J. Garcia: Paintings, Drawings, and Sketches

by Jerry Garcia, David Hinds, Roberto Weir (Foreword by)

Legendary counterculture icon and beloved Grateful Dead guitarist and vocalist Jerry Garcia was also a graphic artist of considerable talent. After attending the San Francisco Art Institute as a young man, he began to focus on music, but his passion for visual art never dimmed and he continued to sketch throughout his life. Although Jerry was once quoted as saying, "I hope no one takes them too seriously," these unique visual improvisations started receiving attention when they were exhibited and sold in the late '¬?80s and early '¬?90s. They are now owned by several major public and private collections. J.GARCIA offers these wonderful drawings to Deadheads and art lovers alike, as Jerry'¬?s soul shines through in each charming landscape, each pleasant dreamscape, and each whimsically (and sometimes wickedly) insightful portrait.A collection of 40 pencil sketches, pen-and-ink drawings, and watercolor paintings by the legendary musician.With a new foreword by lifelong friend and artist Roberta Weir.Now available! Extremely limited stock of the original slipcased, hardcover issue of the first edition, signed by Jerry Garcia in 1992. (Price available on request; ISBN 0-89087-682-7)

Genres: Art

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Jerome John "Jerry" García was an American musician, songwriter, artist, and lead guitarist and vocalist of the psychedelic rock band the Grateful Dead. García was viewed by many as the leader or "spokesman" of the group.

Performing with the Grateful Dead for its entire three-decade career (which spanned from 1965 to 1995), García participated in a variety of side projects, including the Jerry García Band, Old and in the Way, the Garcia/Grisman acoustic duo, and Legion of Mary. García co-founded the New Riders of the Purple Sage with John Dawson and David Nelson. He also released several solo albums, and contributed to a number of albums by other artists over the years as a session musician. He was well known by many for his distinctive guitar playing and was ranked 13th in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" cover story.

Later in life, García was sometimes ill because of his unstable weight, and in 1986 experienced a diabetic coma that nearly cost him his life. Although his overall health improved somewhat after that, he also struggled with heroin addiction, and was residing in a drug rehabilitation facility when he died of a heart attack in August 1995.