“A woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke.” — Rudyard Kipling
(often quoted among aficionados as a celebration of the pleasure found in a perfect smoke)
Davidoff Late Hour Cigar and Michter’s Bourbon — A Tribute in Canvas
There are few combinations in the world of refined taste that resonate as deeply with connoisseurs as the interplay of a premium cigar and a fine bourbon. In this original work by Michael John Valentine, the Davidoff Late Hour Cigar and Michter’s Bourbon Painting on Canvas is more than a still life — it is an immersion into ritual, craft, and the quiet luxury that defines the most discerning collections of modern art.
Craftsmanship in Every Detail
Valentine’s work stands at the intersection of two parallel worlds of craftsmanship — the slow, patient mastery of premium cigars and the meticulous aging of fine bourbon. Much like the Davidoff Late Hour cigar for which this painting is named, the artwork itself embodies a richness of texture, depth of tone, and a reflective warmth that can only come from decades of artistic expertise.
Executed with a meticulous overpainting process, the canvas invites the viewer into a space where form and ambience are inseparable. Layers of acrylic and pigment weave together, creating surface that breathes with life, echoing the tactile pleasure of a cigar’s wrapper and the amber glow of Michter’s bourbon.
Beyond Representation — A Sensory Statement
This piece doesn’t merely depict; it evokes. The Davidoff Late Hour cigar isn’t shown as an inanimate object but as an emblem of timeless indulgence — its curling smoke, rendered in layered strokes, hints at aroma and experience as much as visual presence. Opposite it, the rich amber reservoir of Michter’s bourbon captures and refracts imagined light, offering not just color but memory — the memory of warmth raised in toast, of slow conversation, and of moments savored rather than rushed.
The relationship between cigar and spirit in this painting mirrors how aficionados approach them in life: as complementary expressions of quality and intention. Both bourbon and handcrafted cigars demand patience, knowledge, and respect — values that Valentine translates into visual poetry on canvas.
A Palette Rooted in Ritual
The color language of this work is deliberate. Deep umbers and soft mahoganies evoke the tactile weight of tobacco leaf; amber, sienna, and golden hues reflect the warm glow of spirit in crystal. These tones are not accidental — they are chosen with the same reverence a master blender selects tobacco or a distiller samples barrel-aged bourbon.
The overpainted surface — glossy, layered, inviting touch — adds dimensionality that transcends flat representation. It creates a living surface that responds to ambient light, changing subtly as the viewer moves, just as a smoke’s curve shifts and glints through a lounge.
Signature, Authenticity, and the Collector’s Eye
Each canvas in this series includes Valentine’s signature — a mark of authenticity that matters deeply to collectors who value original art over mass-produced imagery. This is not wall décor; it is a piece of visual heirloom, meant to be treasured, studied, and passed on as part of a personal collection.
Collectors will note that the painting is offered across formats — from limited-edition decals and prints to hand-overpainted canvases — but it is the overpainted, signed canvas editions that carry the true gravitas of the artist’s hand. These pieces arrive unstretched, rolled carefully, ready to be framed and integrated into spaces where quality is not just seen but felt.
Aesthetic and Ambience — Not Just Art
Hanging this work in a private study, lounge, or curated bar area is more than décor — it sets tone. It tells a story of evenings spent slow-talking the world away, of savoring richness in life’s simpler pleasures, and of appreciating both craft and calm. In rooms where voices lower and glasses raise, this canvas becomes a kind of signature piece — a visual metonym for refined living.
The Ritual of Reflection
The painting captures what many collectors seek not just in bourbon and cigars, but in art: the space between moments. That silent pause before first draw’s flavor unfurls. The warmth that lingers after a sip. The way smoke curls like fleeting thought. This work isn’t just looked at — it is experienced.
In celebrating the Davidoff Late Hour cigar alongside a classic pour of Michter’s bourbon, Valentine does more than immortalize icons of indulgence: he celebrates the philosophy behind them — patience, complexity, and the quiet satisfaction that arises when time is honored rather than hurried.
In every brushstroke, this work reflects an old truth: contentment — like great bourbon and a fine cigar — is meant to be savored.
The Exhibition Canvas comes in 3 sizes and goes through several steps that include overpainting with acrylics, signing with acrylics on the front and a final glazing to protect the canvas before being rolled in a sealed tube then a box ( shipping is free in the USA )
The Matted Prints come in 3 sizes and are shipped in a box. ( shipping and handling is free in the US)
The Glossy Poster Print measures 16 x 24 and arrives in a sealed tube that is placed in a box. ( shipping is free in the US )
The 4 Inch Round Peel And Stick Decal is perfect for many applications beyond cars and comes in a sealed envelope ( shipped for free )
