True artists often find love and creativity in more than one “type” of art. For these five famous musicians, the art of painting has also been quite a lucrative creative outlet. Let’s look at five rock musicians who also happen to be painters!
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1. Paul McCartney
This famous Beatle has gotten really into painting since the heyday of the Fab Four. In fact, Paul McCartney has been committed to physical artistry for more than two decades. His interest in painting started way before then, though.
The first peak fans had into his art took place in 1999, when he revealed a series of really beautiful lithographs for his book, Paul McCartney Paintings. If you’re a struggling artist and feel like you’re getting too old to “make it”, take some inspiration from McCartney: He didn’t start pursuing art seriously until he was in his 40s!
2. Stevie Nicks
Though she doesn’t describe herself as a painter, Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks is, without a doubt, a painter. Nicks has produced some lovely works with folk and biblical inspirations. Nicks herself said that she only draws angels, and started drawing and painting when a dear friend of hers was diagnosed with Leukemia.
“And that’s what she’s left me,” said Nicks of her friend. “And so I know she’s really excited now because it has finally, after the last 9 years, come to fruition, and people have finally started appreciating it. But I never drew a thing before she got sick.”
3. Paul Simanon
The rock musicians on this list who moonlight as painters sacrificed much of their painting careers in favor of music, and The Clash’s Paul Simonon is no different. Simonon grew up with art and even attended art school before his punk rock band took off, and he left the world of physical art behind for a time. Today, he has since returned to art as a painter and designer.
4. John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp is a man of many talents, and one of those talents is painting. Mellencamp is a famous musician who has also tried his hand at both directing and painting. Inspired by German Expressionist paintings, Mellencamp has been pursuing painting for quite some time. His works have been exhibited in art galleries around the US, and one can’t help but be impressed by what he’s put out there.
5. Kim Gordon
Kim Gordon is an artist through and through, and that much is clear in her paintings. The Sonic Youth icon originally attended art school in the 1970s before putting her all into the now-legendary alternative rock band. However, she has periodically returned to art and launched a number of impressive solo exhibitions.
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