Portrait of the Elephant 2003

LeRoy Neiman painted 'Portrait of the Elephant' with a loaded brush and a bold color palette of blues, greens, pinks and purples. I can see the elephant emerging from layers of strokes, each one contributing to its form and character. The elephant's presence is immediate, yet Neiman leaves room for imagination. I feel the energy and rhythm of his brushstrokes, almost sensing his hand moving across the canvas. Imagine Neiman’s state of mind, capturing the essence of the elephant with such expressive marks. The physicality of the paint—thick in places, thin in others—creates a surface that invites touch, a landscape of color and texture that communicates feeling, intention, and the joy of painting. Painters build on the work of their predecessors, experimenting with forms, colors, and gestures. ‘Portrait of the Elephant’ is Neiman's contribution to this ongoing conversation, a testament to the power of painting as an embodied expression. It invites us to see and feel the world in new ways, embracing ambiguity and uncertainty.