--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It has been difficult to hold onto many…" description: "\"It has been difficult to hold onto many paintings but I have retained a few. Possibly the current favorite is titled 'Big Band' completed in 2005. It m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/914/leroy-neiman-17110_80s_it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many_3050392.jpg" --- # It has been difficult to hold onto many paintings but I… ![“It has been difficult to hold onto many paintings but I have retained a few. Possibly the current favorite is titled 'Big Band' completed in 2005. It measures 13 feet x 9 feet. It has 18 nearly life size recognizable portraits of the biggest jazz stars that I knew and saw perform in the 1950s…” quote by LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/914/leroy-neiman-17110_80s_it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many_3050392.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/914/leroy-neiman-17110_80s_it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many_3050392.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/914/leroy-neiman-17110_80s_it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many_3050392.jpg) > “It has been difficult to hold onto many paintings but I have retained a few. Possibly the current favorite is titled 'Big Band' completed in 2005. It measures 13 feet x 9 feet. It has 18 nearly life size recognizable portraits of the biggest jazz stars that I knew and saw perform in the 1950s, '60s, '70s, '80s and includes Wynton Marsalis.” [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A massive painting captures jazz legends across decades, preserving memory. **In simple terms:** Large artwork memorializes jazz icons. Key Takeaway Value art that records cultural history. Themes art history memory Mood nostalgic reflective Type historical artistic When to use this quote - museum curation - art education - heritage projects Key Concepts visual storytelling cultural preservation Questions to Reflect On - Which jazz era resonates most with you? - How does visual art affect your perception of music? A Different Perspective Large scale may limit intimate viewer connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Big band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-band/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Life size](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-size/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Paintings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paintings/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) ## Related quotes > [It has been difficult to hold onto many paintings but I have retained a few...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many-paintings-but-i-have-retained/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > ['Playboy' made the good life a reality for me and made it the subject matter of my paintings - not affluence and luxury as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/playboy-made-the-good-life-a-reality-for-me-and-made-it-the-subject/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [“The example cited most often was a gradual change in eye color among Moirans. Eve Moira’s eyes had been hazel: relatively light in color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-example-cited-most-often-was-a-gradual-change-in-eye-color-among/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [Running with a drowsy child of Hades was more like doing a 3 -legged race with a life size rag doll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/running-with-a-drowsy-child-of-hades-was-more-like-doing-a-3-legged/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Traveling across the United States, it's easy to see why Americans are often thought of as stupid. At the San Diego Zoo, right near…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/traveling-across-the-united-states-it-s-easy-to-see-why-americans-are-2/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [do get over the idea that size has any value or merit. It is the enemy of most of the best things in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-bridge/do-get-over-the-idea-that-size-has-any-value-or-merit-it-is-the-enemy/) [Ann Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-bridge/) > [Strider's bedroom "The only thing hanging on the wall that wasn't a weapon was the portrait just over the bed. No. Not true, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/strider-s-bedroom-the-only-thing-hanging-on-the-wall-that-wasn-t-a/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [My ideal man is Benjamin Franklin-the figure in American history most worthy of emulation ... Franklin is my ideal of a whole man. ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isidor-isaac-rabi/my-ideal-man-is-benjamin-franklin-the-figure-in-american-history-most/) [Isidor Isaac Rabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isidor-isaac-rabi/) > [The only number that would ever be enough is 0. Zero pounds, zero life, size zero, double-zero, zero point. Zero in tennis is love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/the-only-number-that-would-ever-be-enough-is-0-zero-pounds-zero-life/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [“Saw everything larger than life size, with the outlines blurred, in a golden mist of sentimentality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/saw-everything-larger-than-life-size-with-the-outlines-blurred-in-a/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [That the role of size has been to some degree neglected in biology may lie in its simplicity. Size may be a property that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tyler-bonner/that-the-role-of-size-has-been-to-some-degree-neglected-in-biology/) [John Tyler Bonner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tyler-bonner/) > [Destroy it?' Leo was appalled. 'You've got a life-size bronze dragon, and you want to destroy it?' 'It breathes fire,' Nyssa explained. 'It's deadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/destroy-it-leo-was-appalled-you-ve-got-a-life-size-bronze-dragon-and/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I believe in the theater; I believe in it as the first glamorizer of thought. It restores dramatic dynamics and their relations to life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/i-believe-in-the-theater-i-believe-in-it-as-the-first-glamorizer-of/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [I made a life-size drawing of King Kong's head which was about eight feet-by- six feet. I tried to measure the head (scaled to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-polan/i-made-a-life-size-drawing-of-king-kong-s-head-which-was-about-eight/) [Jason Polan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-polan/) ## More by LeRoy Neiman > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-ve-got-the-public-i-don-t-care-about-the-critics-i-did-at-one-time/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [I've zeroed in on what you would call action and excellence... Everybody who does anything to try to succeed has to give the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-ve-zeroed-in-on-what-you-would-call-action-and-excellence-everybody/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > ['Playboy' made the good life a reality for me and made it the subject matter of my paintings - not affluence and luxury as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/playboy-made-the-good-life-a-reality-for-me-and-made-it-the-subject/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [I draw all the time. Drawing is my backbone. I don't think a painter has to be able to draw, I just think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-draw-all-the-time-drawing-is-my-backbone-i-don-t-think-a-painter/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [Eating is one of the great beauties in life. One of my favorite recreations... eating with friends, the service, the ambience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/eating-is-one-of-the-great-beauties-in-life-one-of-my-favorite/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [I hold doors open for all the women. Men can open the doors for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-hold-doors-open-for-all-the-women-men-can-open-the-doors-for/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [It's a nice feeling to go out in the world and look for excellence - the best in man. My subject is very valid.