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Cleveland Browns Original Art – Jim Brown & Classic Football

I grew up watching NFL games on a black-and-white TV with rabbit-ear antennas, so painting classic Cleveland Browns players — especially Jim Brown — is something I always enjoy.

Robert Joyner

19 Nov 2025 — 2 min read

I’ve always had a soft spot for old-school NFL players, and the Cleveland Browns are at the top of that list. I grew up watching football on those old black-and-white TVs with the rabbit-ear antennas, trying to make out the jerseys through the static. That era of football — single-bar face masks, ground-and-pound offenses, and tough-as-nails legends — shows up in a lot of the Browns paintings I do today.

One of my favorite players to paint is Jim Brown. The way he ran the ball fits perfectly with the loose, painterly style I use. Big shapes, bold marks, and all that raw movement you feel the second he takes a handoff.

Acrylic painting of Cleveland Browns legend Jim Brown running through defenders, painted in a loose, bold, expressive style.

Cleveland Browns Team Paintings

Beyond Brown, I also enjoy creating broader Browns team-action pieces — scrappy goal-line stands, muddy-field runs, and that historic smash-mouth AFC North feel. These works usually start abstract and then I carve players out with directional strokes and bold contrasts. The Browns’ color palette — orange, brown, and white — always gives me plenty to push against.

Whether it’s a modern player or a classic-era matchup, Browns football always gives me the grit and movement I love to paint.

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Original loose, expressive Cleveland Browns art, acrylic on canvas depicting legend Jim Brown.

Expressive football painting of Browns legend Jim Brown, capturing explosive running style with expressive marks and bold color.

Why I Love Painting Classic NFL Players

There’s something special about the older generation of players. The photography was grainier, the equipment simpler, and the game had this raw electricity that works perfectly for expressive acrylic painting.

Whenever I paint Browns legends, it takes me back to watching Sunday football as a kid, twisting the rabbit ears and hoping the picture would stop rolling for at least one drive.