Auguste Rodin, sculpture; Jackson Pollock, abstract paintings; Yayoi Kusama, light-filled rooms like stepping into infinity. Some of the world’s most renowned artists are best recognized by the medium they excelled in. However, that doesn’t mean the artist only worked in that medium or that they didn’t experiment in other creative ways.

At the 61 homes and studios that are a part of the Historic Artists' Homes and Studios (HAHS) program, visitors can immerse themselves in the environment where groundbreaking artists created their more recognizable works, but also pieces that are filled with surprises.

Scroll through ten unexpected pieces of art by both artists that are beloved and well known, and some new-to you creators that you might just come to love.

“Steam barge model” by Edward Hopper (Nyack, New York)

Well before he painted the iconic Nighthawks, Edward Hopper haunted shipyards and river shores rather than diners in his hometown of Nyack, New York. Situated on the Hudson River, the area’s maritime industry inspired a lifelong interest in boats and waterways. As a youth, Hopper so enjoyed making model steam barges and sailboats, particularly carving all their minute details by hand, that he considered becoming a naval architect.

“Mourner’s Bench” by Grant Wood (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)

Grant Wood, Iowa’s most famous artist and leader in the Regionalist artistic movement, tried his hand at several mediums before focusing on painting. While he’s best known for his iconic portrait American Gothic, Wood possessed other talents—including one that aligns ironically with his name.

Originally exploring metalworking, Wood began his professional artistic career as a middle school art teacher. While teaching, he used his woodworking skills to construct his work Mourner’s Bench. These types of benches were often seen in churches where sinners and mourners would wait to seek their salvation. However, because Wood’s bench was intended for troublemaking students to sit upon while waiting for whatever punishment the principal might dole out, his mourner’s bench is intended to be humorous.

“U tichu noci - In the quiet of the night” by Albin Polasek (Winter Park, Florida)

Visit the home where Albin Polasek retired in Winter Park, Florida, on the shores of Lake Osceola, and it’s easy to see why the artist fell in love with the place. With a robust sculpture garden displaying some of his best work in his most famous medium, The Albin Polasek Museum is a must-see in the area.

What many may not realize, though, is there was more to Polasek’s artistic practice than sculpting in wood, stone, and clay. He also painted, played music, and wrote poetry in his mother tongue, the Czech language.

“Pencil” by Jackson Pollock (East Hampton, New York)

It’s hard to imagine the famous artist making anything before the drip-and-pour paintings made with frenzied, full-body movement over the canvas, but Jackson Pollock was a man of many talents.

Many of Jackson Pollock's tools and materials are preserved in his former studio, which is part of the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center historic site. Among them is a yellow pencil on which Pollock used a graphite pencil to create drawings of pictographic figures. The style of the images is like drawings Pollock made on paper around 1939-40, but this is the only known instance of his embellishing another drawing implement, which also bears traces of the aluminum radiator paint found in many of his poured paintings.

"October” by Henry Mercer (Doylestown, Pennsylvania)

Untitled Monoprint by Paul Soldner (Aspen, Colorado)

While many artists try a variety of mediums before they find the one they become known for, other artists pick up skills in new artistic mediums late in life. The fine art ceramicist Paul Soldner proved that it’s never too late to add to your artistic repertoire.

Known for his large, abstract standalone and wall-hanging sculptures, Soldner pioneered the California School style of ceramics, which encouraged the use of raw materials from the Western world and Japan’s pottery techniques, and in his elder years worked with a printing assistant at Anderson Ranch Art Center. Soldner’s fascination with advertising and Vegas imagery is seen in this monoprint he created during this time.

Winnie the Pooh by Wharton Esherick (Malvern, Pennsylvania)

Soldner wasn’t the only HAHS artist fascinated by ceramics. Wharton Esherick is most famous for his sculptural, utilitarian furniture designs that elevated everyday objects like desks, music stands, and step stools to high art through his superior craftsmanship, though he remained open to other mediums.

While exploring ceramics, Esherick put his own spin on Winnie the Pooh and the statue now greets guests on the deck of his studio. This Winnie is one of 22 animal garden sculptures Esherick made while working with ceramicist Peter McAdam.