While Frank Sinatra is globally celebrated for a legendary career spanning music and film for over half a century, conveying a vast emotional spectrum, a lesser-known facet of his creativity existed away from the spotlight. This exploration delves into the world of Sinatra Painting, a passion he pursued primarily for relaxation, offering a counterpoint to the intense perfectionism that defined his public performing life.
Cover of A Man and His Art book showcasing Frank Sinatra painting talent
Palm Springs Haven and Artistic Beginnings
The mid-1950s marked a significant resurgence for Sinatra. His role in From Here to Eternity earned him an Oscar in 1954, the same year his first Capitol Records album, Songs for Young Lovers, found success. Around this time, Sinatra established a personal sanctuary in Palm Springs, purchasing property at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains on what is now Frank Sinatra Drive. This desert escape became one of his enduring passions, providing a vital retreat as his career reignited. He gradually expanded this property, and in the mid-1960s, added a dedicated, light-filled studio to his home, offering views of the surrounding palm trees – a perfect space to indulge his growing interest in visual art.
Influences and Collecting Habits
Beyond his natural musical gifts, Sinatra possessed a talent for painting and was an avid art collector. He held a particular affinity for the Impressionists and Cubists, often emulating their styles in his own work. His collection reflected diverse tastes, featuring works by renowned artists such as Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Leroy Neiman, and David Hockney. Marc Chagall, Walt Kuhn, and Childe Hassam were also among the many artists represented in the eclectic collection amassed by Sinatra.
Painting for Pleasure: Process and Purpose
Sinatra approached painting purely for enjoyment. His focus wasn’t on making grand artistic statements or challenging conventions, but rather on the simple pleasure of applying paint to canvas. While he created works as early as the 1950s, his exploration of visual art intensified later in life, with most pieces completed during the 1980s and 1990s at Rancho Mirage, the Sinatra family estate in Palm Springs. Following his retirement from film, he relished the ample time available to pursue his love for painting, finding it both physically relaxing and artistically stimulating. Unlike the public exhilaration of performing, painting served as a private way to restore his energy. His artwork was never offered for sale; instead, pieces adorned the walls of his homes or were given as personal gifts to close friends, including Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Because Sinatra painted for himself, many works possess a charming lack of precise finish – lines might not be perfectly straight, colours subtly bleed, and shapes retain a slightly organic irregularity.
Early Frank Sinatra painting of a colorful clown circa 1957 oil on canvas
Signature Styles: Clowns and Abstraction
Throughout his painting years, Sinatra developed recurring themes and experimented with different styles, notably clowns and geometric abstraction.
The Recurring Clown Motif
Inspired partly by artist Walter Kuhn, Sinatra frequently returned to the motif of the clown, creating numerous variations across decades and styles. His wife, Barbara Sinatra, shared insights with Sotheby’s regarding these pieces: “He called them self-portraits because I think he identified with the mask they wear—but his clowns were never sad or evil looking.” These clown paintings often depicted vibrant, characterful figures, reflecting perhaps a hidden aspect of the performer’s persona.
Expressive abstract Frank Sinatra painting signed and dated 1990 oil on canvas
Exploring Geometric Abstraction
While Sinatra’s painting style varied, a significant portion leaned towards abstraction. Barbara observed his meticulous nature carrying over into his art studio. “He was, of course, Charlie Neat… when it came to painting; there was rarely any mess,” she recalled, noting only one instance resembling expressive abandon: “I walked into his studio one day and found him reaching into pots of paint with his fingers and hurling it at the canvas… Watching him lost in a world of his own creativity, I knew that art was another kind of therapy for him.”
Abstract Sinatra painting Untitled from 1990 featuring bold shapes and colors
His abstract works often combined a fascination with geometric shapes and an interest in organic forms. His daughter, Tina Sinatra, wrote in the introduction to the 1991 book A Man and His Art: Frank Sinatra: “For the past ten years or so my father has painted in a geometric abstract style… He is a fastidious person, a detail man, so he relishes the precision required to paint severe forms.” Over four decades, Sinatra studied and emulated major 20th-century abstract artists, creating pieces reminiscent of Frank Stella’s hard-edged shapes or grids in primary colours that echo Piet Mondrian.
Geometric abstract Sinatra painting from 1989 gifted to Elvina Joubert
Frank Sinatra painting Abstract after Mondrian 1991 showcasing grid style
Legacy and Auction
Over the years, Frank and Barbara Sinatra continued to build their art collection, adding significant pieces by Matisse and Picasso, alongside memorabilia from Frank’s illustrious career. Following Barbara Sinatra’s passing, many of these treasures, including Frank Sinatra’s own paintings, were auctioned at Sotheby’s New York in 2018. The sale, titled Lady Blue Eyes: Property of Barbara and Frank Sinatra, offered the public a rare glimpse into the private world and artistic pursuits of the legendary entertainer.
Large colorful abstract Frank Sinatra painting Untitled 1989 oil on canvas
Conclusion
Frank Sinatra’s painting reveals a deeply personal dimension of the iconic figure, showcasing a creative outlet pursued for solace and private enjoyment rather than public acclaim. From his Palm Springs studio, he channeled influences from modern masters into colourful clown portraits and precise geometric abstractions. While never intended for commercial sale during his lifetime, Sinatra’s artwork provides a fascinating, intimate look at the man behind the legend, adding another layer to his multifaceted talent. His dedication to this quiet craft underscores the importance of personal passion projects, even for those living the most public lives.
