On April 18, 2023 I purchased a framed painting (print on canvas) from St. Vincent de Paul- Twin Cities Thrift Store at 2939 12th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407. The image depicts an idyllic mountainous landscape with a family of deer standing in the foreground by the edge of a clear blue lake. No signature.
My research online of the work led me to discover that the picture is based on an oil painting by the artist Albert Bierstadt…
Caught! - Thanks Hidden Treasures Thrift Store for the Review
For the last two years I have been periodically purchasing landscape paintings at my local thrift store, painting a rubber duck on them, and then returning the painting back to the same thrift store with the hope that someone will purchase it. I kept a low profile about it as I wasn’t sure where this venture would lead me. My hope was that someday I could make an easter egg-like hunt out of the whole thing and maybe inspire people to play along. Who knows… maybe make some actual money too!
Time passed…
Read MoreThrift store painting collaboration continues! - Norman Rockwell
I purchased a painting by the artist Norman Rockwell (print on canvas) from Hidden Treasures Thrift Store (2915 Pentagon Dr, St Anthony, MN) on 10/30/2022. The painting depicts a boy fishing/sleeping next to his dog, 10x8”. Priced: $3.99. I painted a rubber duck wearing bunny ears and holding an egg on the piece and then returned this “new” artwork to the same thrift store on 11/27/2022, around 11:56am.
Read MoreThrift Store Paintings continue!
I purchased a painting (print on canvas) by the artist Norman Rockwell from Hidden Treasures Thrift Store (2915 Pentagon Dr, Saint Anthony, MN) on 04/30/2022. The painting depicts a boy pouring medicine into a spoon for his sick dog. Priced: $3.99
I painted a rubber duck on the painting and then returned this “new” artwork to the same thrift store of purchase on 05/09/2022. Around 6pm CT.
A successful collaboration! Thanks Norm for your contribution to the work.
Read MoreThrift store paintings continue!
I purchased a framed painting (actually a print) a few weeks ago at Hidden Treasures Thrift Store (2915 Pentagon Dr, St Anthony, MN) by the artist Tan Chun C. I added a rubber duck to the piece and then returned it to the same thrift store on October 11, 2021. I went with a Pilgrim rubber duck because… well, it seemed to fit well with the color scheme. Images below highlight the process.
Thanks to the artist Tan Chun C, wherever you are, for collaborating with me on this project!
New work - Rubber duck painted on purchased thrift store painting, then returned
One of the side projects I am working on is purchasing art at thrift stores, painting something on it, and then returning it. It was an idea I got from the artist Steve Seeley back in graduate school a long time ago, but the idea has been festering inside of me ever since. Since there are a lot of thrift stores in Minneapolis… well, it felt like maybe now was the time to finally move on it.
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