Janis Joplin in Oz

So what did then-future rock star Janis Joplin do during her summer job at the public library in Port Arthur, Texas?  She made drawings of Oz characters!

At left is a Janis Joplin drawing of our hay-stuffed friend the Scarecrow, clearly modeled after one of John R. Neill's drawings from The Patchwork Girl of Oz.

You can read more about Joplin's life, death, and little-known talent as a painter at this website.

You can also buy very pricey limited edition giclée prints, signed and authorized by the Joplin estate, of both the Scarecrow and Jack Pumpkinhead. Joplin's brother says the Baum books were family favorites.

So to paraphrase a Joplin song, if you got dem ole Munchkin Blues again, mama - you can cheer yourself up with a Janis Joplin Oz print.