Kilimanjaro Bulls 1992

LeRoy Neiman, in Kilimanjaro Bulls, gives us a vivid glimpse of the natural world through an array of striking colours. The painting revels in the pure joy of artmaking. Neiman’s thick brushstrokes bring the elephants to life, and there's a real sense of the energy of his hand in the making of this painting. Look closely, and you can see how he layers blues, greens, and purples to create depth and texture, almost like the rough skin of the elephants themselves. The mountain in the background is a soft contrast to the bold foreground. It’s all surface, all the time. It's as if the painting is inviting us to touch it. Neiman's work reminds me of Matisse, another artist who wasn't afraid to embrace bold colours and joyful expression. Both artists show us that art can be about celebrating the world around us, finding beauty in the everyday, and embracing the unpredictable nature of the creative process. It's about letting go and trusting where the painting wants to go.