Drawn in Smoke- Limited Edition Signed Canvas
Limited Edition Hand-Drawn Acrylic Cigar Wall Décor
“Every line carries the rhythm of ritual — the slow burn, the silence, the pause between conversations. Drawn in Smoke was never intended to simply depict a cigar. It was created to preserve the atmosphere surrounding it. I am limiting this to only two original hand drawn acrylic on canvas signed paintings measuring 14 x 56 .”
— Michael John Valentine
Created as an exercise in restraint, movement, and atmosphere, Drawn in Smoke transforms the timeless silhouette of a cigar into a contemporary abstract statement. Rendered entirely by hand using acrylic medium, the piece rejects overcomplication in favor of confidence, balance, and emotional weight. A single uninterrupted black line stretches across the composition with deliberate tension, eventually curling into fluid combustion-inspired forms that suggest smoke, ember, ash, and motion simultaneously.
The artwork exists within a minimalist vocabulary, yet its emotional presence is unmistakably bold. The elongated form draws the eye across the surface in the same way cigar smoke drifts through a dimly lit lounge — unhurried, elegant, and impossible to fully contain. The restrained ember-toned accents introduce warmth and combustion without overpowering the purity of the black acrylic linework. This contrast between darkness and glow becomes symbolic of ritual itself: fire against shadow, silence against conversation, permanence against disappearance.
Unlike digitally produced décor pieces, Drawn in Smoke preserves the visible authenticity of the artist’s hand. The line intentionally fluctuates in pressure and density, allowing subtle imperfections to become part of the visual identity. Those irregularities are not corrected or erased; they are celebrated as proof of creation. Every edge, bend, pause, and acceleration within the composition documents a physical movement made in real time.
Acrylic paint plays a central role in the personality of the work. Known for its versatility, permanence, and ability to create deep matte blacks alongside luminous translucent layering, acrylic allows the composition to maintain both sharpness and atmosphere simultaneously. In Drawn in Smoke, the acrylic medium is manipulated to create dimensional contrast between the dense structural line and the softer ember-like tonal transitions surrounding the combustion forms. The result is a piece that feels both graphic and painterly — contemporary yet timeless.
The use of acrylic also reinforces the durability and collector quality of the artwork itself. Unlike more fragile mediums, acrylic cures into a resilient finish capable of maintaining color integrity and structural clarity over time. This allows the work to function equally well in luxury residential interiors, private cigar lounges, executive offices, whiskey rooms, and gallery-style commercial spaces. The surface presence remains sophisticated under both natural and controlled lighting conditions, making the piece highly adaptable architecturally.
Perhaps the most defining aspect of Drawn in Smoke is its intentional rarity.
Only two editions of this artwork will ever be created.
This limitation transforms the piece from decorative wall art into a true collector acquisition. In a market saturated with reproduced imagery and endlessly replicated prints, the decision to restrict the edition to only two examples restores exclusivity and significance to ownership. Each edition becomes not only a visual object, but also a document of scarcity.
For collectors, rarity creates emotional gravity. Knowing that only one other version exists in the world fundamentally changes the relationship between viewer and artwork. Ownership becomes personal, almost private — a shared understanding between artist and collector that the work was never intended for mass circulation. This exclusivity aligns naturally with cigar culture itself, where appreciation often centers around limited releases, craftsmanship, ritual, and the pursuit of experiences unavailable to the general public.
The horizontal composition gives Drawn in Smoke a commanding architectural quality. Its proportions allow it to function exceptionally well above leather seating, bar installations, humidor displays, floating shelving systems, or clean modern interiors where negative space is valued as much as the object itself. The minimalist nature of the piece ensures that it never overwhelms a room, yet its scale and contrast guarantee presence.
At its core, the artwork explores impermanence. Smoke disappears. Ash falls. Embers cool. Conversations end. Yet the ritual remains unforgettable. Drawn in Smoke captures that contradiction visually — preserving a fleeting experience through permanent material. The piece becomes less about the cigar itself and more about memory, atmosphere, masculinity, ritual, solitude, sophistication, and the elegance of temporary moments.
There is also a subtle tension within the work between control and release. The dominant line feels intentional and disciplined, while the curling combustion forms at the end begin to dissolve into freedom and unpredictability. That emotional shift mirrors the experience of slowing down, disconnecting from noise, and entering a quieter mental space. The artwork therefore operates not only as visual décor, but as emotional architecture within the environment it inhabits.
Drawn in Smoke stands as a contemporary collectible rooted in simplicity, luxury, and authenticity. It does not ask for attention through complexity. Instead, it commands attention through confidence — through what is left unsaid as much as what is shown.
Only two will exist.
Once placed into private collections, the series closes permanently.
Please e-mail fineartbyval@gmail.com
