Gallery: Model Trains, Pope Pranking, and Other Passions of the Rich and Famous
01george-washington-f
Think you don't have time to pick up a hobby? Imagine being a head of state, an Emmy award-winning actor, or a musician that can score a spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. While these vocations often require years of dedication and leave little extra free time, we've found a few highly notable names that have garnered great success in side hobbies as diverse and surprising as carpentry, model railroading, and interior decorating. Sure, celebrity access and money doesn't hurt their endeavors, but it doesn't always improve talent either. Now quit yer gripin' and get back to the workshop. George Washington ----------------- George Washington was a military genius, precedent-setting president, and a passionate interior decorator. The fact that the father of our country was an interior decorator is often left out of short biographies. David McCullough rectified this oversight in his history of the Revolutionary War, *[1776](http://books.simonandschuster.com/1776/David-McCullough/9780743226714),* with a description of Washington's dedication to window treatments. > "Only the year before taking command at Cambridge, Washington had commenced an ambitious expansion of his Virginia home, Mount Vernon, which, when completed, would double its size. He was adding a library and building a two-story dining room, or banquet hall, suitable for entertaining on a grand scale. He was a builder by nature. He had a passion for architecture and landscape design, and Mount Vernon was his creation, everything done to his own ideas and plans. How extremely important all this was to him and the pleasure he drew from it, few people ever understood. > > He had an abiding dislike of disorder and cared intensely about every detail — wallpaper, paint color, ceiling ornaments — and insisted on perfection. He hated to be away from the project. Even at the distance of Cambridge, with all that weighed on his mind he worried that things were not being handled as he wished at Mount Vernon and filled pages of instructions for his manager, Lund Washington." *Image: Published by William C. Robertson \[between 1830 and 1880\]*
© Bettmann/CORBIS02churchill
Winston Churchill ----------------- In between penning [epic one-liners](http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/winston_churchill.html), drinking, and saving western civilization, Winston Churchill picked up oil painting as a hobby. Inspired by the work of John Singer Sargent and Walter Sickert, Churchill managed to finish over [500 paintings](http://www.winstonchurchill.org/learn/myths/churchill-trivia/539-personal-life), when World Wars weren't getting in the way. He focused on [calm landscapes](http://www.museumsyndicate.com/artist.php?artist=667) -- relaxing fare to keep his mind off of military failures in his past and the Panzer battalions amassing on the other side of the English Channel. His aim was contentment, not critical acclaim. He said ”Happy are the painters, for they shall not be lonely. Light and colour, peace and hope, will keep them company to the end of the day." Though he didn't pick up a paintbrush until his 40th birthday, by the end of his life Churchill was a knight, a Nobel Laureate, but also had his paintings honored by the Royal Society of the Art under the pseudonym "Mr. Winter." Today his paintings are collected and sold at auction where one recently sold for over a [million dollars](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2158744/Sir-Winstons-lost-orchids-painting-fetch-750-000-auction.html). *Winston Churchill paints a scene in the village of Camera de Lobos in 1950. Photo: Bettmann/CORBIS*
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J.J. Abrams ----------- J.J. Abrams created *Lost,* reinvented *Star Trek*, and has spawned millions of nerdy arguments on message boards around the internet. However, the movie mogul is also a DIY enthusiast who could fit in as easily at a hackerspace as he could a swank Hollywood party. In interviews he often spends nearly as much time talking about his hobbies, painting and laser cutting, as the hit TV shows he produces. He believes the film and TV industries are heading for a DIY [*Revolution*](http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/j_j_abrams_mystery_box.html) and that a similar shift will hit the physical world as well. Abrams shared some info about his [dedication to DIY](http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/16/magazine/16wwln_domains.html?_r=1) in an interview with *The New York Times*, saying "Because I love doing so much stuff — design, music, sculpting and painting — there's always something I can do instead of work. Basically, I don't write unless I'm on deadline." An early adopter, his excitement for these new tools was clear. "I have this laser cutter, and I can take sketches my kids made, scan them and use the cutter to make two-dimensional renderings." *Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired*
04jay-leno
Jay Leno -------- Jay Leno's auto collection is well documented, but collecting tools to maintain his classic cars is almost as serious of a hobby for the funny man. A polished fabricator, he's adept with CNC mills, [water jet cutters](http://www.thefabricator.com/article/waterjetcutting/bernie-and-the-jet), 3-D printers, and other maker tools that allow him to restore and improve his fleet. When he's not delivering monologues he can often be found inside his 17,000-square-foot garage tending to one of his hundred or so cars or 90-odd motorbikes. With over 4,000 square feet of machine shop space Leno does everything from retrofit 1960s muscle cars with modern-day safety features to develop new jet-engine-based cars in conjunction with GM and Alcoa. Even though he's got a staff of machinists, he is constantly looking for ways to perfect his art. In an essay from *[Popular Mechanics](http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/jay-leno/technology/4320759#ixzz25Tlvi6Lf)* Leno talks about the opportunities tools like 3-D scanners give a hobbyist like himself and says "The scanner allows you to make an exact copy in plastic, fit it and see that it's correct." When dealing with a fleet of autos the size of Leno's collection, cutting out trips to the mechanic can save a fortune. *Photo: [Alan Light](http://www.flickr.com/photos/alan-light/211281688/in/set-72157594232271968/)/Flickr*