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/it-s-a-nice-feeling-to-go-out-in-the-world-and-look-for-excellence/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [The people who love my paintings, that respond to them the most, they're spectators, they're not viewers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/the-people-who-love-my-paintings-that-respond-to-them-the-most-they/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [When I paint, I seriously consider the public presence of a person - the surface facade. I am less concerned with how people look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/when-i-paint-i-seriously-consider-the-public-presence-of-a-person-the/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [I love the passion you go through while you're creating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-love-the-passion-you-go-through-while-you-re-creating/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [I always stayed in tune with my own ambitions and attitudes and I'm still my intractable old self, for better or worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-always-stayed-in-tune-with-my-own-ambitions-and-attitudes-and-i-m/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-ve-met-and-sketched-most-of-the-great-athletes-from-the-past-five/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [Some people try to paint in my style. Some simply sell pirated copies of my work. Some claim to be my publisher or agent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/some-people-try-to-paint-in-my-style-some-simply-sell-pirated-copies/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [It has been difficult to hold onto many paintings but I have retained a few...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many-paintings-but-i-have-retained/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) [Explore all 38 LeRoy Neiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) ## More 80s quotes > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [As an actor I kind of do. I started out doing voice overs in the mid 80s when I was in grad school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/as-an-actor-i-kind-of-do-i-started-out-doing-voice-overs-in-the-mid/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [It's nice to have been around long enough to be a part of people's lives. A lot of people who come to my show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-easton/it-s-nice-to-have-been-around-long-enough-to-be-a-part-of-people-s/) [Sheena Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-easton/) > [ It was a very economically depressed time \[the 80s\] and because of that, there was a lot of space. Everything was relatively dilapidated, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-smith/it-was-a-very-economically-depressed-time-the-80s-and-because-of-that/) [Kiki Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-smith/) > [If for no other reason than it's just fun to watch people age, and it's fun to watch what happened to '80s hairdos and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-borstein/if-for-no-other-reason-than-it-s-just-fun-to-watch-people-age-and-it/) [Alex Borstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-borstein/) > [I don't dislike rappers or hip-hop or people who like it. I went to the Def Jam tour in Manchester in the '80s when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/i-don-t-dislike-rappers-or-hip-hop-or-people-who-like-it-i-went-to/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [Since I was gay and loved disco music, it was kinda pre-programmed that my first experiences with house music and acid - which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justus-kohncke/since-i-was-gay-and-loved-disco-music-it-was-kinda-pre-programmed/) Justus Kohncke > [We are upsetting the atmosphere upon which all life depends. In the late 80s when I began to take climate change seriously, we referred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/we-are-upsetting-the-atmosphere-upon-which-all-life-depends-in-the/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [When I was coming up in the '80s television, if you were on television that meant either you were a young actor just coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/when-i-was-coming-up-in-the-80s-television-if-you-were-on-television/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [My fashion was not the best in the '80s. I looked crazy as hell. I used to wear my pants tucked into my socks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-cole/my-fashion-was-not-the-best-in-the-80s-i-looked-crazy-as-hell-i-used/) [Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/) > [Bin Laden was, though, a product of a monumental miscalculation by western security agencies. Throughout the 80s he was armed by the CIA and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-cook/bin-laden-was-though-a-product-of-a-monumental-miscalculation-by/) [Robin Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-cook/) > [When someone asks if you're a god, you say YES!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/when-someone-asks-if-you-re-a-god-you-say-yes/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [His (Lloyd Kaufman) string of low-budget, lowbrow horror comedies stretching back to the ’80s has been cited as influence by Peter Jackson, the Farrelly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-lumenick/his-lloyd-kaufman-string-of-low-budget-lowbrow-horror-comedies/) Lou Lumenick > [I have this obsession with the '80s because I missed all of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-spektor/i-have-this-obsession-with-the-80s-because-i-missed-all-of-it/) [Regina Spektor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-spektor/) > [It was the case in the 70s and 80s that people believed music could change the world. But now people aren't making music because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-o-connor/it-was-the-case-in-the-70s-and-80s-that-people-believed-music-could/) [Sinead O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-o-connor/) Browse all 488 80s quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It has been difficult to hold onto many paintings but I have retained a few. Possibly the current favorite is titled 'Big Band' completed in 2005. It measures 13 feet x 9 feet. 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