#31DC2014 - Day 28 - Inspired by a FLAG

Hi hi! Today is day 28 of the 31-Day Challenge. Only three more to go! Today's prompt is "inspired by a flag", and I have known for a while that I wanted to honour the Australian Aboriginal Flag.

Outdoors in shade

I first saw this flag flying next to the Australian national flag (which I have also painted before) in front of a building in Melbourne, and thought it would be a nice nail design. But in order to honour and not cheapen or disrespect the meaning of the flag (as I am not from here), I did a bit of research. From the AIATSIS website,

The Aboriginal flag was designed by Harold Thomas, a Luritja man from Central Australia. It was created as a symbol of unity and national identity for Aboriginal people during the land rights movement of the early 1970s. 

It was first flown in 1971, and in 1995 it was proclaimed an official flag of Australia. As it should be. :) I like the symbolism of the colours as well--the black represents the Aboriginal people, and the red represents the earth as well as the colour of ochre, which has ceremonial significance. The yellow circle in the middle represents the sun, the protector and giver of life.

I used Soulstice Spa Buenos Aires (red, and as close a match to the official Pantone 179 as I have) and Gotham (black) for the striped tips, and Zoya Darcy for the yellow circle. Topcoated with Seche Vite.

Indoors with flash. Hello, nail staining that's totally not visible in real life at all >.>

Outdoors in the yellow circle--I mean, in sun :)

So there you have it! I know many of you will not have known any Australian flags outside of the national one, so now you can learn a little bit just as I did. :D

Check back tomorrow for day 29's nails! xoxo