Mixed Doubles 1975

LeRoy Neiman made this painting "Mixed Doubles" with what looks like acrylic or oil – so juicy – and a whole lotta energy! The colors are bright, with greens and blues that make me think of summer. It's so gestural, the paint flung around like he was trying to catch the speed of the game itself. I can imagine Neiman, brush in hand, eyes darting back and forth, trying to capture that split-second moment of impact, the blur of motion. It's not just about depicting tennis; it's about feeling it, the excitement, the tension. Look at the way he's dabbed on the paint for the net, almost like a screen, and then these slashes of color that suggest movement – it's like he's trying to bottle the fleeting energy of the match. It reminds me of some of the Italian Futurists, who were also obsessed with capturing speed and motion on canvas. All of us painters are in this ongoing conversation, riffing off each other's ideas across time. Painting is about process. You are embracing ambiguity, searching and leaving space for endless possibilities and interpretations.