Art was actually Lennon's first love. He began drawing long before he had a guitar, then attended the prestigous Liverpool Art Institute for three years (1957-60) before the Beatles became a full-time occupation. He continued to draw throughout his life.

John's primary medium was line drawing, either in pen, pencil, or Japanese sumi ink. The limited edition artwork in this exhibition consists of lithographs, serigraphs, and copper etchings hand-reproduced from the original drawings. Each edition is limited to 325 worldwide and comes with a certificate of authenticity from the Lennon Estate guaranteeing that no more will be released.

Lennon's drawings became illustrations for three best-selling books that he wrote in the 1960's. In addition, a complete suite of the "Bag One" portfolio of lithographs is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Original drawings are also being collected by museums throughout the world.

Artists in the Orient sign their works with an individual, patented stamp known as a chop. John Lennon's, which is hand-stamped in red on each edition, was designed by him to read "Like a Cloud, Beautiful Sound."

Yes. In 1970 he chose 14 drawings from the "Bag One" portfolio to be produced as stone lithographics in a limited edition intended to be sold in galleries. He personally signed each lithograph and attended the premier opening in London.

John originally created a portfolio of drawings in 1969 which he entitled "Bag One". These drawings depicted John and Yoko's wedding and honeymoon and he presented them to her as a wedding gift. When the drawings were released as lithographs they were confiscated by police in several countries because the erotic contents of some of the drawings was considered to be obscene. Although the charges fo obscenity never held up in court, many of the lithographs were destroyed by mishandling and John was s discouraged from showing his artwork in public for many years after.

Serigraphs use a silkscreen to reproduce fine lines and colors. Stone lithographs are hand-pulled on a printing press using stone plates with the image transferred to the fine art paper. Each artwork was released in the medium most suited to capturing the original drawing.

Each limited edition fine art print is authenticated by John Lennon's embossed signature, the embossed printer and publisher's mark, Yoko Ono Lennon's hand-signature, and John's personal chop mark.

At the time of his death, John had saved and preserved several hundred drawings that he considered important. In 1986, Yoko Ono, acting for the John Lennon Estate, began releasing limited editions of some of the most meaningful drawings, using only fine art printing techniques, with the goal of re-establishing John Lennon as an important artist of his time.

Continuing a collaboration that was at the heart of their relationship throughout their life together, Yoko Ono, a world-renowned artist herself, chose colors that she felt would enhance the meaning of the original drawings.

The 20 prints in the "Beatle Years" and "Solo Years" portfolios are hand-pulled serigraphs reproduced from Lennon's original hand-written lyric sheets. They are signed in the plate and are limited to an edition of 1,050 worldwide.