Johnnie L. Smith creates scenes of life in the delta, both from the past and present. Growing up in Cleveland, MS, Johnnie became interested in drawing from early childhood. His mom bought him a set with pastels, drawing pencils and acrylic paints. He would draw and paint from comic books, Superman and Batman came to life and he received attention from the kids in the neighborhood. “The kids loved my work, which was a big deal to me. It pushed me to keep on.”, states the artist. Over the years, as his style developed he began selling work and has built a following with his storytelling style. At 73, he shows no signs of stopping and still paints just about every day. “It’s something I just love to do; if I’m not making art, I feel like I’m not living.” Now that Smith is retired, he paints in spurts of creativity, and when he is most motivated to work. He welcomes periods of rest and relaxation to foster the joy he gets from painting and to avoid burnout. He accepts occasional commissions and has painted pieces for local organizations like the Bolivar County Literacy Council. Each year, he makes an effort to present his work at the Crosstie Arts and Jazz Festival in Cleveland, and in 2022, Smith won the “Best in Show” trophy at the festival. “I have dedicated my life to the appreciation of art,” said Smith. “I consider my work as a way of preserving the heritage of the Mississippi Delta by creating art that captures local life, history, character, and texture of the Delta.” After more than 50 years of painting, Johnnie is as passionate as ever, and takes every opportunity to hone his craft while documenting the history of his life and region through his art.