Mike Kunda is a super Rocky fan, the #1 Rocky impersonator in the world and the owner of the Yo Philly! Rocky Film Tour. Recently Mike posted several seldom seen LeRoy Neiman sketches from behind the scenes filming of Rocky movies. They were too good not to share.
LeRoy Neiman is considered the most famous sports artist in the world. His painting of Rocky used in Rocky III is without a doubt his most famous Rocky art, but it isn’t the only Rocky art Neiman created. In addition, to finished paintings, Neiman created preliminary sketches like the ones above of Drago slugging Rocky and Rocky in a defensive stance.
I love this sketch that Neiman labeled, Face Hit Two, Rocky II, c. 1980. It was created using felt pen, acrylic, ink and pencil.
Neiman titled this Round XV, Rocky IV created in Vancouver, BC. May 1, 1985.
As you can see above, even the movie call sheet was material for a quick sketch of Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed!
LeRoy Neiman was always a dashing figure (and seldom seen without a cigar). Here he is seen creating more prelim sketches for Rocky IV art.
The photo above was turned into a Neiman Rocky IV painting that is rarely seen!
I love the amount of details that appear in this loose LeRoy Neiman prelim that he labeled: Sylvester Stallone in Rocky IV, May 1, 1985. felt, pen and acrylic on paper. 20 1/4 x 26 in. 51.4 x 66 cm.
Above is a Neiman sketch he titled, Sly, Rocky II, March 13, 1990.
Thanks again to Mike Kunda for sharing these finds. If you’d like to see more of LeRoy Neiman’s amazing artwork, please check out his official site.