Many people are terrified of clowns. But not California artist Wayne Thiebaud. As a boy, in exchange for tickets, he helped out behind the scenes at the Ringling Brothers circus. The experience stayed with him. In particular, Thiebaud has remained fascinated by clowns—the costumes, the makeup, the gestures. Today, the 99-year-old artist paints clowns as he remembers them—small, boldly-outlined figures, otherworldly yet familiar. —E.C.