QHS Alumni Spotlight: Jeff Lung ’97

By: Katie Rodemich ’02

For Jeff Lung, high school at Quincy Senior High School was more than just an education—it was a refuge, a steady place in a world that often felt unpredictable. There, he found structure, community, and the freedom to express himself through music, theater, and art. Whether he was performing on stage, singing in choir, or sketching in the margins of his notebooks, Jeff was always creating. Doodling became its own quiet form of escape. The rhythm of school days, the late-night rehearsals, and the relationships he built with classmates and mentors gave him something- tt wasn’t just about academics—it was about identity, connection, and discovering the resilience that creativity could unlock in the face of uncertainty.

“Life was good in high school—so much simpler,” Jeff reflects. “School was my escape. I had a chaotic home life, so I got involved in everything: choir, theater, music. We’d be there until six, seven, sometimes even eight o’clock at night.”

The A-Building, home to QHS’s fine arts programs, quickly became a second home for Jeff—just as it had for so many others. Long after the final bell rang and most students had left, Jeff and his friends remained—reworking scenes on the stage, sharing tired laughs, and letting their voices echo through the hushed corridors of the A-Building. At QHS, students from all grades collaborated side by side. Quiet kids discovered their voices. And for Jeff, it became more than just an artistic outlet—it became a true creative family.

Much of Jeff’s grounding during high school came from a group of influential teachers—his personal “QPS Mount Rushmore.” He credits Tom Burnett, Mike McKinley, Kay Dyer, and the late Sandy Burleson with shaping not only his academic interests but also his outlook on life.

“Teachers were huge in my life,” Jeff emphasizes. “McKinley is the one who instilled that drive to learn foreign languages, which became a huge part of my life. I went beyond high school Spanish—I ended up studying Chinese and living in China for a while.”

That academic spark was balanced by the creative force of Tom Burnett, QHS Theater Director. For Jeff, Burnett wasn’t just a theater director—he was a catalyst for confidence and community.

“Burnett was the creative side.”

Burnett cultivated more than talent—he cultivated belonging. In his presence, every student felt seen, heard, and essential. His influence reached far beyond the stage; he didn’t just direct productions, he built a culture of trust, creativity, and connection—a true creative family that shaped lives well beyond high school.

Another lasting influence came from Kay Dyer, who taught Spanish and German at QHS. She brought passion and precision to her teaching and left a deep impression on Jeff and his classmates. Beyond the classroom, she coached high-achieving Scholastic Bowl teams known for both their competitive excellence and their fairness.

Sandy Burleson brought a different, but equally important, presence to the classroom. A history teacher who believed deeply in the power of critical thinking, she constantly pushed students to ask questions and dig deeper—not just into their studies, but into the world around them.

“She encouraged me in a lot of ways,” Jeff recalls. “All of those teachers really taught me to always be learning, always be reading, always be educating yourself.”

The idea that you can learn almost anything from reading a book was instilled in him during those years—and it never left.

“I kind of feel sad for today’s youth, because nobody reads anymore,” he adds. “Reading’s my favorite way of learning. It’s never left me.”

From all of these educators, Jeff carried forward one of the most enduring lessons of his education: the value of lifelong learning. Whether through books, art, or experience, the habit of asking questions and pursuing knowledge continues to shape how he lives, creates, and grows.

Some of Jeff’s favorite high school memories revolve around the stage.

“My favorite moments definitely would be all the theater productions,” he recalls. “I was pretty active in the musicals and the plays we did every winter and spring.”

A couple of productions stand out in particular.

“‘Anything Goes’—that was my junior year—that musical was very memorable for me,” Jeff says. “I got to do it with Jay Schleppenbach, one of my buddies, who was the lead in that one. Karen McNay was the big female star at the time.”

“That same year, one of the main stage plays brought a different kind of experience and impact.”

“Probably ‘The Grapes of Wrath,’ which was also that same year—that was huge,” he says. “It was kind of controversial at the time. It was a pretty deep, heavy book to read in high school, and I got to dive into it and really understand that whole period of American history, which was new to me.”

Jeff’s connection to Quincy runs deep—not only through the arts, but also through the community and culture that shaped his earliest memories. One of his proudest experiences of Quincy pride came during middle school, sparked by the electric atmosphere surrounding QHS basketball.

“I think it was around seventh grade—late ’80s, during the Tom Lepperd years,” Jeff recalls. “I remember getting up early and watching the games on TV because WGEM would re-broadcast them. And I think it was my dad who recorded them on VHS,” he adds, laughing. “I couldn’t stay up that late, so I’d watch the games the next morning. That’s probably more accurate. I just remember those years—they were really cool.”

Those quiet mornings, reliving the excitement of each game on tape, became part of the mosaic of moments that made Quincy feel like home. And even now, decades later, Jeff still carries that hometown pride.

“Let’s go, Blue,” he says with a smile.

Jeff’s journey as an artist didn’t begin with a brush or a canvas—it began in the quiet corners of a classroom. As a teenager, he spent hours casually sketching in the margins of his notebooks, never imagining that those idle doodles would someday lay the groundwork for a full-time creative career.

“I’ve always been drawing my whole life,” Jeff reflects. “In high school, I was always a doodler—drawing in my notebooks during class—but I didn’t really sit down and focus on making artwork until later on.”

That “later on” came after a detour into the world of fitness. “I started a fitness business that eventually turned into a gym,” he says. But everything changed when the pandemic hit.

