Today we’d like to introduce you to Deborah Powell.
Deborah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Oh geez lol. Man, How did I get started? Haha, I’ve always expressed my creativity from a small child up to adulthood. I have many avenues of expressing myself whether it be in my music, spoken word, photos, or any other art form I engage in. So It’s safe to say I am a renaissance woman. I remember always writing songs and dressing up to perform them for my mother.
I was always the star pupil in my art and music classes. Does that mean I was the best all the time? No, but what I created stood out. Photography and music kind of manifested the earliest for me. I’d always have the little film cameras taking photos of things and people because I really liked it. I thought what I saw was beautiful even if others begged to differ. As far as musical aspirations go once again, I would sing and dance for my mother. I’d dance to James Brown, Michael Jackson, Planet Patrol, and Newcleus for my dad. P.s I still do, lol I always sang in church. My oldest brother and his friends had a rap group in high school so I decided I could rap too. Lol, I mean it couldn’t have been that much different from poetry. I was about 10 at this time so I’d write poems and then rap them or try to figure out how to make them flow. I got into graphics more as an adult with what I call getting debbed. Taking my self-portraits and arting them out in photoshop and illustrator.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Has the journey been smooth? Not until this point in my life. One primary reason is I dealt with severe depression and just spiritual torment. By the grace and love of God, I am still here. My relationship with Jesus has definitely kept me. By loving him, I learned how to love myself and that was a process all by itself. But if I didn’t go through that process I wouldn’t be where I am at. I struggled with guarding my heart, I had an ungodly view of loyalty. Because I know I am someone great in the earth, I felt like I was responsible for things I wasn’t. Meaning that it took my focus off of what I knew I was brought to this planet to do. Long story short, know why you’re here and don’t allow influences outside of God’s will for you in your space. Learn to consult God in all things; it will save you tremendously. It took me til now to really get in that rhythm. But, God ain’t been slack concerning me when I give him everything including myself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am most known for my photography, primarily my concert photos and self-portraits. A few are aware of me musically because I haven’t really put myself out there internet-wise lol I just perform my music at open mics and showcases. Also, I would say I am most known for being multi-gifted and faceted artistically into entrepreneurship. I’m most proud of my self-portraits soon, it’ll be my music. What sets me apart from others is I know the Lord and he knows me. Plus the fact that he really created me, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s very humbling. The last thing that sets me apart is I focus on being it and not looking like it. Too many focus on look development than skill development.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t Believe in Luck. A thing or situation is either for me or it’s not.
Pricing:
- If you are an artist and you have a show you can book me for 2 hours for $200 and every thirty minutes after that is $45.
- I’m doing outdoor shoots for $100 until October
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.deborahdepicted.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deborahdepicted/
- Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/plussizedeb/
Image Credits:
The two performance photos were shot by Grace Renay Ig: grace.renay. All other images belong to and taken by me @deborahDepicted
