Congratulations to Nakia Powell Spencer for earning her place as a Finalist in the Boynes Emerging Artist Award 7th Edition!

Who are you?

My name is Nakia Tamika Powell Spencer. I am a freelance photographer who specializes in doll photography. Additionally, I am also a self-published author. Furthermore, in recent years I have also become a paper artist creating such items as paper wigs for dolls, greeting cards, mini wedding bouquets, and teacup bouquets. I studied photography under my Museum Studies major at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, and briefly continued studying photography and fashion design at Moore College of Art and Design. There I continued to build upon my artistic talents. A variety of doll magazines have featured my work, such as Stand Magazine, FDQ (fashion doll quarterly), and Doll Magazine.

Whenever I am asked about what got me started in photography, I usually say doll collecting. When I was young, I collected Barbie dolls. As I continued collecting them as I grew older, I started posing and photographing them in real-life scenarios. My family and friends' thought that the dolls looked real at times and encouraged me to continue to explore this as an art form. However, since I started creating paper wigs for my dolls, my love for photography has grown. Photographing pretty art piece rekindled my passion for taking photos.

What inspired you to utilize photography as a medium?

After studying photography in high school, I developed a passion for taking photos. Developing my negatives and making my prints in the darkroom are some of my favorite memories. My love of photography continued after I started photographing my dolls. I loved posing the dolls outside on the porch or near the gardens in the afternoon. My favorite time to shoot is the golden hour. I started learning and studying more about lighting, and that's when a light bulb went off. I started having even more fun shooting photos.

How would you describe your work?

Overall, my artwork is whimsical, fun, and charming. In my photography, I strive to highlight and expose the beauty of the object. Sometimes, I try to tell a short story through my photos. When the viewer sees my photograph, I would like for them to feel a little joy. Because of my subjects, I don't take myself or my objects too seriously. What I mean by that, I love photography and do take the process and production seriously. However, I want the viewer to walk away feeling cheered, wonderment, and maybe a little humor or amusement after seeing my work. I would like to feel as though I am bringing a little joy to the world. Since life is serious enough as is.

Can you discuss the inspiration and thought process behind "out of the fire"?

"Out of the Fire" was inspired by a theme for a magazine issue to which I contributed. The theme of the issue was spring is in the air. However, the editor wanted us to think out of the box. She wanted to challenge us to look beyond flowers, birds, and bees. She gave us words like growth, emergence, and awaken. So, I took inspiration from the editor's words of hope and renewal. The element of fire can be used as a cleanser. Also, I have always been inspired by the legend of the phoenix. Thus, my series Out of The Fire was born. As we were still going through the pandemic, I wanted to capture the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Although we were going through such a tough time in our society, there was still hope in the end of the tunnel. Sort of like a phoenix rising from the ashes. So, I created a paper wig to stand for fire. I chose an orange/red backdrop as my background. Then I shot my subject as if she was on fire. She was on fire but coming out of it almost unscathed. She was coming Out of the fire like a phoenix from the ashes.

Can you walk us through the technical steps of creating "out of the fire"?

"Out of the Fire" was a simple set-up. I used my light set with an orange/red backdrop. I attached wire to the background stand to help the doll stand. As far as technical stuff, I don't use measurements. I like to shoot free style. Much like a cook who seasons their food by feeling versus measuring, I tend to shoot my photos using feelings to. It makes it hard to go back and recapture a particular look and teaching it to someone. However, numbers and measurements have never really stuck with me.

What do you hope to communicate to an audience with your work?

I might have touched on this a bit earlier however; I would like people to find a little joy in my work. The mini-stories that I tell with my photos are meant to be uplifting. I enjoy creating the wigs and then shooting the dolls. Yet, having others enjoy my work is the greatest joy I can get from sharing my work. Just like there are different forms and varieties of entertainment. There are also different forms and varieties of photography. I choose to focus on the lighter side of life or rather still life as it were.

Have you experimented with other mediums?

I have experimented with different mediums. My art career started when I went to college to be a fashion designer. I took drawing, painting, and graphic design classes while there. However, I loved photography the most.

Can you talk about your biggest learning experience during the process of creating your work?

Gosh, there are so many lessons. Some days, I just hate every photo taken when I am trying to complete a shoot. Sometimes there is a lack of inspiration. I can’t seem to get what I have in my brain into my camera. During those moments it’s hard to keep going but I am learning more to push through. When those days happen, I stop shooting and watch a video of one of my favorite photographers. After getting a little inspiration from the videos, some of my favorite music starts playing, and I start shooting.

Sometimes it takes a while to get into the swing of it however, the point is to keep pushing through. One of my favorite techniques that I love in photography is a double exposure shot. I love this technique so much but, my shots always seem haphazard. So, I keep trying to shoot those shots. It’s a technique that I still haven’t mastered. However, I keep practicing it anyway. As this might be cliché but practice makes perfect.

Can you discuss your biggest success since starting your artistic journey?

I have had many moments of celebration with my art. Being a finalist is very much a highlight. Nonetheless, hearing a person tell me that they enjoyed a piece of art I created brings me joy. A person's compliment sometimes feels like a little success to me. For you to have success, failure is a part of the process. You take the highs with the lows. I think, keeping your highs and lows in mind, with persistence and arduous work all together creates a great recipe for success.

What projects are you working on currently?

Currently, I am working on a fantasy piece. My subject is a butterfly fairy. She will be ushering out the winter name seeds for this spring. I'm still in the middle of fleshing out the idea and still in the middle of creating her outfit which will be made of paper I'm hoping to shoot her in 1/2 snowed but also half flowered background. One of my goals for my art this year is to create more portrait-like photographs. I also would like to incorporate digital art more into my work.

What is your dream project or piece you hope to accomplish?

One of my dream projects is to have a solo exhibition. I would love to show 24 to 48 cohesive and concise portrait pieces. The fantasy photos will be 18 x 24, matted and framed in large gorgeous frames. I'm definitely looking forward to planning every detail of this exhibition out. I also dream of owning a space where I can house exhibitions throughout the year. The space would be setup for photographers to shoot in a variety of studios. Also, it would be a space where different artists could work on their art as well.

As a finalist, do you have any advice for artists who want to submit to awards, competitions, residencies, etc.?

My advice for the artist is to keep working hard. Keep challenging yourself. Also, keep sending in your work. It can be disheartening when you don't win but, you must keep going. Success comes with failures. You must keep trying.

Lastly, I like to ask everyone what advice they would give to their fellow artists/photographers, what is your advice?

Have fun with your art. Experiment with everything you can. You will have ups and downs with your art, so roll with it. Also, art is open to everyone’s interpretation. So not everyone will like your art and it's okay. Lastly, make sure you are doing stuff that you enjoy. You don’t want it to feel like a chore when you are working. You want to love what you do.

To view more of Nakia Powell Spencer’s work

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