05nick-offerman
Nick Offerman ------------- Some aspiring actors wait tables in anticipation of their big break; Nick Offerman built them. Before landing his iconic role as man's man Ron Swanson on *Parks & Recreation* he was a carpenter building scenery for plays. He told [Martha Stewart](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxtoosWMDpk&feature=player_embedded) "Unfortunately when I started theater school I was really terrible at acting.... Nobody would put me in their plays, but they would let me have a little role with two or three lines because then I would build the set for them." Today, Offerman spins table saw blades at the [Offerman Woodshop](http://offermanwoodshop.com/), a five-person boutique workshop in southern California that produces fine furniture with prices that reach into five figures. In a case of life imitating art, Offerman's shop was used as a set for his show where his hyper-masculine alter-ego crafted fine wooden ships ([which are beautiful](http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/110120/park-recs-pyramid_1500.jpg)). *Image: Courtesy of NBC*
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Rod Stewart ----------- "Have I told you lately, that I love model trains?" Surely not the smoothest lyric ever penned by the raspy-voiced Rod Stewart, but it's probably one of the most accurate. The man who has had 61 hit singles, including six that reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts has [famously said](http://mrr.trains.com/en/Press%20Room/Press%20Releases/2007/10/Rod%20Stewart%20and%20model%20railroads.aspx) "It means more to me to be on the cover of *Model Railroader* than to be on the cover of a music magazine." These are not just idle words; Stewart considers his masterpiece to be his "[Three Rivers City](http://mrr.trains.com/en/Press%20Room/Press%20Releases/2007/10/Rod%20Stewart%20and%20model%20railroads.aspx)" HO-scale train set that takes up 1,500 square feet and the entire third floor of his Beverly Hills mansion. Stewart is so dedicated to his choo-choo craft that during the height of his popularity and touring he would take a private jet back home each night to work on his massive model, or else seven trunks of tools and supplies would be sent to his hotel room so he could work remotely. No wonder the guy had such a soft spot for *Downtown Train*. And Stewart isn't the [only musician](http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/11/03/idUSIndia-30305220071103) with a *Passion* for model trains -- Frank Sinatra was an avid modeler, and Neil Young is a part owner of the venerable [Lionel](http://www.lionel.com/) brand.
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Walt Disney ----------- Just like Steve Jobs, Walt Disney was once pushed aside in the company he started. Instead of leaving, he turned his attentions away from films and focused his energy on designing theme parks and attractions for them. Disney had always been interested in technology and helped develop many key innovations that made feature-length animation possible, like the [multi-plane camera](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiplane_camera). However, as his role in the business forced him to be more of an executive than an artist, he had an increasing desire to work with his hands. He became especially interested in mills, lathes, and other metal machining tools and decided to hand-build a 1:8 scale railroad. This story, from Neal Gabler‘s biography, [Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination](http://www.randomhouse.com/book/57290/walt-disney-by-neal-gabler/book "Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination") tells the story in detail: > "But Walt’s plan was not simply to purchase a train or even to have one made for him at the studio to his specifications. The train, like the animation, was to be all-consuming — his escape from the animations, as the animations had been intended as an escape from reality. In effect, the train would be his job. And so Walt was going to *make* the train himself alongside Dick Jones, Eddie Sargeant, and [Roger Broggie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_E._Broggie "Roger E. Broggie"). At night for three of four hours at a time and for long stretches on weekends, he began visiting the studio machine shop, located near the studio entrance in what were called “boxcars,” where Broggie had set up a workbench for him and taught him how to use the jeweler’s lathe, a miniature drill press, and a milling machine.… Fabricating the train became his new passion. > > And Walt enjoyed the craft — the sense of finally doing productive work again and doing it with perfection the way he had done the early features. Indeed, the detail work was such that it demanded perfection. He would carry his unfinished train wheels with him where ever he went that fall and winter. “If he took his family to Palm Springs the box of wheels went along,” Diane recalled, “and he sat there filing in the sun.” And sitting there filing, Walt Disney was as contented as he had been in years." *A publicity photo of Walt enjoying his train at the studios before it was delivered to the Holmby Hills estate. Photo: Courtesy Walt Disney Co.*
Tele 508william-h-macy-jpg
William H. Macy --------------- William H. Macy's on-screen wife met a grisly end by way of a wood chipper in *Fargo*, so it's a bit strange that the film inspired Macy to pick up woodworking as a hobby. His specialty is turning bowls on a lathe, which frequently end up as gifts for late-night talk show hosts. While the master thespian has been honored with an Academy Award nomination, nine Emmy nominations and two wins, he is in an even more elite group -- actors who have graced the cover of *[Fine Woodworking](http://www.finewoodworking.com/PlansAndProjects/PlansAndProjectsArticle.aspx?id=28517),* a magazine he called "*Penthouse* for guys over 50." [David Heim](http://www.linkedin.com/pub/david-heim/8/704/77a) who interviewed Macy for *Fine Woodworking*, says he's legit. "He's dedicated, passionate about the craft, and eager to learn how to practice his craft better. Macy's right at home among us woodturners."
