The Piece: Opus X Cigar Martini Heels Pearls
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Title / Medium — Opus X Cigar Martini Heels Pearls Fine Art Painting on Canvas is offered as an original, hand-painted canvas by Michael John Valentine.
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Editions & Format — The work is available in multiple formats. The “Exhibition Canvas” versions (unstretched) come in various sizes; there are also matted prints, poster prints, and even peel-and-stick decals for collectors seeking different formats.
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Delivery & Presentation — The painting is shipped rolled in a sealed plastic sleeve and heavy-duty tube, ensuring safe transport. This allows collectors to choose their own framing or stretching to suit their taste and décor.
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Price Range — As listed, prices range broadly depending on size and format, from lower-cost prints/decals up to full overpainted signed canvases (in larger sizes).
Certificate of Authenticity (COA) & Provenance
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Each original canvas version of this painting comes with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) issued by the artist — in this case, Michael John Valentine. The COA is pictured on the product page as proof of authenticity.
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In the art world, a COA is meant to guarantee that the work is genuine — typically listing title, medium, artist name, date, and signature of the artist or authorizing party.
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For a collector, the COA helps anchor provenance, documenting that the piece is an original by the stated artist. When paired with the artist’s signature and original shipping (direct from artist), that provenance becomes more compelling.
Note on COAs: While COAs are a standard tool in authentication, their value hinges on transparency and traceability. A COA must clearly describe the work (title, medium, size, date), and be hand-signed by the artist or recognized authority.
In this case, since the COA comes from the artist directly (on purchase), it carries strong credence — particularly because the work is sold directly from the artist’s site/galleried studio.
Overpainting Process & Artistic Technique
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The “Exhibition Canvas” version of Opus X goes through a multi-step process: after the initial base (likely a printed or underlayer), the artist applies overpainting with acrylics. Then the artist signs on the front (also in acrylic), and a final glazing (sealant) is applied to protect the surface.
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“Overpainting,” in the traditional painting sense, means applying final layers of paint over an underpainting — not merely restoring or touching up, but building depth, color nuance, and brush-stroke texture that enrich the work visually.
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In this context, the overpainting and glazing create a unique, one-of-a-kind finish: even if underlying printed elements or templates were used, the hand-applied acrylic brushwork and sealant ensure that each canvas acquires individual character. The listing notes that the addition of “brush strokes and sealant creates a unique one of a kind look to every painting.”
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For serious collectors, this hybrid approach — printed/compositional base + hand-painted overlayer + protective glazing — combines reproducibility (multiple sizes), and original art value (handwork, signature, COA).
About the Artist — Experience & Legacy
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Michael John Valentine has been making art for over 55 years, a career that began when he was only 10 years old.
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He holds a Bachelor of Fine and Professional Arts degree from Kent State University.
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His base is near Lake Norman, North Carolina (studio and gallery in Cornelius), giving the piece a tangible provenance tied to a U.S.-based, working artist with decades of practice.
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For collectors, this pedigree matters: decades of experience, formal training, and consistent output position Michael John Valentine as a mature artist whose signed, COA-backed canvases carry added credibility.
Why This Work Appeals to Discerning Collectors
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Hybrid of art & lifestyle symbolism — The subject matter (Opus X cigar, martini, pearls, heels) evokes sophistication, indulgence, and a certain luxury lifestyle vibe, making the work perfect for upscale environments: lounges, study libraries, high-end bars or cigar rooms.
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Authenticity & collectibility — With a COA, artist signature, hand-applied overpainting, and protective glazing, the canvas qualifies as a genuine art object — not just a print. The uniqueness of brush strokes ensures no two canvases look identical.
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Flexibility in presentation — Because the canvas ships rolled and unstretched, collectors can choose bespoke framing, matting, or gallery wrapping to suit their interior aesthetic — ideal for custom, high-end installations.
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Established artist with history — Owning a work by a seasoned artist with decades of experience and credentials adds a layer of narrative and heritage — valuable for collection provenance and future legacy.
