Note on Art

Note on Art

A note from LeRoy Neiman on his introduction to teaching.

This note from LeRoy Neiman concerns the artist’s foray into teaching. Told as anecdote, the artist relays his suspenseful exchange with then SAIC Dean, Hubert Ropp, which led to his initial hiring. As Neiman explains, what once seemed like a insult (i.e. a critique of the artist’s use of color) quickly morphed into a job offer. Neiman continued to teach at the institution for the following 10 years.

LeRoy Neiman

LeRoy Neiman Foundation

LeRoy Neiman Foundation

c. 1990-2011

LeRoy Neiman

Property of the LeRoy Neiman Foundation; please consult the organization's archivist for further details.

Notes

Image/jpeg

English

Document

LN_Notes_914_01; LN_Notes_914_02

New York (N.Y.) New York

EDUCATION
(contour drawing)
at the close of my 3rd year, Dean Hubert Ropp, who used to pop his head in the door of classes as he bounced around the corridor, called me into his office. After giving me critique or a tip, about my excessive (use of intense) bright color together with contrasting strong value, not acceptable. No comment or interest from me. Then, he surprised me, offering me a change to teach drawing in the summer session. I taught for the following 10 years as well as teaching painting 3 years in the [Saugatuck?] Summer School a split extension /

Con’t from other side
Contour drawing was popular (in vogue) in classroom. The artist looks closely at the figure and in one continuous line, without looking down to see what he is drawing, draws the subject in lien. The idea is to emphasize mass and volume, just an outline of drawing.
The [“]Nicolaides Method,” “Natural way to draw”
(I UNDERSTAND DEKOONING WAS A PRACTITIONER OF CONTOUR DRAWING)
I called on the method in my life drawing classes at SAIC
I also emphasized Lautrec’s dry line in my fashion drawing classes

Pencil and ballpoint pen on paper.