Hummingbird and Flowers (Acrylic on Canvas)

Pretty average. But it’s certainly not bad. And it’s definitely not bad in the way that so many of our ehhh more bottom-tier paintings are. There is potential here.

Keep at it, my anonymous friend.

Ice-Fishing Gnome (Acrylic on Wooden Tile)

Is it considered racist to hate gnomes? Because I do. I hate gnomes. A lot.

But this is Art, I suppose. Technically. Arguably. So I’m including it. Despite my revulsion.

Forest Landscape (Acrylic on Pasteboard)

Yep, this was a “Paint By Numbers” kit, and an old one at that, I believe. It is one of the best ones we’ve yet seen / installed here. I very much like the Autumnal orange and yellow.

In the interest of transparency: The (V)VAG Board of Directors (that would be me) put a policy in place during our annual meeting in June of 2025 stating that completed “Paint By Numbers” kits are indeed a legitimate form of Amateur Art and are thus to be allowed in in our gallery. This decision was duly approved and ratified by our Executive Director (also me.)

Understated Minimalist Landscape (Acrylic on Canvas)

Another one that I initially assumed I would just wind up giving one of my usual snarky reviews to, but on second thought I don’t believe I will. It’s no masterpiece but it is somewhat likable. It feels…vaguely 1970s / 1980s. I can imagine this, or something like it, in an apartment with a lot of glass/chrome/black furnishings.

Not great but not awful.

 

Owl Wearing Sunglasses (Acrylic on Canvas)

One thing I’ll say: it’s original! And for what it is, it’s actually not bad, technique-wise. There’s some confidence here. And that’s a good-looking moon.

Going in, I had assumed I’d just make fun of this thing and call it a day. But I don’t believe I will. The only thing I don’t like are those vine-like branches. Otherwise? It’s kinda cool…

Marbleized (Acrylic on Canvas)

Another one (see below): same day, possibly by the same artist. But since I wasn’t absolutely certain, I chose to install this one separately. 

It’s good. Different from the usual examples of this technique we see around here. This one feels very fungus-y. Lichen-like. Mold-ish. I like it. The yellow helps. 

Marbleized (Acrylic on Canvas)

And here we have the 700th objet d’arte installed at the illustrious and award-winning (not really) Value Village Art Gallery! Thankfully no gnomes, birch trees or Northern Lights were involved. Later perhaps. Anyway, I’ve said in the past that I’m not particularly a fan of this technique but at least this is a well-done example of it. Huzzah!

700 installations! Whew! Less than 700 reviews of course, since some artworks have been added en masse (when multiple paintings found on the same day appeared to be done by the same artist) but I’m guessing probably ehhh 650 separate reviews, minimum. Still and all, fairly impressive, even if I do say so myself. Honestly I’d figured on quitting when we hit 500 exhibits, but I kept going. Mostly due to inertia. Or is it momentum? Pfft. So now maybe I’ll just call it quits when we hit 1000. We’ll see…

Abstract (Acrylic on Canvas)

I regret not taking a better photo of this one. Because for an Abstract or whatever the heck this is, it’s actually not bad. Personally I could do without the Hot Pink bit towards the center, but still: this is one of the better examples of this kind of thing, whatever it’s called. I kinda like it!

Abstract (Acrylic on Canvas)

I have a number of mortal enemies, nemeses, foils, “Player(s) on the Other Side” when it comes to Egregious Art Errors, some of which are the colors blue, purple, black and grey as they are the colors most commonly used (over-used, rather) in Amateur Art. Another would be…The Abominable White Canvas. To explain: there should never be any unpainted surface left remaining on a canvas. Ever. Ever Ever Ever. It is the Sigil of the Amateur Artist: it is lazy and ugly and…yeah…it’s just not good.

As in the example above. I rest my case.

Camper in the Woods (Acrylic on Canvas)

Really really strange.

Flowers (Acrylic on Canvas)

Not so great: weak and strangely-oversized flowers, vase-shaped water magically suspended in mid-air without an actual vase containing it.. But…the leaves…and the stems…are marginally interesting. I kind of like them.

Artist: filling your remaining white canvas with color would have improved this painting. There’s no fixing those flowers, but filling the unused canvas would distract the viewer from them at least.