Stretch Stampede 1979

LeRoy Neiman made *Stretch Stampede* using paint, and lots of it! Look how Neiman attacks the canvas with juicy strokes of bright colour. For me, it's a reminder that artmaking is a process, a dance between intention and chance. The physicality of the paint is really important here. Neiman's thick, opaque strokes create a textured surface that vibrates with energy. See how the blues and yellows collide in the top right corner? It's like a tiny explosion of pure sensation. These marks aren't just descriptive; they're expressive, shaping our emotional experience of the artwork. Neiman reminds me of Joan Mitchell, with his love of colour and expressive brushwork. But where Mitchell delves into abstraction, Neiman grounds himself in representation, capturing the thrill and spectacle of the racetrack. Art is an ongoing conversation, and Neiman adds his unique voice to the mix, embracing ambiguity and inviting us to see the world through his vibrant, energetic eyes.