I’m the graphic and watercolor artist behind Johnna Elyse (obviously!). When growing up, my family would visit my Gramma’s house and I would always sneak into her studio to look at her paints, brushes, and whatever she was working on at that time. She was a beautiful artist and I loved seeing the different things she would create, and was always in awe of her work. When she passed away, I was lucky enough to keep some of her paints and brushes.

Those brushes you see in my instagram photos? Or those paint tubes? They were most likely hers. Because of her influence, it has always been a dream of mine to paint.

To create memories that people will hold on to,

just as she did for me.

Whether its one place or ten, your home or a friends, where you had your first date or where you got married, I do this because I love creating keepsakes for the places you want to remember. To me, it’s not just about the painting or design, its about the memory it evokes when you look at it.

I have places and homes from my past that have meant something to me; that have shaped who I am and where I’ve come from, but are no longer in my life. But because of these paintings, I get to remember them forever.

I am currently based out of my hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia. I am a creative, a paper goods nerd, lover of french fries and sweet tea, a hiker and explorer and a beach girl who fell in love with the mountains. If I’m not working, you can find me spending time with my husband, Joe, my daughter, Jameson, and our sweet pup, Grohl.

In 2018, I got to marry Joe, the love of my life! Our story is a bit different than most. Over 10 years ago, Joe was diagnosed with a disease called PVNS. This caused tiny tumors to grow in his ankle, eat away at his cartilage and cause severe arthritis, making it extremely hard for him to walk.

In June of 2014, after much deliberation and thought, JOE decided to have his left foot amputated.

This experience was and continues to be a life-changing and strengthening endeavor. Despite the challenges and setbacks he’s experienced (including five additional surgeries), we continue to move forward in hopes that his story will help other amputees. In the winter of 2017, Joe had the amazing opportunity to travel and train with Adaptive Action Sports in Colorado as a Professional Snowboarder. He decided to do it again for the 2018 and 2019 Winter season and on…

which is why we moved from Virginia to Colorado.  

Not even a month after arriving in Colorado, Joe was named to the 2019-2020 U.S. Paralympic Snowboard Team, and he will ride for the team throughout this upcoming season all around the world.

We moved back to Virginia in 2021 when we found out I was pregnant with our first little girl, Jameson. While I miss the hiking and mountains something fierce, I love our daughter even more.

For more on Joe’s amputation and journey, check it out on the blog. 

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