Start A Tab 

Dan Graziano created this painting, "Start A Tab," using oil paints and loose brushstrokes to capture a scene of service and anticipation. The painting depicts a bartender holding out a glass, the red liquid inside suggesting a cocktail or a carefully selected wine. Graziano focuses on the moment of exchange, inviting us to consider the social dynamics at play in spaces of consumption. The figure's downcast eyes and the dim lighting evoke a sense of intimacy, typical of encounters in bars and restaurants. In the service industry, there's often an unspoken understanding that goes beyond the transaction. Bartenders serve as confidants, listeners, and observers of human interaction. Graziano nods towards a world where social class is enacted nightly, between those who serve and those who are served. The offer of a drink here symbolizes connection, and perhaps a brief respite from the world, something that makes this simple painting such a powerful reflection of our shared experiences.