Post yer colors, mates!

[Capt. Lazarus Gage]

I've posted this in another forum also, but I think I'll add my addition here also:

[Matty Bottles]

I've been thinking about these flags, and the size of historical flags, and it suddenly occurred to me that if hemp canvas isn't aboslutely necessary, you could buy a cotton canvas painter's dropcloth and use that as the basis of your flag. Those things are frequently huge!

[William Brand]

I've been thinking about these flags, and the size of historical flags, and it suddenly occurred to me that if hemp canvas isn't aboslutely necessary, you could buy a cotton canvas painter's dropcloth and use that as the basis of your flag. Those things are frequently huge!

I've done several flags this way, including the Pyrates of Treasure Cove's ensign...

And the Weltanders flag...

[Matty Bottles]

Alright! I got mad thoughts, yo!

Seriously, do you paint the design on?

[William Brand]

Alright! I got mad thoughts, yo!

Seriously, do you paint the design on?

You trace the design onto the natural colored canvas and paint everything but the design black. The bones and other symbols are left natural.

[Matty Bottles]

I wonder how historical pirates got their canvas black. Did they tar it, I wonder? Or just use a dirty gray piece of canvas? If they did tar it, I wonder if they ever painted designs on, or sewed onto the tarred canvas...

[Tartan Jack]

From what research I have done:

The PERIOD flags were a VERY light, but strong form of wool known as wool bunting (the significance s in the weave, which is unique to bunting).

NONE of the GAoP flags survived. Of the ones described, most are JUST of the insignia and a couple mention "silk." NONE specifically state that the main pirate flags were canvas, except as a VERY temporary measure.

In history, it is usually safest to go with general practice than to postulate what "might" have been done that deviate from "normal," esp. when PERIOD sources make little to nothing on anything unusual. People tend to ONLY note things that are "odd" PRECISELY because they are DIFFERENT from norm.

So, we can sermize (sp?) that most were wool bunting, like the REST of the flags aboard a ship.

Thus, for a MODERN recreation of an OLD flag, the SAFEST thing to do is either find VERY light wool OR use a modern light cotton (as most of these will not ACTUALLY face wear and tear of a sea flag).

As for how to attach the insignia, the most easily to argue is the applique (sewn on). Period descriptions of flags also talk about people PAINTING stuff onto flags. However, we MUST remember that often that painting is dark on light rather than light on dark (older paints were often not as opaque as modern ones). Now the TYPE of paint, I have read a number of opinions, but have not reached ANY conclusion as to WHAT was used then, so have NO IDEA as to a modern equivalent. Many use modern artist acrylics, esp. as they are easy to use, relatively light weight and opaque, cheap to get moderate brands, and generally water resistant ONCE DRY.

I have materials to make a couple flags of my own design. One of them is some light, but stong plaid cotton purchased for an uncompleted project. The rest are black and deep navy wool (I THINK I also have some red too) in a light weight, but not actually bunting (as far as I have found, NO ONE makes bunting anymore). On these flags, I plan to use applique techniques for the white portions and other large areas, with artist acrylic paint on the black (maybe a few touches of other colors).

The plaid flag is for "Tartan Jack" and will have a skull and crossed dirks (in imitation of the Scot saltaire).

The others are for more "historical" style designs.

[BluePuppy]

would anyone with any historical books have any illustrations of mermaids and dogs?

i'm working on a couple of flag designs and i'd like to toy with different things =p

ANYWAY, there are aloooottt of really awesome flags here, good work you guys

[William Brand]

I would try doing searches for heraldic mermaids and dogs. There are numerous books on the subject and a google image search will yield a fair number of them.

[BluePuppy]

ahhh thanks william red wake, "heraldic" was the word i was trying to think of =p

this is what i ended up with:

the blue dog didn't turn out QUITE how i wanted it because i messed up a little while painting it, but oh well :)

[Abrams]

BluePuppy, that looks phenomenal! What'd you make it out of and how large is it?

[BluePuppy]

thanks! :) it's acrylic on scrap newsprint actually, 24"x14"

[The Doctor]

***

[LadyBarbossa]

I'd posted mine up here long ago, alas, it disappeared. But here be the 2 different versions. Pardon as they are rather crude:

~Lady B

[blackbonie]

i like that one with the black heart

[LadyBarbossa]

Thanks, Bonie.

They are rough drafts.

~Lady B

[Captain Midnight]

I had posted a fantasy-type version of my flag earlier in this thread,but I will probably retire that flag in favor of this one, which is more historical looking than the old one. This is the flag that will fly from the mast of my ship from this point forth. It is all black and swallow-tailed (the pic looks like it has a white triangle, but that's not actually part of the flag), and the bones form the Roman numeral twelve--the midnight hour. Thanks to William Red Wake and Black Mab for technical advice in the design.

[Island Cutter]

We sail (yes really sail. In a real boat with sails and lines and all the other fiddley bits) a very wide stretch of Hudson's River known as the Tappan Zee. It seems only natural to call ourselves "ZeeWolves" and here is our ensign...

[oderlesseye]

Mine is now within me signature..

[KStegs]

Seein as how there are alot of artsy types...was hopin someone could help me out.

I'm lookin to make my colors nonauthentic, but personal.

Im thinking a Stegosaurus skellie with crossed swords.

Anyone know a site with some dinosaur clip art?

[casketchris]

Ours!

that damn flag was hard to make... sewing the same pattern on both sides and trying to get them to line up was hell

[Abrams]

But it looks so great, Casketchris!

[casketchris]

why thank you now that its done its worth it just like the slops

[OL Jack The Pirate]

Here be my Flag, the flage of Dman the pirate

[oderlesseye]

Non-traditional yet the symbolism is just as threatening. That was the purpose of pirate flag so EYE have read....to entreat fear in the hearts of men.