“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” — Edgar Degas
In Montecristo Cigar with Jack On Ice Six Shooter Abstract, Michael John Valentine doesn’t just present objects — he orchestrates an experience. What appears at first glance as a still-life composition becomes, under his touch, a visual poem where ritual, memory, and iconography intertwine.
For collectors who live at the intersection of visual sophistication and tactile indulgence, this piece is more than decoration — it’s an atmospheric event, a still moment re-imagined through abstraction and intent. At its core, the work marries cultural symbols of leisure and distinguished taste: the celebrated Montecristo cigar, the rugged elegance of Jack Daniel’s on ice, and the latent tension of the Six Shooter, a classic Diamond Back revolver. The narrative is one of ritual — a private, almost sacred pause in time where sensory pleasure and latent energy coexist.
A Symphony of Symbol and Substance
Valentine’s art is rooted in a lifetime of dedication — over 55 years of making art since childhood studies and culminating in formal training with a BFA from Kent State University. His command of acrylics and mixed media gives each piece a physical presence: thickened brushwork, layered glazes, and a surface that simultaneously evokes reflection and tactility.
The subject matter itself feels like a curated ritual — the amber glow of whiskey, the smoky promise of tobacco, and the gunmetal silhouette of the revolver. Yet, rather than a literal representation, these elements are abstracted, allowed to float, overlap, and resonate against one another in a space that suggests mood rather than situation. Lines blur and edges soften, encouraging the viewer’s eye to wander between forms, textures, and implied narratives.
More Than Objects: A Narrative in Motion
While many artists depict cigars or spirits as symbols of luxury, Valentine layers his composition with an expressive abstraction that elevates these objects into metaphors. Here, the Montecristo cigar isn’t just a premium stogie — it is an emblem of craftsmanship, lineage, and ritualistic pause. The Jack Daniel’s glass with its telling cubes of ice captures light and depth, creating interplay between the warm and cool spectrums of tone. Then there is the revolver, the “Six Shooter” — its presence is less about danger and more about narrative intrigue, the kind that whispers of frontier mythologies and American character.
The abstraction does not conceal — it enhances. By refracting these icons through textured color fields and expressive brushwork, Valentine invites the viewer to consider their emotional resonance: strength, contemplation, ritual, celebration, and even the quiet threat of time’s passage.
Technique and Craftsmanship: The Collector’s Experience
The piece is offered in multiple formats — from intimate prints and decals to large exhibition canvases — but at every scale, the craftsmanship remains evident. Original canvases undergo a multi-step process: overpainting with acrylics, a hand-signed front, and a protective glaze that brings a subtle sheen, maximizing depth while preserving texture. Each finished canvas is shipped rolled in a sealed tube to ensure pristine arrival.
What truly distinguishes Valentine’s work is this commitment to the physical object. The brushwork isn’t just visible — it’s palpable. Layer upon layer of acrylic builds subtle topographies across the surface, encouraging collectors to not just look, but to feel — to sense the artist’s hand in every pass of pigment. This is art that rewards proximity, asking the viewer to linger close, to see how light catches a brushstroke or how color dances in the glazing.
Mood, Place, and Ambience
This painting does not exist in a vacuum. It is part of a larger Cigar & Bourbon series that celebrates the cultural ritual of tobacco and spirits — a theme that echoes through Valentine’s oeuvre. Like a jazz score or the slow draw of a fine cigar, the work sets a tempo: deliberate, rich, and resonant.
Seen in a collector’s space — a study lined with leather-bound books, a lounge ringed with dark wood and amber light — the painting brings its own atmosphere. It is both calming and electric, convivial and solitary. It can anchor a room, act as the centerpiece of a curated gallery wall, or sit quietly over a bar cart, asserting its presence with elegant confidence.
Why This Piece Matters to Collectors
For the serious collector, Montecristo Cigar with Jack On Ice Six Shooter Abstract offers a unique blend of narrative depth, artisanal execution, and cultural resonance. It sits at the confluence of:
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Symbolic storytelling — iconic motifs evoking ritual and memory
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Expressive abstraction — form and color that invite personal interpretation
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Fine craftsmanship — layered acrylic technique with tactile presence
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Collector appeal — from limited prints to expansive canvas formats
In a market crowded with fleeting visual trends, Valentine’s work stands apart for its dedication to craft, context, and meaning. It is a piece that doesn’t just hang — it inhabits a space, becoming part of the collector’s narrative as deeply as the objects it depicts.
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
