The Mask Paints! Jim Carrey Showcases His Art in a Riveting New Mini Documentary

In a new short film, Jim Carrey reveals why he's obsessed with making art.

Jim Carey at work in his studio in the documentary I Need Color. Screenshot courtesy of Signature Gallery Group.

Want to catch a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the studio of… Jim Carrey? Yes, the actor and comedian is also a talented painter and sculptor, as revealed by I Needed Color, a new short documentary from Signature Gallery Group.

Carrey is shown working into the wee hours of the morning to complete his colorful canvases, sketching out massive compositions with free, easy brushstrokes, pouring paint directly on the surface of his works, and dramatically scraping layers of color. Some works are so large that he can only reach the center of the canvas by resting it flat on the ground and propping up a ladder above the painting, working while lying on his stomach.

Jim Carrey at work in his studio in the documentary <Em>I Needed Color</em>. Screenshot courtesy of Signature Gallery Group.

Jim Carrey at work in his studio in the documentary I Needed Color. Screenshot courtesy of Signature Gallery Group.

In contrast to the zany characters he often plays on screen, Carrey is reflective and contemplative in the documentary, saying, “I think what makes someone an artist is that they make models of their inner life.”

According to Carrey, he took up the brush six years ago, as a way of dealing with some personal heartbreak. (He and actress Jenny McCarthy split after five years of dating in 2010.) Before that, he said, “I sketched all the time, but I didn’t do a lot of painting.”

One of Jim Carrey's paintings, as seen in the documentary <Em>I Needed Color</em>. Screenshot courtesy of Signature Gallery Group.

One of Jim Carrey’s paintings, as seen in the documentary I Needed Color. Screenshot courtesy of Signature Gallery Group.

He quickly became obsessed with his new hobby. “There was nowhere to move in my home. Paintings were everywhere—they were becoming part of the furniture!” Carrey admitted. “I don’t know what painting teaches me, but I know that it frees me.”

On September 23, Carrey will have his second gallery show, “Sunshower,” at Signature Galleries, in the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, selling prints of his work. He made his debut in 2011 with “Nothing to See Here,” at Heather James Fine Art in Palm Desert, California.

Jim Carrey, Hooray We Are All Broken. Courtesy of Jim Carrey.

Jim Carrey, Hooray We Are All Broken. Courtesy of Jim Carrey.

artnet News previously caught wind of Carrey’s artistic exploits in 2014, when Maurizio Cattelan took New York magazine’s Vulture on an art tour of Los Angeles, stopping off at the actor and painter’s studio. The newly released documentary has won Carrey another famous fan: basketball star LeBron James, who, on Twitter, expressed his desire to see Carrey’s art in person.

Among the ranks of celebrity artists, Carrey is in good company, joining the likes of Brad Pitt, Pierce Brosnan, and, of course, James Franco.

Watch the documentary below.


Follow Artnet News on Facebook:


Want to stay ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the breaking news, eye-opening interviews, and incisive critical takes that drive the conversation forward.
Article topics