Young Tiger 1978

LeRoy Neiman made this painting, Young Tiger, and it's a riot of color and impulsive gestures! Look at how the paint kinda drips and splatters, like he was wrestling with the canvas, trying to catch the tiger's energy. The physicality of the paint is so in your face, right? Thick strokes mixed with thinner washes, like Neiman was experimenting, layering and playing. Check out the tiger's face, the way he builds up the form with these quick, almost scribbled marks. It's not about getting it perfect, but about the raw energy of the moment. The blues and greens amidst the orange, it's like he's pushing the boundaries of what color can do. Neiman reminds me a bit of someone like Joan Mitchell, maybe. That same love for bold color, a similar feeling of improvisation. For Neiman, though, it's all about the spectacle, the thrill of the chase. It's like he's saying, "Art doesn't have to be precious, it can be wild and untamed."