Buzz
David Irvine, the creative mind behind Gnarled Branch, crafts a variety of captivating art pieces, including upcycled vinyl records, sculptures, and puppets. His unique talent shines through in his reimagined thrift store paintings, where he integrates familiar pop culture characters, animals, and fantastical creatures into vintage landscapes, giving them a fresh and unexpected twist.
Irvine's journey began years ago as a struggling artist, scouring thrift stores for discarded paintings to repurpose. He reused old frames and painted over canvases destined for the trash. The idea to incorporate existing art came to him when he stumbled upon a specific landscape during one of his thrift store visits.
"At a yard sale, I found a seascape that sparked an unusual vision—two reapers on the shore playing with a beach ball," Irvine shared via email. "I brought this vision to life, posted it online, and it sold instantly, receiving overwhelming feedback. That moment marked the beginning of my redirected painting series, complementing my other artistic endeavors."
Irvine ensures he honors the original artwork and its creator (as much as possible when repurposing a piece) and never obscures the artist's signature. He elaborates:
More than 90% of the pieces I rework are prints on board or thick paper, with the rest being original canvases or anonymous paint-by-numbers. I meticulously restore any damage caused by sun bleaching, scratches, or wear before incorporating my own creative elements. Additionally, I research each piece beforehand to confirm it lacks significant historical or financial value. Most are mass-produced and hold little worth. In many of my reimagined works, I strive to match the original artist's brushwork, color palette, and style.
He also avoids altering pristine or high-quality pieces that might still be appreciated by others. Instead, Irvine seeks out damaged and neglected artworks, giving them a fresh and vibrant second life. Explore more of his creations on Facebook and Etsy.
All images courtesy of David Irvine.
