Top 20 Celebrity Artists That Paint

In researching for our previous post on celebrity art investors, we came across an amazing array of celebrities who not only collect art, but create it as well! We couldn’t resist dedicating a post to some of these multi-faceted artists.

Celebrity Painters

Amongst celebrities, painting seems to be the preferred form of visual art, whether in Artist oil paints, acrylic paints or watercolor paints. Certainly there seem to be more celebrity painters out there than sculptors or even photographers.

What is it that is so attractive about painting that these already-acclaimed artists should feel so drawn to it?

As with all artist people, the talent and skill of celebrity painters varies from person to person. In no particular order, here are twenty of our favorite celebrity artists that paint. Judge their gifts for yourself!

Please Note: All artwork shown herein is copyright its respective artist.

  1. Sylvester Stallone
Actor Sylvester Stallone has been known to pick up a paintbrush as well.

Sylvester “Sly” Stallone has been an icon in the film world for decades, but few know that he has been painting for almost as long as he’s been acting. His colorful, abstract pieces are both whimsical and imposing — perhaps not unlike the man himself?

See more of Stallone’s celebrity art at his website, www.sylvesterstallone.com.


2. Lucy Liu

Actress Lucy Liu is also an accomplished painter and holds her own art shows in galleries.

Perhaps best known for her roles in the movies Kill Bill and Charlie’s Angels, as well as the TV show Elementary, actress Lucy Liu is also a very talented abstract artist. She has painted for years, under the pseudonym Yu Ling, but has recently been exhibiting her celebrity paintings at art galleries and finally claiming credit for her impressive work.


3. Dennis Hopper

Late actor and director Dennis Hopper was also an incredibly gifted painter.

Legendary wild man Dennis Hopper, in addition to acting in such iconic films as Easy Rider, Rebel Without a Cause, and Speed, was also a gifted painter with a unique vision. His time spent with artists like Andy Warhol also gave him an unrivaled view into the art world of the 1960’s.


4. David Bowie

Avant garde musician David Bowie went to art school before becoming famous, and is recognized as a talented painter.

Before becoming the face of glam rock, musician David Bowie studied art and design, and has been painting ever since. His celebrity art evokes a depth and surrealism unsurprising from this avant-garde shapeshifter.


5. Joni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell considers herself a painter first and a musician second, and her artwork has been featured on the covers of her albums.

Singer and songwriter Joni Mitchell is not only famous for her heart-wrenching voice and lyrics, but her absolutely stunning celebrity paintings as well — many of which are featured as her album covers. In fact, though she dropped out of art school at age 19, Mitchell has always considered herself a painter first and a musician second.

See more of Mitchell’s celebrity art at her site, www.jonimitchell.com.


6. Jim Carrey

Comedian Jim Carrey expresses himself through painting as well as acting.

Always recognized for his comedy, as well as more dramatic roles such as in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, actor Jim Carrey is also an accomplished artist. Last year, he had a solo exhibition, Jim Carrey: Nothing To See Here, in Palm Springs.

See more of Carrey’s celebrity paintings at his website, www.jimcarreytrulife.com.


7. Jane Seymour

 

Jane Seymour Celebrity Painter

Although a highly successful artist, people often think of Jane Seymour as the actress who starred in the show Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. However, beyond acting, Seymour is an avid writer, designer, and artist. Many of her paintings depict nature scenes.


8. Johnny Cash

Even the Man In Black himself, Johnny Cash, put brush to paper from time to time.

Legendary musician Johnny Cash sketched and painted for years, but never thought his work would appeal to the art world. Nevertheless, his work — exemplified by this painting called Flight — was very much in demand. However, Johnny’s heart was always in music, and his touring and recording schedule left little time for celebrity paintings.


9. Bob Dylan

Musician Bob Dylan also paints a wide variety of subjects.

Poet and songwriter Bob Dylan’s painting style can be described as “freewheeling”, as it were — certainly his celebrity paintings have a very impressionistic feel to them. Since 1994, Dylan has published 3 books of his Matisse-influenced artwork.


10. Stevie Nicks

Songstress Stevie Nicks creates dreamlike paintings full of color and detail.

Musician Stevie Nicks was brought to the world of artist people by a dear friend ill with leukemia and dedicates her vibrant, ethereal paintings and drawings to her friend who lost her battle.

See more of Nicks’ artwork at the website www.inherownwords.com.


11. Kurt Cobain

kurt cobain celebrity painter

The celebrity art created by Kurt Cobain seemed to parallel the music he created. The subject matter was often dark and contained repeated symbolism. Some paintings exhibited surrealism, and almost all seemed to express a troubled artist but who are we to judge as he created some of most memorable songs!


12. Anthony Hopkins

It's no surprise that when Anthony Hopkins turns his hand to painting, he produces superb and slightly disturbing artwork.

Is it at all surprising that actor Anthony Hopkins is amazing at anything he puts his mind to? Once having played Pablo Picasso on-screen, Hopkins’ paintings are clearly influenced by the famous artist but have a darkness and slightly disturbing feel that one would expect from the man behind Hannibal Lecter.


13. Viggo Mortensen

Viggo Mortensen celebrity painter

Celebrity paintings by Viggo Mortensen are usually abstract, and at times they contain fragments of his poetry within them. While he is best known for his acting, Mortensen is also a photographer. Galleries throughout the world have featured his artwork.


14. Janis Joplin

Music queen Janis Joplin tragically passed away at a young age, and left behind not only a catalog of legendary music but a portfolio of impressive paintings as well. Perhaps with more time, her paintings would have become as famous as her music.


15. Frank Sinatra

Even Frank Sinatra Artwork

Even the Chairman of the Board, the leader of the Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra himself picked up a paintbrush in his day. While not a poor hand at painting, we think we prefer his dulcet singing voice.


16. Michael Jackson

The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, Artwork

We all know that Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, was a man of many talents and unrivaled in his time. However, few know that when he was just a child, Jackson was already an extremely gifted painter. This portrait of Charlie Chaplin — a big influence of Jackson’s — was painted when the singer was only 9 years old!


17. Marilyn Monroe

Actress Marilyn Monroe Artwork

Stunning actress Marilyn Monroe has been the subject of many artworks — most notably that by Andy Warhol — but she also dabbled in painting herself. This delicate watercolor of a rose was inscribed by Monroe to President John F. Kennedy.


18. Ronnie Wood

Musician Ronnie Wood Artwork

Musician Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones is a surprisingly talented painter in his own right, and his unique and changing style often shows viewers a “behind the scenes” look at the brilliant and bruised world of rock and roll.


19. Yoko Ono

Yoko Ono Artwork

Many people know icon Yoko Ono for her music, performance art and film work, but she is also a skilled painter and philanthropist. A recent auction of her puzzle pieces work went to benefit the study of autism.


20. Prince Charles

Prince Charles of England Artwork

Surprising though it may be, even Prince Charles of the Royal House of Windsor is himself a painter. Working from many rural and village landscapes in his native Great Britain, the Prince’s muted watercolors hearken back to the beginnings of the plein air movement in England.

See more of Prince Charles’ artwork at the Belgravia Gallery.


Whew! That was a lot of celebrity artist painters — and we’ve only scratched the surface!

There are countless others, including Paul McCartney, Marilyn Monroe, George W. Bush, Bono of U2, John Lennon and even Beyoncé Knowles — all of whom have been known to pick up a paintbrush from time to time. Some of these paintings I wouldn’t mind hanging on my wall, that’s for sure.

Others?

Well to each his own, yes?

What do you think? Can you think of other celebrity painters? What’s your opinion of the artist people we’ve shown here?

Tell us all about it in the comments below!

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