For me, the thing about Bowie was the incredible versatility of his talent. In the David Bowie exhibit that toured here in Toronto a few years ago there were samples of all of his work, the lyrics, the music. The fashion sense of his costume choices ( all of which he'd kept) and set design.. I knew he had studied art and design but until you saw the work curated for you that way, only then did the scope and depth of the man began to come through. I especially remember the oil paintings he'd done in Berlin. He appreciated all art forms- I remember the Sound + Vision tour- He had the Canadian dance troupe La La La Human Steps as guest artists. At one point in their performance, I could see him crouched down in the wings watching w incredible concentration. The best description of him as an artist would be a true Renaissance man. He really could do it all. Respect.
( PS no I am not forgetting his indulgences in illegal pharmaceuticals but he paid the price and expiated that sin)