Mark McGwire Home Run Record 1999

LeRoy Neiman made this painting of Mark McGwire’s home run record with what looks like acrylic paint and maybe a palette knife. The process here is all about the materiality of the paint, and the way he applied it to the surface. Neiman's approach to applying the paint is super physical. The textures are intense, the colors are thick and opaque, and you can almost feel the energy of the brushstrokes. The way he builds up these layers of colors is so key. Look at the lower left, where the blues, greens, and yellows mix together. It's almost like a mosaic, but with these bold, gestural marks. This focus on the physical, performative act of painting reminds me of Joan Mitchell, another painter who was all about capturing energy on canvas. Like Mitchell, Neiman creates an art that celebrates the joy and messiness of creation. Neither had time for definitive meanings.