Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Deante “Deecor” Howard. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Deante “Deecor”, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

For my first dollar as a creative, we’d have to go back like 2 decades to my high school years. Before I thought of becoming a professional and making a living from my creativity, this is where the seed was planted! Back in those days, I was living with my dad and 3 siblings, so as you can imagine, money was tight. Our needs were well taken care of, so we never knew that was the case. However in high school the disparity became noticeable because of fashion. Growth spurts happen, teenagers start to find their style and individuality a lot more than middle school. The families that could afford to encourage did. Me however, I got hand me downs. Now I didn’t see nothing wrong with it in the sense of “what brand is this” so much as my issue being “this isn’t my choice, my style”. Being a hand me down, my older brother got to pick his style, then I’d eventually get his stuff. So to make things my style, i would draw on some things, iron on prints and patches, distress things. I’d make it my own.
I had this Old Navy jacket and I drew bugs bunny on the back and this lead to my first earned dollar as a creative. A classmate saw it and asked what old navy sold that and do they do other characters? I told her I made the drawing and I can do other characters. She asked if I could do tweet bird and how much? I thought hard and said $30! Thinking – if she say yes, I can get A La Carte lunch for a whole week! Chicken and Fries with Cheese and a Fruitopia! I hope that’s not too high!
She said yes! I told her to give me the jacket she wanted done and to pay me by Friday and I’ll have it by Monday! That was the first seed that planted the idea that I could use my skills and creativity as an artist to actually bring in income! It was amazing!

Deante “Deecor”, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an artist! I paint with acrylics mostly. I do murals and canvases for both residential and commercial clients. I work with clients from all walks of life, from stay at home mom’s to business owners, from an average Joe to a superstar celebrity. I mainly paint people, but I also love to paint animals, cars and some abstract works sprinkled here and there.

I have 2 missions with my artwork:
1) Deliver an amazing service/product everytime. High quality is a minimum standard, both in what I create and in my interpersonal operations because I know that people omly buy from who they trust!
This also allows me to give back to my clients because that type of service means that overtime my value will always increase…meaning what they have recieved from me will increase on value as well.

That brings me to number 2!

2) Use my gift to give to others in need. As a believer in Christ, I do the best I can to keep the perspective of God 1st, others 2nd, me 3rd. This makes being generous easy, because its not something I do its a part of who I am. Rather that means partnering with Shelter KC to help feed and shelter the homeless or partnering with DAC (Dads Against Crime) to help provide legal services and therapy for good mental health for men in my community or rather that is working with The Shoe Verdict to provide shoes for youth in need. The list goes on and on and so will I. Big picture, it may seem like its I significant effort in effecting change, but to the individuals effected, its hope and means a lot, I know because they tell me …and if I can help be a glimmer of light for even 1 that was surrounded and ready to give up to the darkness, its worth it. I hope this encourages who ever reads this to either start that thing or continue to do that thing , the thing to give light and hope in their community.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

An important lesson I had to unlearn is “If you build it they will come” There is this cliche statement made that if you make something or provide a service that you will get customers automatically. It also makes it seem like if you build it and they don’t come then you did it wrong or what you build isn’t needed, making a lot if folks give up and call it quits.

As an artist, we can easily get caught up in the mental trap of “no one likes what I create – either I suck…just totally trash, Or I can’t be me, I have to do what others do” – Why. Because we built it and they didn’t come.

What I had to learn is, I needed to stop thinking like an artist after I make the art. Anytime I’m not making art, I have to think like a business owner. That means having a business plan, that means sculpting a brand identity, that means identifying a specific audience, that means setting goals with a plan to achieve them, that means doing the work outside the art including sharing, sharing,sharing!

The Bible says how can they believe if they have not heard? Same thing applies here! Build it then…Tell them its built. Tell that whats built. Tell them why its built – very important. Tell them who its built for. Tell them how to get to it… Then they will come.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

This is simple and I cant say it clear or loud enough – BUY FROM THE ARTIST!
Whenever possible, however possible , reach out to the artist and/or use the artist’s direct website. If you reach out and the artist say you have to purchase via xyz, then do that.

I say this because sadly there are so many scammers and theives as well as folks who take advantage of artist, especially those with little to no business acumen.

Example , Amazon – if you see art on Amazon there is a 95% chance it is stolen with no funds or credit going to the artist. What’s crazy is Amazon does nothing at all to help. I have seen 10 of my artworks on sell by 12 different amazon shops. I reach out to amazon they do absolutely nothing but send me in circles. One person says contact department abc that department says reach department xyz, xyz says send this to them and they will contact department 123. 123 says you need to reach abc. All the while folks are getting low quality versions of your work on a platform that wont even allow you the creator to sell your work!

Same thing on eBay, but its a little easier to make something get removed.

In any case, if you buy direct from the artist, you know you are getting the real deal at the best quality and you are helping to keep the creative ecosystem in tact while truly supporting the artist.

One more thing – always tag / Credit the creative when sharing their stuff.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.deecor.design
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howard.d.artist/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deecordesigns/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deante-howard
• Twitter: https://x.com/deante_howard