Who knew they drew?

THE artistry of ‘60s rock icons Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin wasn’t limited to their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame music. As it happens, both were deeply interested in visual art before their music careers took off, and several of their drawings and paintings will be on display in Hollywood in conjunction with this year’s Mods & Rockers Film Festival put on by American Cinematheque.

Hendrix was captivated by the waterfront and the natural terrain he encountered in and around his hometown of Seattle, subjects that turned up in watercolors that evolved from straightforward pictorials to abstract art, somewhat analogous to the musical revolution he incited with his incendiary guitar work. Joplin favored line drawings and sketches, but also turned out stylized portraits and figure studies in works done mostly between the ages of 12 and 20, before she found her calling as the powerhouse voice of blues-drenched rock.

Their works will be on display July 29 through Aug. 1, outside the Egyptian Theatre, part of “The Art of Rockers” exhibition that opened Friday. It also features works by Jefferson Airplane/Starship singer Grace Slick and Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood and some of John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics. The exhibition schedule is at www.modsandrockers.com/art.html.

-- Randy Lewis