Sailboats 1977

LeRoy Neiman made "Sailboats" with a lot of energy, and you can really see the process in the final artwork. The material quality in this painting is striking; it’s all about texture. Neiman uses thick paint, creating visible ridges and peaks, especially in the water. You can see the direction and movement of his strokes, giving the impression of wind and waves. Look closely at the pink sail, you can see the layering of paint and how it almost seems to blend the colors together, blurring the shapes. It’s as if Neiman wants you to feel the energy of the sea. Neiman’s vibrant and gestural style reminds me a bit of Joan Mitchell, who also wasn’t afraid to just, like, throw paint around and trust that it would become something beautiful. What's so cool about this piece is that it embraces a kind of happy chaos.