LeRoy Neiman, widely considered one of the most popular artists today, first gained renown for his brilliant, high contrast canvases depicting "Man at His Leisure" for Playboy and as the creator of the sports-art genre, depicting athletes at their peak. Later he became the official artist at five Olympiads. Recently he was presented with the opportunity to create a painting of another one of his favorite subjects, gaming.

Bobby Baldwin, President and CEO of Mirage Resorts and four-time World Series of Poker champion himself, not only extended the invitation to do a painting of poker royalty for Bobby's Room, a high-roller poker room at Bellagio, but also corralled the legendary subjects in the mural, which is visible from outside the poker room. No stranger to Las Vegas, Neiman, 84, recently set down his brush long enough to share his thoughts on the town and a career that spans seven decades.

Q: What is it about poker players you find most interesting?

A: I first did a Las Vegas poker tournament, must have been 30 years ago. Guys with names like Slim and Pug, they'd go play golf, then take a steam, then sit and play these high-stakes games. Poker players are in a class by themselves. They are not like other gamblers in the casino. It's a career to them. The most remarkable thing is that they stay friends.

Q: Do you play poker?

A: I did when I was a kid in the Army, but I am not a gambler. My way of making a living is gamble enough.