LeRoy Neiman
LeRoy Neiman
LeRoy Neimanwas an American artist known for his brilliantly colored, expressionist paintings and screen prints of athletes, musicians, and sporting events...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPainter
Date of Birth8 June 1921
CitySaint Paul, MN
CountryUnited States of America
affluence good life luxury matter paintings subject
'Playboy' made the good life a reality for me and made it the subject matter of my paintings - not affluence and luxury as such, but joie de vivre itself.
came experience time
Every time I started painting it was like a new experience, but they all came out the same.
june
As I turn 91 this June 8th, I have to admit my hours at the easel have diminished.
spiritual art calling
There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's a belief; it's a calling. If you're an artist, doing your own thing on your own, it's while you're doing it that counts. It's a process. If you get too elated, you can get too depressed.
painting selling difficult
It has been difficult to hold onto many paintings but I have retained a few...
beautiful girl goodbye
I had a go at changing history - maybe not all by myself - I fought at the battle of Normandy, I slogged through the Ardennes, and I celebrated the liberation of Paris on the streets with beautiful French girls throwing flowers at me. I said good-bye to my first true love and discovered what I really wanted to do with my life.
compliments-you done care
I've got the public. I don't care about the critics. I did at one time. I don't any more. I did when I needed compliments. But if you get a lot of compliments, you don't need a critic to tell you, 'This should be done another way.'
nice men people
It's a nice feeling to go out in the world and look for excellence - the best in man. My subject is very valid. It's about people, and about life.
artist firsts businessman
The businessman says 'If I don't do it first, somebody else will.' The artist says 'If I don't do it first, nobody else will.'
long different roles
Throughout my life, cigars have played different roles for me. They fit easily and well in the various stages and experiences Ive had -- like a companion, almost. If youve smoked a long time, as I have, they become part of you.
artist important theory
I guess I created LeRoy Neiman. Nobody else told me how to do it. Well, I'm a believer in the theory that the artist is as important as his work.
attitude ambition self
I always stayed in tune with my own ambitions and attitudes and I'm still my intractable old self, for better or worse.
men doors
I hold doors open for all the women. Men can open the doors for themselves.
athlete past years
I've met and sketched most of the great athletes from the past five decades and their movement, grace and energy have kept me captivated over the years. That's what the ancient Greeks first saw and that's what caught my interest.