The Rhythm of Indulgence

“There is a rhythm to the things we savor—the slow burn of a fine cigar, the warmth of bourbon, and the quiet moments that allow us to appreciate them.”
— Michael John Valentine

The Rhythm of Indulgence began with two distinctly different expressions of craftsmanship: a Davidoff Blend cigarand a pour of Booker’s Bourbon. Both carry their own character, history, aroma, color, and presence, but together they suggest something beyond the objects themselves—the ritual of slowing down and appreciating a moment.

This work is part of my latest abstract series, where recognizable subjects become the starting point for a more expressive exploration of color, movement, texture, and atmosphere. Rather than simply reproducing the cigar and bourbon as still-life objects, I wanted to capture the experience surrounding them.

The Davidoff Blend represents the cigar as an object of patience and craftsmanship. Its carefully constructed form, rich wrapper, and distinctive character have long made the cigar a symbol of an experience meant to be enjoyed slowly. Booker’s Bourbon brings another dimension to that experience. Its deep amber tones, warmth, and unmistakable presence create a natural visual relationship with the darker, earthy qualities associated with a fine cigar.

Together, they establish the foundation for the painting.

But The Rhythm of Indulgence is not intended to remain a traditional cigar-and-bourbon still life.

The recognizable elements gradually become part of a larger abstract composition. Color begins to carry the emotion of the subject. Forms interact rather than simply describe. Layers create movement, while areas of contrast establish a visual cadence that encourages the eye to travel across the canvas.

That sense of movement is where the idea of rhythm enters the work.

I think of painting much like music. There are dominant notes, quieter passages, moments of contrast, repetition, pauses, and transitions. A successful composition does not require every element to compete for attention. Instead, the individual elements work together to create an experience.

In The Rhythm of Indulgence, the Davidoff Blend and Booker’s Bourbon provide those initial visual notes.

The cigar suggests warmth, depth, texture, and slow movement. The bourbon introduces amber, golden, and darker tonal relationships that create another layer of visual energy. As these elements move into abstraction, their literal identities become less important than the feelings they generate.

The result is a painting about atmosphere as much as subject.

There is something inherently personal about the ritual of enjoying a fine cigar and bourbon. It can be an evening spent alone, a conversation with a friend, a celebration, or simply a moment of quiet reflection. The objects themselves are only part of the experience. The room, the lighting, the conversation, the music, and the time of day can all become part of the memory.

That is what interested me most as I developed this work.

I wanted to paint the moment rather than simply paint the objects.

This approach has become increasingly important in my recent abstract work. I often begin with something recognizable because it provides an emotional and visual foundation. From there, I allow the image to evolve. Colors can become more expressive. Forms can become less literal. Layers can obscure and reveal portions of the original idea.

Eventually, the subject and the abstraction begin to coexist.

That balance is central to The Rhythm of Indulgence.

The Davidoff Blend and Booker’s Bourbon remain part of the identity of the painting, but they do not dictate exactly what the viewer must see. Instead, they provide an entry point. Someone familiar with cigars and bourbon may immediately recognize the inspiration, while another viewer may simply experience the composition as an exploration of rich color, movement, and form.

I enjoy that ambiguity.

Art does not always need to provide a single answer. Sometimes it is more interesting when the viewer can discover a personal connection within it.

The warm character associated with Booker’s Bourbon becomes particularly important within the color structure of the piece. Amber and deeper tones suggest warmth and richness, while the visual presence of the cigar introduces another layer of texture and contrast. Together, they create an atmosphere that feels intimate without being confined to a particular setting.

The painting becomes less about consumption and more about appreciation.

A fine cigar takes time. A good bourbon invites contemplation. The experience is measured differently from the hurried rhythm of everyday life. There is an opportunity to pause, look, listen, taste, and simply be present.

That idea became the emotional foundation of this painting.

The Rhythm of Indulgence asks the viewer to slow down in much the same way.

Rather than taking in the entire composition at once, the eye can move through its layers and relationships. Color leads to form. Form leads to texture. Texture leads back into color. Familiar references appear and disappear within the abstract structure.

The painting becomes a visual rhythm of its own.

This work also represents an evolution of my cigar and bourbon imagery. Those subjects have been part of my studio work for years, but abstraction gives me an opportunity to approach them differently. Instead of focusing exclusively on realism or recognizable objects, I can explore what these subjects represent emotionally—craftsmanship, ritual, warmth, sophistication, friendship, solitude, and the simple pleasure of taking time for oneself.

The Davidoff Blend and Booker’s Bourbon are therefore more than references within the composition. They are the catalysts for the painting.

They provide the initial story, while abstraction allows that story to expand.

For me, The Rhythm of Indulgence is ultimately about savoring the moment. It is about the quiet pleasure found in things created with care and enjoyed with patience. It is about the visual language that develops when recognizable imagery is allowed to move beyond representation and become color, movement, texture, and emotion.

The Davidoff Blend provides the slow-burning rhythm.

Booker’s Bourbon provides the warmth.

The canvas brings them together.

And abstraction allows the experience to continue long after the cigar has been enjoyed and the bourbon has been poured.