Dmitry Lovetsky09russia-putins-art
Vladimir Putin -------------- Vladimir Putin has been a key figure in Russian life for decades. He's also used the vast resources at his disposal to support interests that could challenge the Dos Equis guy. He flies jets, races cars, has a black belt in Judo, and he paints modern art "masterpieces." His work lacks the polish of Churchill's canvases, but unlike the British Bulldog, Putin has no qualms about using his famous name to encourage [positive reviews](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/4240783/Vladimir-Putins-painting-an-expert-view.html). A *Telegraph* art critic compares the president's work to British painter [Winifred Nicholson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winifred_Nicholson). Seriously though, who can blame people for being overly complimentary -- do you really want to mess with a painter whose other hobby is tiger hunting? *Photos: __(above)__ Staffers of a Russian charity hold an oil painting by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, Russia, 2009. The words in the painting read Putin, on top, and Ornament, on bottom. Dmitry Lovetsky/AP. __(below)__ Courtesy of the Russian Presidential Press and Information Office* 
10woz
Steve Wozniak ------------- Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has a reputation as a prankster. After all, he and Steve Jobs got their start manufacturing and selling devices that made [prank-calling the Pope](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2136492/The-revealing-A-lost-interview-Steve-Jobs-offers-rare-insight-childhood-memories-thought-science-liberal-art.html) cost-effective. It's no surprise that after retiring from Apple, the Woz would look for projects that combined hacking with a geeky sense of humor. Thinking carrying money in traditional wallets was far too pedestrian, he decided to manufacture his own version of the money clip. He writes on [his blog](http://archive.woz.org/letters/general/78.html): > You can purchase $1, $2, and now $5 bills from the Bureau of Printing and Engraving on sheets. The sheets come in sizes of 4, 16, and 32 bills each. I buy such sheets of $2 bills. I carry large sheets, folded in my pocket, and sometimes pull out scissors and cut a few off to pay for something in a store. It's just for comedy, as the $2 bills cost nearly $3 each when purchased on sheets. They cost even more at coin stores. > > I take the sheets of 4 bills and have a printer, located through friends, gum them into pads, like stationery pads. The printer then perforates them between the bills, so that I can tear a bill or two away. The bills that I'd tipped the waitress came from such a pad. This DIY approach to storing dollars didn't land him on the cover of a magazine. Instead he got to spend 40 minutes in a windowless room in the basement of a Las Vegas casino being interviewed by a member of the Secret Service about his quirky fabrication. He ended up leaving the casino with $7,500 in winnings, in much larger denominations. *Photo: Courtesy of [The Flirty Blog](http://theflirtyguide.blogspot.com/2009/12/wozs-infamous-sheets-of-2-bills.html )*
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And a Few Others... ------------------- Although some of these next celebs don't have the same level of crafty success as the names on the rest of the list, they nonetheless deserve mention in the hobby shop hall of fame. __Curt Schilling__: Warhammer 40k enthusiast and [videogame producer](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gamelife/2008/01/curt-schilling/) (although that [hasn't gone well](http://www.tentonhammer.com/copernicus/news/curt-schilling-discusses-38-studios-downfall) as of recently). (Geeks take note: Other rumored Warhammer figurine fans include Will Smith and Bruce Willis.) __Taylor Swift__: Hand-crafted (we use that lightly) [snow globe](http://taylorswift.com/media/photos/17363/495393) maker. __[Julia Roberts](http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2011/07/12/tom-hanks-practical-joke-on-julia-roberts.aspx)__,<wbr>__[David Arquette](http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/163604/Interknit-cafes-wool-wide-web.html)__ and [__Russel Crowe__](http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer05/FEATknitlikeaman.html): Knitting</wbr> __Kanye West__: ["Art"](http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/kanye-wests-bizarre-twitter-rant-is-about-his-ins) Forgetting anyone? Let us know.
