Exotic Birds (Original artwork)

N.p.: N.p., 1979. Original artwork depicting exotic birds in a glorious psychedelic landscape, created by singer-songwriter Don Van Vliet, better known as Captain Beefheart. Signed "Van Vliet / 79" on the bottom left corner. From the collection of Beefheart guitarist Gary Lucas, for whom the painting was made.

It was around 1979 that Van Vliet began to contribute artwork to the covers of two of his finest recordings-"Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)" (1978) and "Doc at the Radar Station" (1980).

Gary Lucas was the principal guitar player, along with Jeff Moris Tepper, in Beefheart's final configuration of the Magic Band, appearing prominently on Beefheart's last two recordings: the aforementioned "Doc at the Radar Station" (1980) and "Ice Cream for Crow" (1982). Lucas' solo guitar performances of "Flavor Bud Living" and "Evening Bell" on the respective recordings are singular in Beefheart's oeuvre.

Lucas performed with Beefheart for five years, until Van Vliet retired to Trinidad, California to be a full-time painter in the mid-1980s. During their association, well before he gained notoriety as a painter, Van Vliet would spontaneously create drawings for Lucas, typically using colored markers and often reflecting the surroundings in which the drawing was being made, either literally or on an abstract level.

10.5 x 13.75 inches. Red, orange, and black marker on drawing paper. Archivally framed and matted. Fine.

Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Lucas.