Closing Time, 2022

As the bar’s warm lights dim and the neon signs flickers, a co-worker takes a quiet drink at the counter, ending another long day. A well-lit stool with a whiskey glass and a lit cigar in an ashtray invites you, the viewer, to join, becoming part ...

As the bar’s warm lights dim and the neon signs flickers, a co-worker takes a quiet drink at the counter, ending another long day. A well-lit stool with a whiskey glass and a lit cigar in an ashtray invites you, the viewer, to join, becoming part of the scene, one of the closing workers. Outside, an older man sweeps the sidewalk, symbolizing the ongoing cycle of work. A passersby on the sidewalk, unaware of the quiet moment inside and the complexities of other lives, highlights the contrast between the busy world and the peaceful solitude within. This painting captures the art of everyday life and the beauty in normal routines. The feeling of having a lone drink at a bar when nobody is around is both comforting and bittersweet, blending solitude with nostalgia. It evokes the dual emotions of enjoying a quiet moment of reflection while also feeling the pain of loneliness. Life is beautiful and a work of art in every moment, even at closing time.