Sketches, photorealism, line drawings, etc., Klaus has many styles...

[Suzanne]

Klaus is quite the amazing artist. He seems to do just about everything from line drawings like the Revolver cover, to very detailed oil paintings.

I am always intrigued by people who can do portraits well. And if an artist is actually able to capture the person's spirit in the art, then you have an image that really is more than just a 2 dimensional likeness. Klaus does this very well.

[Suzanne]

Klaus signed this for me at the Chicago Beatlesfest in August.
It is now one of my prized possessions!



I love this of George...it is absolutely perfect and one of my favorites of him!


I'll add more here but to see a lot more of Klaus's art, check his site at www.voormann.com !

[Suzanne]

These photorealistic paintings are amazing. I saw this one somewhere online with a caption beneath it that read "this photo of John was taken..." The person didn't realize that it is not a photograph!

I love this one. Klaus tells about John falling asleep in his breakfast plate in the book "Memories of John Lennon".

[Suzanne]

Here is another different style again.
These are so fantastic!

[Peter_From_Moose_Jaw]

Truly amazing art. I sent a card to Klaus (Germany is a long way from Canada! ) with some little doodles on them, he told me that they "made him smile".

That's about the best I could ever hope for! I'm a bad artist! Music is where I shine!

The doodles were just on a piece of loose-leaf that I had during my Math class at school, I drew The Beatles on the roof of the Apple Building during their "Rooftop Concert" in 1969, then I drew Klaus from the Concert For Bangladesh (1971) era, then I attempted to draw myself!

None of which turned out very well!

[innerlight]

Klaus is indeed a talented artist I love his pencil sketches like the one of paul, it`s got so much movement!

[Suzanne]

I love those too innerlight! They are so free, but at the same time they are such amazing likenesses. Klaus totally captures the feeling of the subject. I just love his work.

[VforVatman]

I love the revolver cover, I read somewhere he took the photos for it from a guy by the name of Robert Freeman...could be wrong

[Sutcliffe]

Hey, Vatman!! Thanks for joining, mate!

Not sure about the Robert Freeman thing, although I've definitely heard the name before. I'm gonna go see if I kind find out about it...

[VforVatman]

I was looking at the making of stawberry feilds, and apparently Klaus drew the plans for the strawberry feilds music video set!

[Sutcliffe]

Hmmm, yeah, I heard that too. It's a strange video.

AND...I was looking at the Rubber Soul album and that picture of George with the cowboy hat was on the back, and the caption thingy said "All photos by Robert Freeman"

So, yes, he did take some of the Revolver images...but I think Klaus said he took some of them also.

[Matty]

There's a book for sale on eBay just now which might be of interest:

eBay book containing Klaus art

Here is the summary:

-----------------------------------

STARART

By Debby Chesher, HC, DJ, 1979 first edition. Book features the artwork of noted celebrity Musicians. Includes work by: Joni Mitchell, John Mayall, Cat Stevens, Klaus Voormann, Ron Wood and Commander Cody. 239 pages in color and B&W.

Item number: 270038460090

-------------------------------------

It appears to contain the Ringo lithographs. Perhaps there is other Klaus artwork too. I think it's currently going for around $10US with one bidder.

Best,

Matty

[Suzanne]

Matty...I already have this on my watch list! I'm going to bid on it!

Don't you love the cover?!?!?

[Matty]

Thought it might be of interest!

As you say, great cover - real tribute to Klaus! Presumably he designed/drew that too!

I notice that the book is into it's last few hours for bidding, so good luck!

Best,

Matty

[Suzanne]

Matty....didn't get it. I totally forgot to bid...sheesh...I need to tie a string on my finger. That's the second time I've seen that book on ebay. I hope it won't be the last.

[Matty]

http://everybodyishotisdead.blogspot.com/2...and-garage.html

The above article contains a story about the compiling and release of the book called Starart which features art by Klaus and other musicians. I think this is the book I saw on eBay a while back. There are a couple of photos of Klaus at what appears to be the release party where I have to say I can barely recognise him. Does anybody know when the book was released? It looks kinda late 70's to me from the clothes, hair etc at a guess. However, we read that Cat Stevens has just ceased to be Cat, so I guess that's a more concrete way of dating it! Probably late seventies, then.

Matty

PS Here is a link on the Starart book:

http://www.cheshercat.com/starart.html

[Suzanne]

Matty, as you can see from my magic avatar transformation, I love those pictures of Klaus! I know I wasn't supposed to copy it but I'll only borrow my revised version for my avatar for a week or so, then I'll have to be happy just having it in my personal Klaus picture file! Hopefully nobody will notice!

There is an entire decade that we are missing in pictures of Klaus. This is the first I've seen from the late 70's/early 80's except for his appearance in the Popeye film. The next picture of him I've seen chronologically is that one where he is leaning on his bass and he basically looks the same as he looks now except his hair is a little darker. I think that one is from the mid-90's...not positive though...just guessing.

Here are some photos of Klaus from very early when he was in Paddy, Klaus & Gibson, up to now. There is a big change in his appearance from his Manfred Mann days to when he was in Plastic Ono band, and I think it's only about a year later! He looks amazing in all of them!



Matty, you deserve a gold star! Thank you for finding these!!!


Suzanne

[Suzanne]

Oh, and about the StarArt book...I have missed it twice now--I will keep an eye out for it on ebay. I would like to get a closer look at the painting Klaus is holding in that photo. It's nothing like anything of his I've ever seen, but I suspect he's done a lot more than the things we see online.

[Matty]

Here is Klaus's map of Hamburg.



Matty

[Suzanne]

Matty...great shot...love this drawing!

Here is a link to an 8x10 rough draft of the final version that went into the Hamburg Days book. You can buy it for $1,500. Not a bad deal. I would love to have an original Klaus! (and the artwork too!)

Our Stomping Grounds Litho

Suzanne