“In flight motion is hard to translate into art if the thrill of the ride is your thing .”
Michael John Valentine
Time To Fly — A Masterpiece of Abstract Ascension
Time To Fly is not merely an artwork — it is a visual manifesto of movement, imagination, and the transcendent power of abstract expression. In this rare creation by Michael John Valentine, the very concept of flight is transformed and reimagined: brushstrokes become wings, textures become air currents, and the canvas itself becomes a threshold between the seen world and an inner realm of emotion and possibility.
A Story Beyond Representation
At first glance, Time To Fly evokes the visceral thrill of motion. Its swirling layers of paint, dynamic contrasts, and purposeful abstractions suggest not a literal journey, but an experiential one — a metaphysical launch into a state of heightened perception. Here, the viewer is not observing a landscape or object; they are invited to partake in the sensation of lift, flight, and the liberating expansion of perspective. This is abstract art in its most expressive capacity: a work that does not depict reality but reconfigures it into something more expansive and profound.
Craftsmanship Rooted in a Lifetime of Practice
Michael John Valentine’s approach to Time To Fly is deeply rooted in over half a century of artistic mastery. With a Bachelor of Fine and Professional Arts from Kent State University and more than 55 years of studio experience, Valentine has developed a singular practice that synthesizes his original photography with acrylics, mixed media, and intuitive layering techniques. His work always begins with a profound respect for materials — from the tactile resistance of acrylic paint to the subtle sheen of protective glazing — and culminates in pieces that are both visually commanding and materially rich.
In Time To Fly, every gesture is deliberate, and every texture bears the mark of an artist who understands the emotional cadence of composition. The canvas carries evidence of movement: sweeping layers that suggest the thrust of wind, concentrated pigments that hint at energy gathering, and nuanced overpainting that invites prolonged contemplation. These elements elevate the work beyond mere décor — they make it a centerpiece of any curated interior where art is meant to engage and provoke.
The Collector’s Experience
Time To Fly is offered in a range of formats — from collectible decals and matted prints to overpainted signed canvases that arrive ready for framing. Each variant speaks to a different moment of engagement: the decal acts as a poetic whisper of the piece’s essence, the prints offer intimate portals into its vibrancy, and the full‑scale canvas becomes an immersive environment in its own right.
What remains consistent across all formats is the promise of authenticity and exclusivity. Original canvas versions are signed by the artist and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, reinforcing their value as genuine works of original fine art. They arrive carefully rolled in heavy‑duty tubes, allowing collectors the freedom to choose bespoke framing — an extension of personal taste that further embeds the artwork within the collector’s narrative.
A Synthesis of Vision and Technique
Valentine’s process embodies a rare blend of disciplined technique and intuitive exploration. Though his work is rooted in photographic reference and formal training, it ultimately transcends concrete imagery. In Time To Fly, layers of acrylic and mixed media converge into a visual language that is both emotive and abstract.
The painting’s surface reveals a dialogue between control and spontaneity. Some passages appear meticulously constructed, while others seem to burst with kinetic force — as if the paint itself yearns to escape the confines of the canvas. This tension between restraint and freedom mirrors the theme of flight itself: the balance between gravity and lift, between the known and the unknown.
The Emotional Arc of the Viewer
Engaging with Time To Fly is a journey that evolves over time. At first, the viewer may be drawn to the sheer energy of the composition — the vivid contrasts, the rhythmic interplay of hues, the sense of ascent. But on closer inspection, subtleties emerge: pigments that breathe, textures that echo memories, spaces that suggest both departure and return. The artwork becomes not just a visual focal point but a catalyst for introspection.
This layered experience is characteristic of masterful abstract art — works that reveal new facets with each viewing and become more resonant as personal reflection deepens. Time To Fly rewards this thoughtful engagement, inviting its audience to return again and again, discovering new emotional depths and visual nuances each time.
Elevating Interior Space and Spirit
Installed in a contemporary living room, a refined office suite, or a dedicated art gallery, Time To Fly exerts presence. It does not whisper — it converses. The piece anchors its environment while simultaneously lifting it, creating a rhythm between space, light, and perception that is uniquely its own.
For the collector who seeks art that is more than decorative — art that embodies movement, emotion, and timeless resonance — Time To Fly stands as a calling. It is an artwork that declares its importance not through grandiosity alone, but through the eloquence of its abstraction and the depth of its artistic lineage.
Please e-mail fineartbyval@gmail.com
