Here's how we made this wooden Chicago flag using Chalked Ultra Matte paint and Tint Base to show off our city pride.

Prepare: Always work in a well ventilated area and cover the surrounding area with a drop cloth to protect from overspray.
Build: Cut three 1’ x 4’ x 8’ boards to 31 ½”, to get 6 boards total. Use a projector to shine the desired flag image onto a flat white surface and trace the stars to scale onto tracing paper. TIP: If you don't have a projector, you can print the stars off of your computer and trace. Transfer 4 star images from tracing paper onto 5mm lauan plywood using a ponce wheel or X-Acto knife. Cut the stars out of the wood with a power scroll saw.
Paint: Following the directions on the can, use Chalked Ultra Matte paint to paint 4 of the boards in Linen White and two of the boards in Soothing Blue. Paint all 4 stars in Crimson. Let everything dry completely for 2-4 hours.
Finish: Once dry, place all 6 painted boards in final flag order upside down on a clean surface. Clamp the boards edgewise with two 36” pipe clamps. Using 24 1” craft screws and #6 washers, attach a 29” x 21” backing board of 5mm lauan to the back of the boards, using 4 evenly spaced screws per board. Attach the picture hanging wire near the top center of the flag. Once the backing is secured, turn the flag over. Position the four stars evenly on the boards and adhere them with woodworkers glue.

Hang on your wall and enjoy! What kind of art have you made to support your favorite city? Share your latest Rust-Oleum project with us!