Charlie’s Grocery 

Dan Graziano made "Charlie's Grocery" with oil paint on canvas. The paint handling is direct, even a little brusque. We see it in the way Graziano renders the light, which is not polished or idealized, but instead captures the everyday reality of a neighborhood shop. The texture of the paint gives a weight and presence to the scene, creating a sense of immediacy. It’s clear the artist has chosen his materials to capture an impression of the ordinary, the fleeting, and the authentic. The painting process can also be seen as a kind of labor, with each brushstroke contributing to the overall image. Graziano's approach is rooted in a tradition of observational painting, where the artist engages directly with the world around them, and the daily scenes that may be overlooked. By highlighting the materials, the making, and the context of the work, we can understand how Graziano elevates the everyday, asking us to reconsider the value and significance of the world around us.