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Newly transplanted from Minnesota to Tampa, Matthew Johnson says he’s exited to inject his music-, comic- and pop-culture-inspired t-shirts into a place where t-shirts are worn year-round.

His Seventh.Ink clothing line was rated Most Improved Indie Clothing Brand of 2009 by IAMTHETREND and has been featured on top-rated t-shirt sites such as Tee Hunter, Buy Tees and T- Shirts Around the Internet.

He talks to Creative Loafing about his inspirations, his aspirations, and his undying love for his fans.

What aspects of your background best prepared you to for a career as a creative entrepreneur?

I’ve been an artist since a very young age, when I used to illustrate comic book heroes and dinosaurs on every piece of paper that I could get my little hands on. I quickly found that illustration and comic relief went hand in hand, and I began to find a way to incorporate the two in order to impress a larger audience. There was a point in high school in which I created illustrated (and far-fetched) versions of my friends. Each friend became a character based on the nicknames that they were given in our group, and to this day we sometimes reference those characters when joking around. During college, I focused hard on building my skills as a graphic artist and honed my work ethic by doing various side projects during the night. I became a night owl, and it was around this time that my idea for Seventhfury Studios was born. I began working on freelance projects for people I had met networking and started sending out a frequent newsletter that I titled the “Midnight Synopsis” because it was usually sent out during these graveyard shifts.

Soon after that, I started an intern position at an awesome screen-printing shop just down the street from where I lived. One man ran the entire shop, and the sheer amount of work that he put out really inspired me. Seeing how successful he was really made me believe that I could do whatever I wanted and be successful, myself. He’s a very good friend and we still work together and reminisce about our beginnings.

Why did you decide to lead Seventhfury, an already successful design studio, into the world of clothing design?

I love t-shirts, and who doesn’t? They’re one of the most common forms of clothing. Everybody has a closet full of them. Independent clothing companies are becoming more and more popular through the Internet, and it really made sense to me to get into the business while it was still sort of young. I think it was my experience interning at the screen print shop that really sparked my interest in the artwork involved with this industry. I often wondered what it would be like to see people wearing designs that I had created myself, and so it was inevitable that I would try to branch out and bring a new medium into my studio: the t-shirt. It’s a great feeling to hear back from customers who love the shirts they’ve purchased from Seventh.Ink because I know that, somewhere out in the world, they’re wearing those shirts and living life.

What do you offer consumers that other t-shirt design companies do not?

When you run your own business by yourself, you don’t have anyone else to blame if things go wrong. It’s all you. And with that type of responsibility, you take things very seriously. I love people, and I really love people who love my shirts. That’s why I try to surprise them and make their day when their shirts arrive in the mail. I add personal touches to every order by writing notes and including candy, stickers, and other novelties in the package. I love my fans – they’re the reason why I’m able to do this and I spoil them for it.

Who do you have in mind when you design a t-shirt, and why?

When I’m working on my t-shirt designs, it’s like solving a puzzle. Sometimes, I want to portray a bit of humor or irony, and sometimes, I just want to put something out there that I think looks awesome. The trick is finding the best way to share this message through the artwork on the shirt and really nail the composition and colors so that the point gets across. I try to think of the message that I want to portray and what it will take to really get the point across to both the customer and the audience who will view the shirt when it is worn. A good shirt is understood by at least one person, but a great shirt can really wow a crowd. My goal is to design as many "wow" shirts as I can so that when the wearer is walking by, people will really take notice of the design and think about what they're seeing.

Your website says that t-shirts are your creative outlet. How so? Where do we see the marks of your personality in your t-shirt designs?

I like to put hidden items, or Easter Eggs, into a lot of my designs. Some of these things are accents to the design, while some tie in and also contain a little subliminal messaging. An example of the latter would be the use of the Seventh.Ink logo throughout various designs. I've used it in a few here and there to add a bit of life and fun to the artwork. Lately, I've also started putting a Seventh.Ink signature in every design to make them feel like the artist signed them. I want my shirts to have a personal touch, and this is one that I really like to include. Seventh.Ink is my chance to be as creative as I want to be, and I try to take advantage of that as often as I can by branching out with new ideas and concepts. As a graphic artist, how much responsibility do you owe to your customers?

I owe a lot to my customers; they’re the reason that I’m able to do what I’m doing so I try to keep providing them with fresh, unique shirt designs on high quality shirts (American Apparel). Over the years, a lot of Seventh.Ink fans have become my friends and I really look forward to continuing to meet new fans and friends as the years go on.

How do you reconcile your creative needs with your need to make an income, straddling the line between art and consumerism?

Luckily, I have a day job as a graphics artist, but I'm making t-shirts as a business, not a hobby. I might have an awesome design that I love, but sometimes I have to break it down and make sure that it will both work on a t-shirt and also be something my customers will appreciate. Sometimes, consumerism can curb creativity, but it can also serve as a litmus test of what's cool, and also be a reality check for me. My customers are cool - I know because I get feedback from so many of them, and sometimes you have to let the collaborative spirit guide your creative inclinations. Being able to connect with fans of my shirt brand is a very fulfilling way for me to find a balance for myself. I often find myself missing the latest episode of LOST in order to keep up with new designs and fan connections through online social media and email, but I’m doing what I love and that’s as good as it gets.

What is your distribution currently, and do you plan to extend that outward in the future?

The Seventh.Ink Web site (www.furyshirts.com) is currently the only way to get your hands on Seventh.Ink apparel. I’m gearing up to start marketing for wholesale soon and am hoping to see Seventh.Ink shirts in stores all over the country at some point. More info can be found on the Seventh.Ink site regarding wholesaling.

Who do you think these shirts mostly appeal to?

I’ve found that my shirts appeal to a younger crowd, mostly college students and people who really like to look for something original out on the Internet. Now that I’ve moved to Florida, I’m really looking forward to meeting people here and sharing my designs with them. It’s Florida — the weather is always perfect for a t-shirt! I’m also looking forward to setting up a booth in a few art shows and other events to get out there and meet new people in Florida face-to-face. It’s those real-life connections and discussions that I really love. To me, having people simply enjoy and spread the word about my shirts is the best kind of recognition I can receive.