LeRoy Neiman
LeRoy Neiman
LeRoy Neimanwas an American artist known for his brilliantly colored, expressionist paintings and screen prints of athletes, musicians, and sporting events...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPainter
Date of Birth8 June 1921
CitySaint Paul, MN
CountryUnited States of America
style firsts call-me
I don't know if I'm an impressionist or an expressionist. You can call me an American first... I've been labeled doing neimanism, so that's what it is, I guess.
jobs real passion
Boxing is my real passion. I can go to ballet, theatre, movies, or other sporting events... and nothing is like the fights to me. I'm excited by the visual beauty of it. A boxer can look so spectacular by doing a good job.
humour
You can't take yourself too seriously.
art training study
I have always said to young artists that scholastic training and the studying of art history are crucial to fully developing as an artist.
guy students paint
The big shock of my life was Abstract Expressionism - Pollock, de Kooning, those guys. It changed my work. I was an academically trained student, and suddenly you could pour paint, smear it on, broom it on!
beautiful new-york smart
You know what I like about San Francisco? The women are beautiful, fashionable and smart. San Francisco is one of the only cities I like to visit. I love New York and Chicago - I studied there, and L.A. has the same people as New York.
playboy throttle liberating
But 'Playboy' was liberating. I was drawn to it and went for it full throttle.
art giving excellence
Ive zeroed in on what you would call action and excellence... Everybody who does anything to try to succeed has to give the best of themselves, and art has made me pull the best out of myself.
people arrogance use
It's not the act of arrogance to draw, it's humbling - you must use your God-given talent. And of all the people I sketch, in most cases I feel I have to measure up to the subject.
long different roles
Throughout my life, cigars have played different roles for me. They fit easily and well in the various stages and experiences Ive had -- like a companion, almost. If youve smoked a long time, as I have, they become part of you.