Jim Carrey After 6 Years

 Jim Carrey acted and sketched since his childhood and for the last six years he painted as a healing process. “For the last six years, he has thrown himself into painting, working so prolifically that some might mistake his home for a museum.” (Cascone). He felt his painting, sketching and sculpture work took over and he became a tool of this creative process. He created the most colorful and at times, outrageous, artwork. By contrast his work was trashed by Guardian art critic Jonathan Jones.

He kept a low profile until he started having a series of art shows. “Carrey kept his artistic compulsion secret until he felt the need to reveal it in the video I Needed Color released by Signature.” (Cascone). I Needed Color first came out in July 2017 and has over five million hits. It can be viewed on Vimeo at the link provided. His work includes sculpture like Ayla, which is life-sized as well as smaller works.

His most controversial work involves political satire especially aimed at President Donald Trump whom he detests. “It's not the first time this year that Carrey has expressed his anger toward the nation's problems, and he usually sums up his angst in the form of original artwork.” (Clark). His anti-Trump artwork depicts Trump in the most unflattering roles possible. Although pro-Democrat he even took a swipe at Congressman Adam Schiff for not being able to stand up to President Trump. He dislikes Mark Zuckerberg and his Facebook, depicting it as Fakebook. Carrey himself described his art in the above video as “You can tell my inner life by the darkness in some of them and you can tell what I want from the brightness in some of them.” (Russian). His visual art may surpass his movie work in the years to come. 

Jim Carrey Reveals His Impressive Art Talents in New Mini Documentary: See His Vibrant Paintings

Jim Carrey Spent the Last Six Years Painting. Now, See What the Actor-Turned-Artist Has Created. 

Actor Jim Carrey has emerged as an unlikely political artist and activist — and has attracted over 17 million Twitter followers 

Jim Carrey: I Needed Color 

LaVon Van Williams- Sculptor of low-relief carvings

“the freedom of woodworking was refreshing to Williams even as the craftwork involved still called on the hard work and attention to detail” Karin Borei 

LaVon Van Williams became a wood sculptor by learning to carve with a chainsaw followed by refinement with a mallet and chisel. “He adopted the distinct African-inspired carved sculpture tradition of the Carolina coastal Gullah/Geechee people to find his voice.” (Borei). He is an urban folk artist drawing his inspiration from jazz and blues. He originally went to an art school in California where a professor, “insisting black artists have no future in the art world,” Williams went home and turned his back on the established art paradigm. (Jeanine Taylor).

LaVon’s older brother Dave had learned carving from their Uncle Luke who in turn taught his younger brother the craft. Much of his work depicts people playing jazz instruments or engaging in emotional activities, Williams states, “You’re looking for a fantastic movement or a fantastic shape that comes in the piece, and that’s the whole power of the piece. You want it to explode out when the viewer sees it, or you want it to be calm, but yet you still want a powerful presence in the piece, so that it dominates or takes off.” (Black Cultural Center Virtual Museum). This family tradition has born some emotive wood carvings such as evidenced by LaVon’s Five O’ Clock Jump, which is a tribute to Count Basie a jazz musician. 

LaVon Van Williams Jr (born 1958)   

Jeanine Taylor Folk Art 

LaVon Van Williams  

Jeanine Taylor Folk Art, FL