When you think of celebrities, your mind likely goes to their red-carpet appearances, blockbuster movies, or chart-topping albums. But for some stars, creativity doesn’t stop at acting or singing. In fact, many well-known celebrities are impressively talented visual artists, channeling their creativity into painting, drawing, or sculpture. The results are often stunning, revealing a side of these performers that fans don’t typically see.

Here are ten celebrities who have wowed us with their artistic abilities and how their secondary talent uniquely complements their primary career.

1. Jim Carrey

Known for his outlandish humor in films like The Mask and Ace Ventura, Jim Carrey has an unexpected side as a gifted painter and sculptor. His bold, colorful works often carry deep emotional and political themes, showcasing his introspective and reflective side.

Carrey’s documentary, I Needed Color, offers a glimpse into his artistic process and how painting became a therapeutic outlet for him. His work ranges from abstract portraits to thought-provoking installations, demonstrating incredible versatility.

How it complements his career: While his comedic roles highlight his boundless energy, his artwork provides insight into a more contemplative, philosophical side of Carrey’s personality.

2. Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu, famous for her roles in Charlie’s Angels and Kill Bill, has been an established artist for decades. Using the pseudonym Yu Ling, Liu experiments with multiple mediums, including painting, photography, and mixed media. Her work is both abstract and deeply personal, often exploring themes of self-expression, memory, and identity.

Liu has had her art displayed in galleries around the world, demonstrating that she’s just as skilled with a paintbrush as she is with a sword or witty dialogue.

How it complements her career: Her artistic endeavors reflect the same level of discipline and creativity she brings to acting, giving fans a layered perspective on her talent.

3. Bob Dylan

While Bob Dylan is renowned as a groundbreaking musician and Nobel Prize-winning songwriter, fewer people know about his impressive talent as a visual artist. Dylan has been painting and drawing for more than 50 years, and his work includes landscapes, portraits, and scenes inspired by his numerous travels.

His art has been featured in exhibitions worldwide, including at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Dylan’s work is often praised for its vibrant colors and raw emotion, much like his music.

How it complements his career: His paintings serve as visual counterparts to his lyrics, capturing the same themes of nostalgia, humanity, and life’s fleeting beauty.

4. Tony Bennett

Legendary singer Tony Bennett’s soothing voice has serenaded audiences for decades, but his talents extend far beyond music. Bennett is an accomplished painter who works under his birth name, Anthony Benedetto. His preferred mediums are watercolors and oil, and his subjects include landscapes, cityscapes, and portraits.

Bennett’s paintings have been displayed in exhibitions, museums, and galleries, as well as in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian.

How it complements his career: Just as his music captures the essence of romance and storytelling, his artwork evokes emotion through color and composition.

5. Viggo Mortensen

Viggo Mortensen may be best known for his role as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings, but his artistic side shines just as brightly. Mortensen is a prolific painter, poet, and photographer. His abstract paintings often incorporate dark, intense colors, and textures, creating a raw and expressive feel.

Mortensen has exhibited his work in galleries across the world and even published books featuring his art and poetry.

How it complements his career: The depth of his acting performances is mirrored in his art, both of which are deeply emotive and thought-provoking.

6. Marilyn Manson

Known for his provocative persona and shocking performances, Marilyn Manson is also an accomplished watercolor painter. His artwork often features eerie, haunting themes, aligned with his dark, gothic image. Manson’s paintings include surreal portraits and macabre imagery, making his art as distinctive and evocative as his music.

Manson has exhibited his pieces internationally, earning recognition for his distinct, emotional style.

How it complements his career: The haunting quality of his artwork amplifies his reputation as a boundary-pushing artist across multiple mediums.

7. George W. Bush

A surprisingly talented artist, former President George W. Bush began painting after leaving the White House. His early works included portraits of world leaders, but his subsequent work focused on honoring war veterans through a series of intimate, emotional portraits. His book, Portraits of Courage, features many of these pieces, celebrating those who served in the military.

Bush’s dedication to painting has shocked many who associate him solely with politics, but his skill and commitment are undeniable.

How it complements his career: Painting allows Bush to reflect on his personal connections and experiences, offering a new, compassionate perspective on his legacy.

8. Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp’s creative flair is not limited to the silver screen. The actor is a passionate painter whose works include vibrant pop-portraits of cultural icons like Bob Dylan, Elizabeth Taylor, and Keith Richards. Depp’s style is a fusion of pop art and graffiti-like elements, giving his work a bold, edgy feel.

Recently, Depp’s art sales from galleries have generated millions for charity, showcasing his generous spirit as well as his artistic talent.

How it complements his career: Depp’s painting captures the same eccentricity and originality that define his acting roles, making him a true all-round creative.

9. Joni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell is a legendary musician and a celebrated painter whose talent in visual arts predates her musical fame. Mitchell hand-designed many of her own album covers, infusing them with intricate details and personal meaning. Her paintings often lean toward impressionism, reflecting her talent for capturing mood and emotion, much like her music.

How it complements her career: Mitchell’s art and music are deeply intertwined, both exploring themes of introspection, freedom, and natural beauty.

10. Pierce Brosnan

Pierce Brosnan, famously known as James Bond, is also a skilled painter. Brosnan began painting as a way to relax, and his works include vibrant depictions of abstract figures, landscapes, and portraits. After losing his wife, Cassandra Harris, in 1991, he painted a piece to honor her memory, which he described as incredibly therapeutic.

Brosnan has auctioned some of his work for charity, raising significant sums for various causes.

How it complements his career: His art reveals a more intimate, vulnerable side of him, contrasting with the suave, confident roles he typically portrays in films.