Bend man trades golf clubs for paint brushes – and happiness

Derek Johnson is a former professional golfer turned street artist who has finally found his happiness.

“I used to be a golf professional, and all my life here in Central Oregon, I was a golf professional at Black Butte, Aspen Lakes and Lost Tracks,” Johnson said Wednesday.

But below the successful surface, Johnson was struggling.

“I looked great on the outside, and everyone was so proud of me and I was head pro,” he said, taking a little break from work on his latest piece on a downtown Bend street corner.

“I started winning tournaments, drinking while I was playing — and I didn’t want to drink, it just gave me the confidence to play,” Johnson recalled. “And then I’m getting letters in the mail going, ‘Derek, congratulations, I’m so proud of you. What are you doing?’ Nothing, I’m just drinking before I play. And you know where that ends up — doesn’t end good.”

Johnson eventually left his golf career behind. Not long after that, he suffered a head injury in car accident caused by a drunken driver.

Ever since then, he’s been painting.

“So the accident was kind of a blessing, almost,” he said. “I actually don’t hear voices, but I was kind of told, ‘Derek, you were given this gift for a reason, you’re supposed to be sharing it.'”

Although finding support for his artistic self hasn’t always been easy, especially with the tough-guy exterior Johnson said men are expected to show.

“It’s not like most dads are going, ‘You’ve got to be an actor or you’ve got to paint,'” Johnson said.

“I remember lying to my dad, telling him I got in a fight in school one day, thinking that — so he would love me, I don’t know,” he said.

“And I’m sure they’re proud of this, a little bit, but not quite as much. It just doesn’t fit the country club atmosphere I grew up with,” Johnson said.

It may not fit the same as it used to, but for Johnson, it’s what works — and what makes him happy.

“Every day, I run into miracles. Every single day,” he said. “And I look forward to every single day. Matter of fact, I can’t believe I’m saying it — I never thought I could get out of that depression I was in.”

Johnson said he plans to continue sharing his talent by teaching kids to paint.

To see his work, visit: https://www.facebook.com/Derekjohnsonartgallery/