“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen — and when I’m making it happen, I enjoy a fine cigar to celebrate the craft of the moment.”MJ
Cohiba BEHIKE — Dare You to Pick It Up Abstract
A Luxury Collector’s Narrative
In the rarefied world where fine art meets timeless indulgence, Michael John Valentine’s Cohiba BEHIKE — Dare You to Pick It Up Abstract stands as a testament to the alchemy of visual craft and sensory heritage. This work is not merely decoration — it is a manifesto of experience, a declaration that fine art can be as visceral, as tactile, and as provocative as the richest Cuban cigar itself.
The Essence of Cohiba BEHIKE in Abstract Form
At its core, this piece draws its power from Cohiba’s legendary BEHIKE line — among the most revered cigars ever made, celebrated for its depth, complexity, and rarefied status in cigar culture. In Valentine’s hands, the cigar is no longer simply object — it is gesture, motion, emotion. Against a backdrop of expressive color and purposeful mark‑making, the viewer is challenged to interact with the work — to “dare you to pick it up” not in literal handling, but in the intellectual and emotional engagement with the story the piece unfurls.
The visual language of this abstract work is as nuanced as the Cohiba BEHIKE’s flavor profile: warm tobacco earth tones mingle with unexpected bursts of contrast, evoking the interplay of light on a richly veined Cuban wrapper, the lingering smoke curling in luxurious spirals through space. This is an art object that breathes — one whose pigments and textures suggest not just visual delight, but sensory memory itself.
Craftsmanship: The Alchemy of Acrylic and Intent
Valentine’s process is rooted in decades of dedication and exploration. Beginning with foundational imagery, possibly informed by original photography and sketching, the work evolves through layered acrylic overpainting — each layer building depth, drama, and resonance. These are not arbitrary applications of paint but considered gestures: bold strokes meet refined modulations, creating a surface that changes with light and perspective.
This complexity is further heightened through meticulous glazing — a final veil that ensures vibrancy, protects pigment, and elevates the piece’s longevity. The effect is a canvas that rewards both the first glance and repeated, slow study — much like a premium cigar that reveals new notes with each draw.
Context and Collector Value
A Certificate of Authenticity accompanies each version — from intimate prints to commanding exhibition canvases — underlining the piece’s singular provenance and investment appeal. In the collector’s domain, where credibility and rarity are currency, such documentation positions this work not merely as aesthetic décor but as a collector’s artifact.
Much like the BEHIKE cigar itself — renowned for its meticulous selection of leaves and its patient, slow burn — this piece does not rush to reveal itself. It invites a contemplative gaze, rewarding time spent in reflection rather than mere observation. Its presence transforms spaces: private lounges, luxury studies, curated cigar rooms, or collector galleries.
The Artist: A Lifetime of Craft
Michael John Valentine’s journey isn’t incidental to this work — it makes the work. With over 55 years in the art world, beginning formal training at ten and refined through a Bachelor of Fine and Professional Arts from Kent State University, Valentine channels a lifetime of discipline into every composition. His studio in Cornelius, North Carolina is a crucible of mixed media mastery — where photography, pigment, and painterly intuition meet.
In the world of high art, few pieces so deeply integrate a cultural iconography — the Cohiba BEHIKE — with the deep expressive potential of abstract form. This is art that lives between worlds: the tangible and the imagined, the luxury object and the contemplative space, the sensory indulgence of cigar culture and the intellectual rigor of abstract expression.
A Statement Piece for the Discerning Collector
For a collector, this work is a conversation starter, a meditation anchor, and a testament to refined taste. It speaks to those who understand that beauty and sophistication are not superficial qualities, but experiences — shaped through layers, time, and intention. Like the finest cigars and the most resonant art, Cohiba BEHIKE — Dare You to Pick It Up Abstract is about presence: commanding, rich, and unforgettable.
Whether displayed as a central work in a private lounge or as part of a curated collection celebrating craftsmanship and lifestyle, its impact is unmistakable: this is not passive art — this is art that engages, challenges, and beckons you closer.
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 )
Please e-mail fineartbyval@gmail.com
