Everyone knows what Michael Jackson could do on a stage. What most people never saw was what he did in private — quietly sketching faces, symbols, and scenes that revealed a completely different side of him.
Michael’s love for drawing started in his childhood. A classmate at his school recalled watching him make detailed pencil sketches in art class, then casually ball them up and throw them away.
Michael had always been obsessed with creating, those were his own words.
A Deeper Look Into Michael Jackson’s Art World
That was around 1972. He never stopped. During the Dangerous World Tour in the early 1990s, Michael set up a private painting studio in London and completed several watercolor pieces, gifting them to royal and VIP guests who visited before his shows.
He kept a personal book — simply called “The Book” — where he sketched ideas for art pieces alongside his song lyrics throughout the 80s and 90s.
His subjects ranged from Charlie Chaplin to Marilyn Monroe to Walt Disney to Martin Luther King Jr.
He sketched presidents, Neverland’s gates, doors, shoes, keys, and portraits of himself.
Michael Jackson And His Love For Creativity
His love for drawing began at an early age, and as he grew older, he sought guidance from world-renowned artists to further develop his talent.
Michael Jackson was a performer who never stopped creating — even when no one was watching. The stage was just the part the world was allowed to see.