Family Portrait 2005

LeRoy Neiman created this painting, Family Portrait, with what looks like really joyful and intuitive mark making. You can see the process so clearly in the build up of paint. Neiman's application is thick and juicy. It's almost sculptural, isn’t it? The palette is bright, like an amped-up Fauvist party. Look at the face of the tiger, the way he uses dabs of purple and white. It’s not just about representation, it's like he's playing with us. The green eyes connect the animal to the background. The lion is regal and calm. It's like Neiman is saying, "Here's the world, wild and colorful, but also kind of harmonious if you look at it in the right way." It reminds me of Joan Mitchell, but with animals! I love how he embraces the messy, unpredictable nature of paint, and creates this vibrant, energetic scene.