Every Painting Has a Story. Mine Begins Here.
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Every painting begins with a story.
Sometimes it’s a city skyline that reminds someone of home. Sometimes it’s a family portrait, a favorite horse, a meaningful landscape, or a place filled with memories. Whatever the subject, my goal is to create artwork that celebrates the stories people want to keep.
For more than 30 years, I’ve built a career around creativity, design, and visual storytelling. That same passion inspires every painting I create, blending traditional craftsmanship with a lifelong love of bringing meaningful stories to life.
Every commission is a collaboration. I enjoy getting to know the story behind each piece and creating original artwork that’s personal, timeless, and meant to be enjoyed for generations.
Today, I also use modern technology, including generative AI, to help collectors visualize custom commissions before paint ever touches the canvas. The technology helps shape the vision, but every finished painting is handcrafted, original, and one of a kind.
Painting the Stories We Keep.
Thank you for visiting my gallery. I hope we have the opportunity to create your story together.
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More than 30 years of creative leadership in design, innovation, visualization, and fine art.
Senior Vice President, Head of Creative, Seed Strategy, a Burke company.
Valedictorian, Cincinnati Academy of Design (1997).
Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, Thomas More University (2018).
Original artwork commissioned, collected, and proudly displayed in homes and businesses throughout the United States.
Collaborates with artist Colin Daugherty on select large-scale original paintings and commissioned works.
Commissioned to create a floor-to-ceiling Cincinnati skyline mural for Delta Air Lines’ downtown Cincinnati call center.
Original Roebling Bridge painting permanently displayed in the Escape Lounge at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).
Every painting has a story.
These are a few of my favorites.
CHEF TALKS | Jeff Ruby, Mike Wong, Buddy LaRosa.
Some commissions push your creativity. Others push the limits of your studio.
When Colin Daugherty and I were commissioned to create a 100 × 84-inch Bengal tiger, we quickly realized the canvas barely fit through the studio door. Together, we brought the tiger to life before it found its permanent home inside one of Cincinnati's premier event venues.
Because of its size and weight, the painting was professionally installed using a lift, and I personally triple-wired it to ensure it would remain secure for years to come.
Less than a month later, the painting became the backdrop for a fundraising event benefiting La Soupe, where more than $250,000 was raised to fight food insecurity. Seated beneath the painting were some of Cincinnati's most recognizable business and culinary leaders, including Buddy LaRosa, Jeff Ruby, and Mr. Wong of Oriental Wok.
A painting doesn't end when the last brushstroke dries. Sometimes it becomes part of something much bigger.
Untamed Glory | Portrait of the Cincinnati Bengal Tiger, 84” x 100” acrylic on canvas by Jeff Johns and Colin Daugherty
Living in Kentucky, it's impossible not to be inspired by the excitement and tradition of the Kentucky Derby.
I created this painting to capture the energy, color, and celebration of Derby Day. Not long after it was finished, it found a home with a private collector.
A few years later, Karen Michael Events selected the artwork as the inspiration for an exclusive Kentucky Derby party invitation. It was incredibly rewarding to see the painting take on a second life beyond the canvas and become part of another unforgettable celebration.
I love when artwork continues telling its story long after it leaves my studio.
From My Studio to Churchill Downs Luxury Derby Celebration
Derby Dancing, Churchill Downs | 30" x 40" acrylic on canvas by Jeff Johns | SOLD
Karyn Michael Events. A private residence in Lloyd Harbor was transformed into a fully immersive Kentucky Derby experience for an unforgettable afternoon inspired by the elegance and excitement of Churchill Downs.
Few landmarks mean more to Cincinnati than the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. Its history, engineering, and timeless beauty have inspired me for years, making it one of my favorite subjects to paint.
After completing this original 48" × 48" acrylic painting, I was honored to learn it had been selected for permanent display in the Escape Lounge at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). Thousands of travelers from around the world now experience the painting before beginning their journeys.
It's incredibly rewarding to know this piece welcomes visitors to our region while celebrating one of Cincinnati's most iconic landmarks. I hope it inspires others to appreciate the beauty, history, and spirit of the city I’m proud to call home.
The Magnificent Roebling Bridge | 48" × 48" Original Acrylic on Canvas by Jeff Johns
Roebling Bridge Painting Displayed at CVG Airport
Featured at Stay & Wonder Gallery on Cincinnati Reds Opening Day
It was an honor to be featured at the Stay & Wonder Gallery in downtown Cincinnati on Cincinnati Reds Opening Day. There couldn't have been a better day to celebrate art and one of the city's favorite traditions.
The gallery gave me, along with fellow artist Colin Daugherty, the opportunity to showcase a collection of original paintings inspired by city skylines, wildlife, horse racing, and the stories that continue to inspire our work. It was a pleasure meeting so many people throughout the day, sharing the stories behind the paintings, and connecting with fellow art lovers.
A heartfelt thank you to Stay & Wonder Gallery for the opportunity and to everyone who stopped by to support the show. Your encouragement and support mean so much, and I look forward to sharing more artwork in Cincinnati in the future.
My creative journey with Visionaries + Voices began with Kenny and continued through new collaborations, including artwork with Jackie Fisher.
What started as a shared painting experience became something much bigger: a reminder that creativity grows through trust, connection, perspective, and the unexpected magic that happens when artists create together.
Each year brought a new canvas, a new collaboration, and a new reminder that the best work is rarely created alone.
What started with one suggestion from my wife, Michelle, became more than 50 paintings celebrating the Cincinnati skyline and the Roebling Bridge. It all began with the first painting of this beautiful city, created with my longtime collaborator Colin Daugherty.
This is the story of how I began seeing Cincinnati differently, noticing the light, reflections, architecture, history, and personal memories held within the skyline. What I once worried might feel cliché changed the direction of my art and became one of my greatest and most enduring sources of inspiration.
