Neiman was the Original Live Painting Performer

Live painting is a form of improvisational performance art. Artists complete a visual art piece accompanied by a DJ or live music. These events take place at a bar, music concert, or public event and add visual entertainment to the show. While many people still have not had the experience of these often magical performances, this art form has been in existence for over 40 years in the U.S. and around the world. Live painting has evolved from the En plein air painting of the French Expressionists, and Artists now seek to include an audience in the process. It is a special type of Visual Artist who will place themselves in a position where they are exposing their process to a group of onlookers. Audiences are thrilled to experience the creation of an original painting. An artist will usually sell, auction or raffle the painting after the performance.

Artists in a number of genres have performed live painting. LeRoy Neiman created a painting during the 1976 Summer Olympics. In the 1990s and 2000s, live painting became a hallmark of street art and graffiti artists.