To start, my full name is, Richard Earl Johnson, which is what I use as my so called “artist name,” because well, let’s face it, Rich Johnson just doesn’t sound as artistic. That said, if we meet in person feel free to call me Rich.

A little bit about me: I am a retired ex-advertising executive and now full time artist. I discovered my love for drawing and painting as a child, my favorite subjects being cars and Big Daddy Roth Rat Fink characters. In middle school and high school I excelled in drawing and painting classes but under excelled in math and English classes so off to art college it was. I attended the School of Associated Arts in St. Paul, Minnesota whereupon graduation, I applied my drawing skills in the advertising industry. During my long advertising career, I was able to create award winning advertisements for Fortune 500 companies such as 7-UP, United Airlines, McDonald’s, Nintendo and Hallmark to name just a few. After retirement, I rediscovered my love for oil painting and ultimately my connection to Decorah, Iowa.

I currently live in the Minneapolis area but make monthly trips to Decorah with an eye towards one day making it my permanent home.