Wapakoneta, Ohio -
Mike Smithson enjoys music of all kinds, but the lyrics of Johnny Cash are by far his favorite. Now, the man who inspires Smithson's art is now the major focus of his design work.
"To be a part of his legacy is insane. I mean, he is the biggest legend in music possible," said Smithson, owner of Art Your Mind Design in Wapakoneta.
Smithson is the official graphic designer for the Johnny Cash museum in Nashville, but the opportunity came by accident. Smithson's business is typically the busiest in the warmer months.
"This kind of shop relies on festivals, people doing random things needing signs, designs, or invitations," said Smithson.
So, for the past few winters, he has designed and sold posters of musicians on eBay. A couple of months ago, Johnny Cash museum founder, Bill Miller, stumbled across a poster of the man in black.
"And the funny thing is, the poster that he commented on, no one had every bought. I absolutely loved it, but no one bought it. I just kept posting it because I wanted it to sell," said Smithson.
So the poster which brought in no money for his business, is now keeping him the busiest. Smithson just returned from Nashville where he met members of the Cash family and where plans for the museum's summer opening were announced.
