Larry Bird 1992

LeRoy Neiman made this vibrant image of Larry Bird with paint on paper. The brushstrokes are so alive, aren't they? You can almost feel Neiman’s hand moving, trying to catch the energy and dynamism of Bird. I can imagine him standing courtside, eyes fixed on Bird, quickly daubing at the paper, trying to keep up with the action. See how the colors blend and bleed, especially the greens and reds? They're not just colors, but feelings, impressions. The paint looks juicy, like it could still be wet, right? Neiman is a bit like those painters who hang out at the racetrack. He’s capturing not just a likeness, but a sense of speed, performance, and, in this case, the sheer focus of an athlete at the top of their game. It’s all about the gesture, the immediacy, the now. We artists are always riffing off each other, across time, across styles. It’s an ongoing conversation where the possibilities are endless. Every painting offers a new way of seeing, a new way of experiencing.