Finish at Indy 1982

LeRoy Neiman made 'Finish at Indy' with what looks like oil paint, and a whole lot of energy. The racing track itself is built up from thick strokes of pink, white, and yellow, which makes it almost look like a slab of cake frosting, yummy! Neiman is known for his sketches and paintings of sporting events, and his loose, gestural style really captures the frenetic excitement of a race like this. What I love is how the color is applied so intuitively, it becomes a celebration of the sensory overload. Zoom in and check out the crowd, a kaleidoscope of bright daubs of color, each blob a person in the stands. This makes me think of Joan Mitchell, another artist who created her own language through color and mark making. Both artists show us that painting isn't just about representation, it’s about feeling, and the joy of making.