Photo from IMDb.
Have you ever thought of trying something new? Have you ever considered doing something completely different and unusual? Has anyone ever told you to just forget it?
Well, Jim Carrey’s story will make you smile.
For those of you who don’t know him, he is an American-Canadian actor and comedian. Carrey is known for the many movies he has starred in – such as The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Cable Guy and many more, but how many of us know that he is a prolific artist?
Jim Carrey at work in his studio. Photo from NARTNET
It’s true! In addition to his funny antics as a child, he would spend time drawing and making art. Later in his life he began painting to help him deal with difficult things. He certainly had his fair share of sorrows.
In 2012 he began to share his artwork with the world through twitter. He was advised by critics not to share his art because he was known for his acting, not art. His response: that year he had his first gallery show.
Jim Carrey, Eva (2016). Photo from WMAG
In 2013 Carrey continued on with his directing and also starring in movies. He also spent time painting and even wrote a children’s book titled “How Roland Rolls” – a tale about a little wave. In 2015 his personal life took another downturn when his ex-girlfriend committed suicide. The art helped him through another emotional time.
It wasn’t until 2017 when he had his second art exhibition called “Sunshow”. Carrey states: “Life opens up opportunities to you, and you either take them or you stay afraid of taking them.”
Jim Carrey, Valentine. Photo from JCONLINE
He explained that one winter was so bleak that he felt like he really needed color and so began painting obsessively with color until his home was filled with paintings. There were so many paintings that there was no place to sit. The colors represent the things he loves and his inner life is reflected in his paintings. He explains that his artwork reveals things about himself he didn’t understand.
Art critics say actor turned artist is more common than people realize. Actors have attempted to become artists with only a handful succeeding. The critics believe it’s some kind of a joke or publicity stunt for an upcoming movie he might be making. They said “The art Carrey has been showing would be turned down if he offered it to a Salvation Army store. It gives amateurs a bad name.”
Still, Carrey is happy he didn’t take the negative advice and keep his art to himself.
He has a short documentary video on his art and the role it fulfills for him which you can find online by just googling Jim Carrey – I Need Color.
Carrey said: “It is better to risk starving to death than surrender. If you give up on your dreams, what’s left?”
Jim Carrey, Electric Jesus. Photo from JCONLINE
Carrey believes art is merely a model of your inner life. He describes his Jesus paintings as full of electric energy with healing accepting eyes. He says he uses many colors because you can find every race in the face of Jesus.
He explains, “As far as I can tell, it’s just about letting the universe know what you want and then working toward it while letting go of how it comes to pass.”
Jim Carrey doesn’t know if painting really teaches him anything but he does admit to it freeing him. The bottom line of it for him is love. Whether its performance, sculpture, art we all want to show ourselves and be accepted for who we are.
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