The timing was devastating. “I owned the gym with my wife,” he explains. “Our marriage kind of fell apart at the same time as COVID. When everything fell through—when it was all over—I just needed a new beginning. Something different. That’s why I decided I was going to make a business out of art. That’s what brought me to where I am today.”

Jeff remembers the turning point vividly: “COVID hit hard in Chicago. Everything shut down. My wife left me, and then like a week later, lockdowns started. I had all this time on my hands and nothing to hold onto. So I started drawing again. Creating again.”

With the world on pause, Jeff turned inward. “I had a lot of time on my hands,” he says. “And I just started drawing every day—portraits, figures, anything I could study and learn. That kind of became a meditation for me.”

What began as a therapeutic outlet quickly evolved into a daily ritual. Using graphite and charcoal, Jeff sharpened his skills through consistent practice and growing curiosity. Eventually, he pushed into new creative territory.

“I’d always used graphite and charcoal, but I decided to try painting,” he says. “I’d heard that if you can draw, you can paint—maybe not the other way around—but I already had the drawing skills, so I just applied that.”

Even as life resumed its usual pace, Jeff’s creative momentum never slowed.

“I’d come home from work and paint for an hour or two. By the time 2022 came around, I’d already been doing it every day for two years. When my career in fitness wound down, I thought, why not just do this?”

By 2022, Jeff had taken the leap into full-time artistry. Today, he runs Jeff Lung Art from his studio in Conroe, Texas, just north of Houston. His business is a vibrant mix of original works, commissions, event sketching, teaching workshops, and consistent online engagement.

His work has been featured in gallery shows and festivals throughout Texas and the Midwest. He teaches art workshops, offers private coaching, and maintains a strong presence on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and his website.

“I’ve learned to hustle,” he says. “Being a full-time artist means wearing a lot of hats. But I love the freedom it gives me.”

At the heart of Jeff’s creative identity is a distinctive style he calls figurative abstract—a blend of traditional portraiture and layered, symbolic backgrounds.

“I do traditional portraits, but with a twist,” he explains. “I usually hide words or phrases in the background—people’s names, quotes, symbols that connect to the piece. I want my art to be interactive. I want people to look again and again and find something new.”

That visual complexity stems from early fascinations.

“I grew up with Where’s Waldo and Magic Eye posters. I was obsessed with those—just staring at them for hours at Waldenbooks in the Quincy Mall. That idea—that a picture can have a hidden world inside it—that’s what stuck with me.”

His pieces are playful, layered, and symbolic—what he describes as “whimsical playgrounds for the eye.”

Though Jeff’s focus today is on visual art, wellness remains a cornerstone of his life—a carryover from years spent running his own fitness studio and teaching high-intensity classes.

“Wellness is still a big part of my life,” he says. “I love to run. I ride my bike a lot. I’m a cyclist-runner. I’m a retired boxer—I fought for several years, and that was kind of my thing when I had the studio.”

During those years, boxing wasn’t just his personal passion—it was his professional identity.

“That was my main thing. I taught boxing classes, trained clients… and I still do that part-time, just to stay active,” Jeff explains.

That active lifestyle also influenced his choice of where to live.

“I love to hike, love to be outdoors,” he says. “That’s one of the reasons I moved south—because you can do it year-round here. It’s really nice.”

Even as his professional focus shifted toward full-time artistry, Jeff’s dedication to physical wellness continues to balance his creative work with movement, discipline, and time in nature.

With years of experience in both entrepreneurship and the arts, Jeff has learned what it takes to forge a meaningful and sustainable creative path. His story is one of resilience, reinvention, and the quiet power of following your passion. When asked what advice he’d give to today’s students, his response is honest and empowering:

“Find something you’re passionate about—and do it really well. I always tell people: don’t focus on being the best. Be the only one doing what you do. Especially in the art world, where competition is everywhere, your uniqueness is your greatest strength.”

The style I developed is my own—there’s no one else doing it, because I made it up. And that’s really the best way to stand out: be original, be authentic, and love what you do.”

Through Jeff Lung Art, Jeff has crafted a dynamic and sustainable creative business—one built on both passion and adaptability. He creates and sells original pieces, takes on commissioned work, and exhibits regularly at galleries and art festivals throughout Texas and the Midwest. His talents extend beyond the canvas as well: Jeff is frequently hired to do live illustrations at weddings, parties, and special events, where he captures guests in his signature style. He also teaches workshops, both in-person and virtually, and offers one-on-one coaching for aspiring artists looking to refine their craft or navigate the business side of art.

Jeff maintains an active presence online, sharing new work, behind-the-scenes content, and process videos through his website and daily posts on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. He also sends out a regular email newsletter with updates on upcoming shows, new releases, and opportunities to join his workshops or events.

Jeff’s newest chapter includes joining the board of the Conroe Art League, a nonprofit arts organization, and stepping into the role of Director of Shows and Exhibitions—a move that feels like the perfect next step. When the opportunity came to help lead the very place that first welcomed him after moving to Texas, Jeff didn’t have to think twice. The Conroe Art League quickly became his artistic home, and now he’s giving back—supporting fellow artists, curating thoughtful shows, and creating the kind of full-circle moments that has always meant so much to him. His first event in this role, the Student Awards Show held in May, left him feeling inspired and excited for what’s ahead. In many ways, it all connects back to those early days at QHS, when mentors like Tom Burnett and others first showed him the power of encouragement, creativity, and community. Now, he’s passing that gift on to the next generation.

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To explore his work, learn more, or get in touch, visit jefflungart.com, or follow him across social platforms at @JeffLungArt.

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