I recently painted on top of some old photographs of my father, James Terence (Terry) O'Brien.
I think in the left picture he was around 18-20 years old(?). On the right, maybe 4-6 years old(?)
- 5 x 7" each, acrylic paint on photographic paper, 2025. I was trying to do something that was kind-of-sort-of-like the artist John Baldessari... but different, maybe. I used aspirational text for the work but why I chose those particular words for those particular photographs is unknown to me, it just felt right. This piece was challenging to paint because…
“OK”, acrylic and latex paint on wood panel, 10×10” each, 2025
I Finished Some New Artwork - OK(?)
I decided to make these really quick between projects, just something fun to do. There is a photo stylist at my job that has a handbag that says ‘OK’ all over it. I really like it, but it got me thinking about how much I say the word ‘OK’ throughout my life…
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New hand-painted CHILL signs now available for purchase.
New CHILL signs are now available at I-Like-You-MN
New hand-painted ‘CHILL’ signs are now available to purchase at a store called I-Like-You-MN in the Twin Cities! (6x10” each, acrylic paint on wood, $25 each) These wooden signs (with a hanger on the back) help to celebrate the winter season… or better yet, to help celebrate one’s dopeness at home! What better way to spruce up your old art collection or lonely book shelf than with a cool (pun intended) CHILL sign!!
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Original painting of a woman in a blue dress by the artist B. Milavsky
Completed - commission for sign painting on a thrift store painting
I got a commission recently to paint some text (in a word balloon) on a nifty thrift store painting;
36 x 24” text and design by the patron. The original painting, by B. Milavsky, is a portrait of a woman in a blue dress. It is unclear to me as to who the woman is or what her relationship was to the artist; the piece is not dated. But she kind of reminds me of the actress Amy Adams…
New sign painting on MDF
New sign painting on a scrap piece of MDF, painted to resemble faux marble. At my workplace, we create numerous samples, and one texture that consistently appears is marble. The Greeks and the Egyptians used it and well... it's still the product of choice for some reason. Something about it just speaks to people; it has an air of authenticity, it conveys "class."
So anyway, we had to clean out the sample library at work and…
New sign painting - Welcome, Welcome
New sign painting on a scrap piece of wood.
“Welcome, Welcome (2)”, acrylic paint on wood, 15 x 20”
The design is actually inspired by a sign I saw at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. There is a service elevator located downstairs that contractors must use to transport their equipment into the building. Kind of sort of near the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts area. In front of the elevator downstairs was an office door with a note on it that said, ‘Welcome Welcome.’ I would stare at it sometimes while we waited for the elevator. Ahhh, I can still hear that elevator sound…
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New sign painting - Man-Made Monster
New sign painting on a scrap piece of masonite. "Man-Made Monster", acrylic paint, 10.5 x 12". Inspired by the movie poster for the 1941 horror-sci-fi classic, starring Lionel Atwill, Anne Nagel, and Lon Chaney Jr.
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Work pants... RIP
I tried to keep these work pants as long as I could but the rip in the knees just wouldn’t stop! At a certain point I just start to feel like a degenerate, so I buy new pants and begin the process again. I’ve gone through so much clothing in my lifetime, and I’m sure it isn’t as much as some, but I wonder where it all goes?
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ICE (4), 14 x 18", acrylic paint on wood, 2025
New sign painting on a scrap piece of wood
ICE (4), 14 x 18", acrylic paint on wood. Continuing with ICY snow-capped lettering. This piece was purchased from an individual in the great state of Pennsylvania! Thank YOU... for your interest in hand-painted signs!
Interested in having your own painted sign? Then send me an email and…
Read MoreCompleted signage at Pura Vida Elite - Bienvenido a la casa de los cracks!
Completed sign at Pura Vida Elite Training in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
Here is the final video of the text. It was hard to capture it all with a still image because it is so big (6’ tall text, 140’ in length). So I opted to just do a quick walk-by instead.
Some of you have asked me why some of the text is painted in, and some is not. This came down to the business aspect of art. I would have done the whole thing, but the owner of the facility had a limited budget, so it was agreed upon early on that I would only outline the text, and then he would go back in and fill in the words himself…
The Big Reveal: Final word for the BIG sign painting at Pura Vida Elite Training is...
