Steemit Art Centre Interview with the Brilliant, Muti-talented Artist @lildebbiecakes

Here is the interview with @lildebbiecakes! I know many of you have looked forward to reading it.

Please enjoy!

Dee:

You say on your profile that you joined Steemit in December 2017. What drew you to
Steemit in the first place?

@lildebbiecakes:

I would have to say my dear husband Rick, alias @sighmanjestah, had eventually talked me
into it. Rick had joined Steemit seven months prior to me. He had heard about it through the
internet.

Deb, Rick and Toby

Rick and I retired two years ago after owning and running a small “ma and pa”
pharmacy business for about thirty-five years. We both were searching for something we could do at home to generate a little income.

Rick had seen, through the internet, that he might be able to make some money right here on Steemit. Rick started first, he’s a very good writer, and has done very well. Currently, he is working for someone and is unable to invest much time on Steemit. Rick tried to talk me into joining Steemit myself, wanting me to join the many art contests available, but I had no interest in drawing anything on the internet. I didn’t like drawing with a mouse, I couldn’t achieve the control of the tools necessary to draw what I wanted.

I usually draw very intricate stuff and it drove me crazy that I couldn’t even draw a straight line. I’m a perfectionist when it comes to my art, so I gave up on that idea fairly quickly.

My brother in law bought a new cell phone, and an iPad was offered at a much lower price if he bought both. So he did buy both with me in mind. (I have an awesome brother in law bless his soul.)
The application I currently prefer is Procreate and it is designed primarily for artists and comes with incredible tools, which I haven’t all learned yet. I love drawing on it, I’m completely hooked. I love that I can bring it with me wherever I go.

My brother in law also purchased an Apple pencil that works well with Procreate that is not attached to the system, giving me complete freedom to move and I am able to zoom in, to add fine details with the tip of my pen effortlessly and I can steady my hand to draw that perfect line, and it will also help you with that if need be.

Dee:

I know you as a brilliant digital artist who creates superb work with skill, expertise, fun and much, much more. What led you to digital art?

@lildebbiecakes:

I would have to say my husband and brother in law. I do not consider myself to be a brilliant
digital artist at all, but thank you, Dee, for your kind compliments.

I’m just learning how to run a computer, let alone creating digital artwork. I started drawing on an iPad only five months ago.

Goes to show you, you can teach an old dog new tricks! My husband is continuously trying to increase my knowledge on all of the other digital drawing apps and tools, but it has been slow going and it takes away from my drawing time.

I am a self taught-artist. I had two terrific art teachers in High School that showed me just how to shade properly, and also taught me a lot about perspective drawing. “OP art,” optical illusion art, was introduced to me which greatly advanced the realism in my work. My favorite media is probably acrylic paint, but I love working with colored pencils as well.

'Hands' by Debbie Grote

I think I started drawing before walking. Creating art is like breathing to me. My other five siblings including my mother and father, are all terrific artist, none of which do it for a living. They only draw for entertainment. I believe that we’ve been blessed through our genes from our parents.

I remember doing fairly decent portraits of famous people at eight years of age. I started selling portraits to friends in high school. And I still continue selling artwork to this day, not only portraits but I paint all kinds of things. I sold many pieces through our pharmacy. We made a little area in the corner of our shop and called it “Deb’s creative corner.” I have lots of artwork to sell, and I plan on selling it someday over the internet. I like crafting too so I have a lot of that for sale also.

Deb's Photo Used for her Self-portrait

Self-portrait

Dee:

You are a long-term member of Artstorm. In fact, I think you are our longest participant
entering since the very beginning of the contest. You also kindly support the contest by visiting the work of other entrants with your interesting and encouraging comments. Why do you think it is important to do this?

@lildebbiecakes:

Artstorm was the first contest I entered into, and some of the regular Artstorm artists that I met at that time were so incredibly helpful, friendly, loving and very supportive with open arms.

Their replies were very uplifting. It touched my heart, and so I made it a goal to pass it on. I
like to call it 'SPREADING THE LOVE!'.

Through careful observation, I soon realized that many newbie Steemians come to Artstorm to display there work, just as I did, and I make an effort to reply on their artwork and welcome them to the Steemit community and Artstorm. I deeply believe that through compassion, encouragement, support and love you can make wherever you're at a better place to exist.

Dee:

You enter as many art contests as time allows regularly. What part of entering a contest gives you the most pleasure?

@lildebbiecakes:

I try purposely whenever I can, to enter artwork that gives one a feeling of joy, happiness, and love, and the response I get from that gives me the most pleasure. If I can brighten someone’s day, that means everything to me. Sometimes I’ll draw funny stuff, other times more serious stuff. From time to time I quote scripture from the Bible and add it to my drawings.

Dee:

Over the past year, Steemit has changed remarkably. There have been a couple of
hardforks and it has become a viable social media. How do you see Steemit developing in the future?

@lildebbiecakes:

I would like to see its continued growth through people helping people. Older members helping younger ones to grow without greed, hatred, or envy. Continued good sportsmanship is key. I believe that a business can only grow by loving and caring about their customers. I also believe you have to go “ that extra mile” for your customers in order for your business to be strong.

That’s why I believe our pharmacy business ran for thirty-five years. Steemit is a business, and all of us joining are starting our own tiny businesses, but you always start at the bottom. Some make it big because they sincerely care about their employees and customers, and others that don’t care, they eventually fail in time. I don’t know really what the future will hold for Steemit. I only hope that all will learn and truly understand that it’s much better to give than receive referring to Acts 20:35:

'I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And
remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to
receive.’ '

Dee:

Could you please choose one/some examples of your art to show us?

@lildebbiecakes:

Sure I’d love to.

'Cardinals'

Christmas Greeting #13 - Gen 1:26 December 13, 2017 — Steemit
steemit.com
Animated Procreate drawing by my wife inspired by Gen 1:26 Genesis 1:26 (NKJV) 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man… by sighmanjestah

Link to greeting card video before Deb had her own account

https://steemit.com/dtube/@sighmanjestah/0cvlav8y

Model for 'Digital Fish'

Digital Fish

Dee:

Is there anything else you would like in the interview?

@lildebbiecakes:

I believe you have greatly covered everything. You are another reason I enjoy Artstorm so much Dee, you're a wonderful person and gracious host. Thank you so very much friend for asking me to be interviewed.

I pray that people will find my interview even half as interesting as the others you have interviewed in the past.

Blessings to you friend❣

I'm sure you will agree when I say this interview with @lildebbiecakes is of great interest to everyone in our community!

Thank you so much, Deb!