I grew up in the middle of a cotton field in West Texas, about thirty miles southeast of San Angelo. My childhood was filled with rural adventures, small-town school life, and an early curiosity about faith that began in an unexpected way: in kindergarten, I accidentally ended up at catechism at St. Ambrose Catholic Church one Wednesday after school—and kept going for the rest of the year. Later, my family attended a tiny Methodist church in Eola, where Sundays with twelve to fifteen people—four of them my family—shaped my early understanding of community and faith.

Art has been a constant thread throughout my life. As a young boy I was captivated by the work of Charles Beckendorf and spent hours copying the pen-and-ink drawings my grandmother kept on her walls. Meeting him in person around age ten was unforgettable—we shared turkey jerky while I watched him paint one of his originals. Later, during a difficult season when my mother was battling leukemia, I found solace in painting scenes of the Texas Hill Country while sitting at her bedside.

Life eventually took me in several directions. I spent years working in television and finance while also raising three wonderful children with my wife, Cindy. Over time I felt called into pastoral ministry, earning a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Duke University. I have since served five congregations across the Rio Texas Conference and currently serve as pastor of Bethany United Methodist Church in Austin.  Cindy and I now also enjoy one of life’s greatest blessings: being Grammy and Papaw to our two grandchildren.

My return to painting began in 2011 when a small country church I was serving asked if I would paint their sanctuary for a fundraiser. The painting sold well, and requests for prints and commissions soon followed. Since then I have continued painting churches, Texas landscapes, and commissioned pieces that capture places and memories that matter to people.

In 2026, I was honored to have my work selected for the juried SAAL+Museum Exhibition, hosted by the San Antionio Art League & Museum.

Through my artwork I hope to capture something of the quiet beauty, faith, and heritage that shape the places we love—especially the churches and landscapes of Texas. On this site I share my paintings and occasionally reflect on the intersections of faith, memory, and creativity.

If you are interested in purchasing a painting or commissioning a piece, please feel free to reach out at powellartsales@gmail.com.