8 Musicians Who Are Also Visual Artists
Art is subjective, but there’s little doubt that art breeds more art and that creative types are often gifted in more than one area. Many of the most prolific musicians were at one time aspiring art students before trading coursework for the stage. Join REBEAT for a look at some notable rock legends who are no strangers to a canvas.
1) Joni Mitchell
There’s no other way to describe Mitchell’s artwork other than to say that it looks as her music sounds. She doesn’t stick to any one particular subject, medium, or style and really, would we expect her to? Yet there is an indiscernible consistency in her paintings and drawings. Her work varies from whimsically pop to abstract to realistic, from portraits to landscapes to still life, and many of her pieces have been used as cover art for her albums.
2) Paul McCartney
For those who like their artwork straightforward and traditional, Macca’s paintings might not be their cup of tea. The legendary Beatle offers several collections on his site of loosely structured paintings that would probably fall under abstract. These paintings are often splashes of colors with the occasional discernable face or figure, lying somewhere between Picasso and Pollack. And can we really say no to a painting titled “Bowie Spewing”?
3) Ronnie Wood
Probably the most well-known musician-turned-visual artist on our list, Ronnie Wood has used his drawings and paintings not only as a chronicle of his time with the Rolling Stones, but as a way to honor other musicians and pop culture icons. From Bob Dylan to Keith Moon to Slash and beyond, his paintings remind us that being a fan of something or someone is always a great inspiration for creativity. In addition to rock portraiture, he has also done several landscapes and animal pieces.
4) Grace Slick
For a bit of whimsy, check out these prints of artwork by Jefferson Airplane singer/songwriter Grace Slick. One of her collections is heavily influenced by Alice in Wonderland, which will probably come as no surprise to fans of Jefferson Airplane’s “Go Ask Alice.” Other works celebrate her contemporaries, such as Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix and commemorate such milestone events in music including the Monterey Pop and Woodstock festivals.
5) Pete Quaife
Although the late Pete Quaife spent more of his life as a former member of the Kinks than he did playing bass with them, he certainly didn’t lose his creative touch; he just transitioned from audio to visual. In addition to his paintings which have been shared on Pinterest, Quaife was also a cartoonist; while living his final years undergoing dialysis, he drew several cartoons about his treatment, which can be found on the Pete Quaife Foundation site.
6) Carl Palmer
A newcomer to the visual arts, ELP drummer Carl Palmer doesn’t offer drawings and paintings, but rather prints of his playing. We’re not talking about typical rock photography, here. Collaborating with scenefour, Palmer uses light and color to visually record the movements of his drumming to create stunning, almost unearthly images that capture the art of music itself. Other musicians who have worked with scenefour include Mickey Hart and Bootsy Collins.
7) Jerry Garcia
The images created by the deceased Grateful Dead founder contain as much psychedelic charm as Garcia himself. The dreamlike quality of his sketches and paintings also presents something akin to an eternal childhood innocence. In fact, some pieces were done in such seemingly elementary media as colored pencils and crayons.
8) Paul Simonon
Punk isn’t always pretty, but Clash bassist Paul Simonon’s artwork is nothing short of beautiful. His oil paintings, featuring bold colors and heavy black lines, take on a post-impressionism feel with a dash of futurism and even a hint of Degas if you replace ballerinas with matadors. Simonon’s artwork recalls some punk influence, as several paintings feature leather jackets, boots, and simply ooze rebellion and freedom.
(Cover photo: “Waterloo Bridge and the City” by Paul Simonon)