Final day at Pura Vida Elite in Brooklyn Park, MN, is here. The work has been a blast! But all things must come to an end, or in this case, the sentence has to end. So without further ado…
BIENVENIDO A LA CASA DE LOS CRACKS!
(Welcome to the house of the cracks!) in reference to the sound that a soccer ball makes when it is kicked really hard, BOOM - CRACK!!
Painting the words, DE LOS (of the) at Pura Vida Elite Training
Part 3: Sign Painting Continues at Pura Vida Elite Training (Minneapolis, MN)
Some big, BIG sign painting going up at Pura Vida Elite Training, a state-of-the-art indoor soccer training facility accessible to all youth players throughout the Twin Cities, Minnesota.
The full sign currently says, Bienvenido A La Casa De Los (of the)
House of the WHAT??? All will soon be revealed soon amigos, stay tuned!
Adding a quick DAB for the photo
New Sign Painting Continues at Pura Vida Elite Training - Mpls, MN
PART 2:
Some big, BIG sign painting going up at Pura Vida Elite Training, a state-of-the-art indoor soccer training facility accessible to all youth players throughout the Twin Cities, Minnesota.
'Bienvenido A La Casa...' (Welcome to the house…)
The house of WHAT??? Soon to be revealed amigos, stay tuned!
New hand painted sign - ARCADE
New sign painting on a scrap piece of masonite: ARCADE - 9x17,” acrylic paint.
This one is a commission going out to an individual in the great state of Tennessee! Thank you for your purchase… and thanks for your interest in hand-painted signs!!
Interested in a sign? Then send me an email and let’s talk!! https://www.thewonderfulworldof.com/signpainting
Read MoreSeamus Liam O’Brien painting the word, BIENVENIDO, at Pura Vida Elite Training - Minneapolis, MN.
New Sign Painting Going Up at Pura Vida Elite Training - Brooklyn Park, MN
Some BIG sign painting going up at Pura Vida Elite Training, a state-of-the-art indoor soccer training facility accessible to all youth players throughout the Twin Cities, Minnesota.
First up - 'Bienvenido...'
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New ICE signs available for purchase via I-Like-You-MN
New hand-painted ICE signs are now for sale at I-Like-You-MN in NE Minneapolis.
- Click this link for more info -
For the mere price of a tank of gas, YOU can purchase some Minneapolis ICE!
So what are you waiting for? Give the gift that keeps on giving… the coolest signs in town are HERE!!
4×5” hand painted sign, acrylic paint on masonite with magnets, 2024
New Dishwasher Magnets For Sale @ I-Like-You-MN →
New magnet signs are finished and available to purchase at I-Like-You-MN in Northeast Minneapolis.
These handy-dandy signs help indicate if the dishes in the dishwasher are still DIRTY... or CLEAN! Always be in the know, never second-guess yourself! Chique design… get yours today!!
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Finished a new hotdog sign for collector in PA
I completed a new hotdog sign this week for a collector in Pennsylvania. Apparently she used to work in the carnival as a kid and has a collection of signs in her home. I sent her three iterations for the design, and this is the one she chose. Her only request was that I add a ‘$.25’ symbol to the work.
- Thank You for your patronage… and for supporting of the arts!
New mural up at Las Estrellas Duel Language Elementary School - NE Minneapolis
I just finished a new mural at Las Estrellas Dual Language School in Northeast Minneapolis, MN. The piece was painted outside on a brick wall on the east side of the gym near the playground area. It features five dancing, starlike figures painted in the school’s brand color palette with English/Spanish surrounding the shapes. The colors used and their meaning are mirrored in the text...
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New ICE signs up for sale at I-Like-You-MN →
New hand painted ICE signs now for sale at I-Like-You-MN in NE Minneapolis.
- Click on the link for more info -
For the mere price of a tank of gas, YOU can purchase some Minneapolis ICE!
So what are you waiting for? Give the gift that keeps on giving… the coolest signs in town are HERE!!