Mellencamp began pursuing oil painting in 1988 as a means of further artistic exploration. His first subjects were friends, family, and landscapes reminiscent of the French impressionists, which have since evolved into a personal style of portraiture. Critics have drawn parallels between Mellencamp's work and the dark, shadowy paintings of the German expressionists. Mellencamp believes in art as a means of self-exploration and as an incentive to make people more curious about the world. He has exhibited extensively in the Midwest and the South, and most of his paintings have been purchased for private collections.

With seventy-five full-color representations if the artist's favorite paintings, twenty-five black-and-white photographs taken from his personal collection, and an introduction by Billboard magazine's editor-in-chief, Timothy White, "Mellencamp: Paintings and Reflections" is the perfect gift for any Mellencamp fan or anyone who appreciates fine art.