New collaborative painting by Robert Duncan and Seamus Liam O’Brien
I purchased a framed print by the artist Robert Duncan from GoodWill Thrift Store at 1239 University Ave W, St. Paul, MN. The print, ‘Curious Onlookers,’ shows cows watching a boy as he walks by with his dog in the snow. I painted a rubber duck on the print and returned this ‘new’ artwork back to the same thrift store on 5/01/2024, around 12:30pm….
Read MoreFor 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 MoreI purchased a painting by the artist R. Sutherland at Hidden Treasures Thrift Store in NE Minneapolis. I painted a rubber duck on the painting, and then returned this 'new' painting to the same thrift store on 02/05/2023, around 11:10am.
A successful collaboration! Thanks to R. Sutherland for your contribution to the work.
Read MoreI purchased a painting by the artist Robert Wood (print on canvas) from Hidden Treasures Thrift Store (2915 Pentagon Dr, Saint Anthony, MN) on 06/03/2022. A serene landscape of a mill and winding meadow. Titled ‘Mill Stream.’’
I painted a rubber duck (dressed as a bride) on the painting and then returned this “new” artwork back to the same thrift store on 06/25/2022, around 12pm.
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 MoreI purchased a painting by the artist Guy Coheleach from Hidden Treasures Thrift Store (2915 Pentagon Dr, Saint Anthony, MN 55418) on 01/05/2022. A landscape painting with flying ducks (nature is a running theme in this part of the country). Priced: $6.99
I painted a rubber duck on the painting, and then returned this ‘new’ artwork to the same thrift store on 01/15/2022, around 2pm.
A successful collaboration!!
Read MoreI 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!
Last week I purchased a framed print (print of a painting) by Hugh Knollys, titled ‘Red Jacket’ (which I am assuming is the name of the ship). The painting/print cost around $3.00. I chose this particular piece because it was available, but also because I felt that there was room for collaboration. A rubber duck was painted on the print and then the piece was returned to Hidden Treasures Thrift Store on April 17, 2021, 4:30pm. (2915 Pentagon Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55418)
Read MoreOne 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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