Man — 1 AM was created early in the morning with a leftover canvas and extra acrylics. It is a painting of a man with a distraught look on his face, complemented by a monochrome color scheme. With broad brushstrokes, multiple colors blend to form the shading, along with outlines and highlights that bring life to the piece. Despite his apparent weariness, there is vitality in his face and eyes.
The composition is a simple headshot of a man, painted in portrait style. His features are relatively plain—his ears are prominent, his eyes exhausted and shadowed by visible eye bags. His lips are downturned, and his head is bald. Yet, there is a subtle sense of personality, emphasized by the piercings on his ear displayed openly.
As the name implies, the artwork was created at 1 a.m. using a random canvas and leftover acrylics I wanted to use up. It was completed in less than an hour, with my fingers serving as the main tool for moving the paint. During the process, I was too tired to clean brushes between colors and too weary to mix them properly in the first place.
This piece was made in the throes of frustration and exhaustion, yet it also serves as a reflection of my deepest ambitions and discipline. Despite being worn out that night, I had promised myself I would finish a piece before going to bed. So, when my day ended at midnight, the work began at one. I was angry at having to create art—tired of doing anything other than sleeping—but through those emotions, I produced what has become my favorite piece to date.
By Nina Noguera