Framed painting of a young boy constructing a snowman in a field with a dog a small child observing from the sides. — Original framed print by the artist Robert Duncan purchased at a thrift store in west St. Paul.

Thrift Store Painting Collaboration Continues - Upcycling Robert Duncan

January 18, 2026

A St. Paul resident contacted me recently regarding a donation of a framed print for my duck project. The framed print, created by artist Robert Duncan (the second piece I have done with this artist!), illustrates a young boy constructing a snowman in a field, accompanied by a dog and another child observing from the sides.

I painted a large snowman-themed rubber duck on the print and plan on returning this ‘new’ piece back to a thrift store sometime this winter. But I think…I think with this project I’m going to try something new….

‘Ice Cold Beer,’ 12x12,”acrylic/latex paint on MDF, 2025

New hand-painted BEER signs available to purchase at I-Like-You-MN

December 15, 2025

New hand-painted BEER signs available to purchase at I-Like-You-MN in the Twin Cities! But sorry, no quick link available for purchase. If you are interested in picking one up you will have to contact them, or me, the old-fashioned way: email or phone! But I’ll probably make more so…

New hand painted Xmas tree ornaments now available for purchase at I-Like-You-MN

December 12, 2025

New hand painted Xmas tree ornaments are now available for purchase at I-Like-You-MN in both of their Twin City locations - St Pauly + Minneapolis! (Acrylic paint on cut birch, 2025). Why not have the best Xmas tree on your block with the help of these handy-dandy ornaments! Why, Santa Claus himself.. will stop dead in his tracks when he sees such magnificent beauties on your tree!!

Signs that say CHILL in red, blue, and turquoise snow-capped lettering — New hand-painted CHILL signs now available for purchase.

New CHILL signs are now available at I-Like-You-MN

October 29, 2025

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!!

Pastel drawing of a caucasian child praying — Original print by Erna Kasabach, ‘Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep’, 17.25 x 13.25” framed

Thrift Store Painting Dropped off at Hidden Treasures Thrift Store - 09/27/2025 - Erna Kasabach

September 30, 2025

This summer I purchased a framed print by the artist Erna Kasabach (1906-1989) from Hidden Treasures Thrift Store in NE Minneapolis. The image depicts a young caucasian child kneeling in prayer in front of an illuminated background, gazing upwardly to his left. The phrase ‘Now I lay me down to sleep,’ is written below in a decorative freehand font…

Framed painting of a small child praying with a yellow rubber duck on his head. — “Now I lay me down to sleep with a rubber duck.” Painting by Erna Kasabach and Seamus Liam O’Brien. 2025

Thrift Store Painting Collaboration Continues - Erna Kasabach

September 5, 2025

I purchased a framed print by the artist Erna Kasabach from Hidden Treasures Thrift Store in NE Minneapolis. “Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep.” 17.25 x 13.25”. The image depicts a small child looking up to the top right corner of the picture and praying. Originally priced: $6.00.

I painted a yellow rubber duck reading a blue book on the boy’s head, and I will return this new artwork back to the same thrift store… probably by mid-September. I’ll announce the drop off…

Framed painting of a couple of loon birds floating in a lake while a vampire rubber duck emerges from the fog in the background. — “Voice of the Lakes - Loons - Rubber Duck” by Marian Anderson and Seamus Liam O’Brien. Edition 1/1. 2025.

Thrift Store Painting Collaboration Continues - Marian Anderson

August 25, 2025

My new thrift store painting is finished! This one was donated to me from a woman in Minneapolis, MN, after she read about my story in the Star Tribune. The original print, titled ‘Voice of the Lakes - Loons,’ was created by an artist named Marian Anderson (dated November 1981). I painted a Dracula-themed rubber duck in the background, along with some bats, and plan to drop off this painting…

Painting of ocean waves crashing into rocks on the shore with a large, yellow, rubber duck floating in the distance

Thrift Store Painting Collaboration Continues - Bob Sanders

June 19, 2025

A few weeks ago, a woman in Minneapolis donated a framed print to me for my rubber duck series. The artwork, by Bob Sanders (b. 1950), is a picture of ocean waves crashing into rocks on the shore; measuring 23.5 x 33.5" (framed). I painted a large, yellow, rubber duck on the print and returned this 'new' artwork to the Goodwill in West St. Paul (1867 Robert St. S) on 06/16/25…

Red, white, and blue circular hotdog magnets — Hand-painted hotdogs on masonite; acrylic paint, 5.5” diameter.

New hotdog magnets now for sale at I-Like-You-MN

June 7, 2025

New HOTDOG magnets now for sale at I-Like-You-MN in NE Minneapolis AND ST. Paul.
Or purchase online via this link: HOTDOG MAGNETS.

Celebrate the summer in style with some hand-painted magnets for your refrigerator… or any magnetic surface for that matter! Acrylic paint on masonite, 5.5” diameter.

Patriotic red, white, and blue colors are available to represent all types of nations, including…

A white framed yellow rubber duck drawing and a white framed black rubber duck drawing.

Duck prints are now for sale at i-like-you-mn!

May 7, 2025

High-quality laser prints of some of my rubber duck dry pastel drawings are now for sale at i-like-you-mn in the Twin Cities!

—PRINTS ONLY - NOT FRAMED —
9 x 9”; signed and numbered; $30.00 each

Four different duck drawings to choose from!

New sign painting - Man-Made Monster

April 30, 2025

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.

What a week! Artwork recognized in The Minnesota Star Tribune!

April 14, 2025

Thanks 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.

Dickies FLEX blue work pants with paint all over them.

Work pants... RIP

March 13, 2025

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?

Still life painting with bottles, tomatoes, grapes, and a large rubber duck — The collaborative painting by Lucas and Seamus Liam O’Brien

Thrift Store Painting Collaboration Continues...

March 10, 2025

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.

Snow-capped ICE letters painted red on wood — **ICE (4)**, 14 x 18", acrylic paint on wood, 2025

New sign painting on a scrap piece of wood

February 24, 2025

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…

Completed signage at Pura Vida Elite - Bienvenido a la casa de los cracks!

Completed sign at Pura Vida Elite Training in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

February 19, 2025

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...

February 18, 2025

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)

February 16, 2025

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!

New Sign Painting Continues at Pura Vida Elite Training - Mpls, MN

February 15, 2025

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!

Person holding a purple sign that says ARCADE, painted green in a decorative font

New hand painted sign - ARCADE

February 13, 2025

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

A weekly blog of what's going on in the studio; interests, tastes, and general hullabaloo.

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