Everyone knows of Frank Sinatra’s legendary career as a singer and actor, however most are not aware that he was also a visual artist. He is said to have been very private about his artwork, although he was very serious about it and spent much of his free time painting. The first glimpse that the public had into his artwork was in 1991 when a book on his art was published, Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Art, which included an introduction by Sinatra’s daughter, Tina. An exhibit of his work was held at Godt-Cleary Gallery in Las Vegas in 2004. According to comments by Godt-Cleary Gallery director Michele Quinn in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, "Sinatra began painting clowns, but in the 1980s he got serious about his art, Quinn says. His work from then into the 1990s was most clearly influenced by the bright colors and abstract shapes of Mark Rothko, Robert Mangold and Ellsworth Kelly."

The image posted here is "Summer Wind" by Frank Sinatra.

One of Frank Sinatra’s early paintings is up for auction at Julien's Auctions Summer Entertainment Sale. The painting of a dog was owned by Ava Gardner (lot 153). It is described as follows: "Oil on canvas, signed lower right corner, "F. Sinatra." It dates to circa 1950, when the Sinatra/Gardner love affair began and was a gift from Frank to Ava."

The live auction will take place Saturday, June 21st, 2008 at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.