I purchased a framed painting by the artist J.S. Finona from a garage sale on the corner of Saint Clair and Oxford; Saint Paul, Minnesota. The picture is a seascape with foreboding clouds and menacing waves crashing onto the shore. 19 x 23” framed. The seller told me he found the painting in his attic, but there is no other information about the artist. He or she might have been a local painter.
I painted a large, yellow, pirate rubber duck on the painting, and this piece was…
Read MoreThanks to the Star Tribune for the fun article about my artwork! “Why are rubber ducks mysteriously appearing on thrift store artworks? The story behind a St Paul man’s guerrilla art project” - by Richard Chin.
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The collaborative painting by Lucas and Seamus Liam O’Brien
I purchased a framed print by the artist Lucas from Goodwill Thrift Store (1239 University Ave W) in St Paul, MN. The picture is a still life with bottles, tomatoes, grapes, and garlic. I painted a Ben Franklin rubber duck on the print and returned this ‘new’ artwork back to the same thrift store on 03/02/2025, around 4:52 pm.
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I purchased a painting by the artist els (or maybe e/s?) from Hidden Treasures Thrift Store in NE Minneapolis. The landscape painting shows twelve red flowers in a dirt field… or maybe just flowers growing in a garden (it's pretty abstract). I painted a green rubber duck on the painting and returned this 'new' artwork back to the same thrift store on 1/18/25, around 12:56pm…
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It’s almost done; the new thrift store painting is just about complete… I think. In any case, here is the new model, a delectable green rubber duck! Just in time for St. Patricks Day!
I’ll announce when I drop it off at the thrift store. Should be soon, and then on to the next one!
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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 MoreOn 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…
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 More I purchased a painting (print on board) by the artist Brett James Smith at Savers (4849 Central Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN). The painting, entitled "Morning Encounter," shows a man throwing a duck decoy from his boat into a lake. Purchase price: $2.99
I painted a rubber duck on the painting, and then returned this "new" artwork back to the same thrift store on 03/19/2023, around 4:21pm. A successful collaboration!
I 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 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 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 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)
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