Self Portrait In 1971, Joni Mitchell gifted a book of watercolours and poems to her closest friends. It came shortly after the end of a three year creative spell, which included the release of her debut album, Song to a Seagull, 1968; Ladies of the Canyon, 1970, (her first Gold album); and her seminal work, Blue, in June 1971. All images: Joni Mitchell/Canongate Books