By Frank Donovan
Many musicians are just plain artists, and perhaps could have made a name for themselves in any creative field. We’ve assembled a list of both expected and completely surprising instances of musical artists who also have a flair for painting. Check out the gallery for their work.
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1 Kim Gordon
White ColumnsGordon is an established visual artist and curator, and graduated from Otis Art Institute in L.A. after high school. -
2 David Bowie
Getty ImagesBowie went to art school and continues to paint and collect art. -
3 Patti Smith, Self Portrait (1971)
MoMASmith has always been more than a rocker—she creates drawings, poems, photographs, and installation work. -
4 John Lennon
Getty ImagesLennon nearly pursued a painting career in lieu of a music career with the Beatles. -
5 Jerry Garcia
Garcia Weir GalleryThe multi-talented Garcia was a prolific visual artist from an early age. -
6 John Mellencamp
Mellencamp is another artist who had painting to fall back on if music didn’t pan out. -
7 Miles Davis
You wouldn’t know it but Davis only began painting in his 50s. -
8 Joni Mitchell, Both Sides 1 (1999)
Mitchell has said she considers herself first a painter, then a musician. -
9 Frank Sinatra
Few know that Sinatra painted for decades, usually abstract forms. -
10 Dee Dee Ramone
The Ramones’ bassist usually painted bright, cartoonish portraits. -
11 Paul McCartney
John wasn’t the only Beatle painter. -
12 Cat Stevens
Cat Stevens also pursued visual art before music, but always continued drawing. He drew this cover for Teaser and the Firecat, which was turned into a children’s book he illustrated. -
13 Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson paints mainly watercolor portraits, which he exhibits around the world. -
14 Bob Dylan
Mr. Tambourine Man’s paintings have been displayed at prestigious galleries like the Gagosian in New York City and Halcyon in London.