Daily Inspiration: Meet Philip Gabriel Steverson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Philip Gabriel Steverson. 

Hi Philip, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the west side moving between different houses and apartments. I often would go off to Massachusetts as well for summers and school years to live with my dad from time to time. Back in Philly though, it was my mother, two sisters, my younger brother, and myself living together. At that moment, my siblings and I did not realize that we did not have much because our mother made sure we were blinded from that reality. Philadelphia is one of those cities that will suck you in if you let it and I decided early that I did not want that to happen. I would always find myself conforming with my peers, sometimes even leading the chaos, but that is what you expect from a child. Around age 14, I had mastered the art of stealing from Dollar General and I stole my first notebook that I used for poetry and journaling. I was heavily influenced by Langston Hughes because there was a mural at James Rhodes Elementary in the auditorium of his “Hold Fast To Dreams’ ‘ poem. I would see that poem every day and sometimes I would leave class to go look at it because whoever painted it made the illustration so good. Over time, I realized that poetry and writing was my god-given talent and that became my first trade. The love grew more when I began to dive deeper into music artists, like Common and The Roots. There were times early that I realized that I could draw well and paint a little, but that came later when I moved to Colorado Springs. In Colorado, I really began to take advantage of my influences for fashion from my time living in Philadelphia. Fast forward to me in 2021, I am about to receive Bachelor’s degrees in both Fashion and Poetry at Arizona State University and for the past two years, I have been self-teaching myself how to paint. So far, I’d say that things are going well.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life, in general, has been difficult, but it has taught me a lot of lessons that have helped me construct my character. Living off government assistance, phases of homelessness, and overall day-to-day life has shaped me into the man you see today. With my background, I am given an advantage as an artist because I can work with as little as possible and under pressure. It also gives me the privilege of telling a powerful story to those that are facing the same things who also need to see that there is a green side to the grass.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I would like to consider myself a well-rounded artist. I work in a few different mediums that all help me express myself and tell my story. I started off with poetry, adopted fashion, and taught myself how to be an artist. One of my favorite artists, Reginald Sylvester II, considers himself a “maker” and I feel that makes complete sense because my work does not stop on a sheet of paper, or a canvas. I believe that mastering different mediums, or at least being proficient, sets me apart from my peers because I can see one idea from multiple perspectives. From the literal side of an idea and how it should be articulated to the presentation and execution. Using all my mediums permits me to work on things from inside and out. For a while, I have been known to be well dressed and working on projects that will make a statement. I pride myself on using my time on this Earth wisely and not doing anything that does not speak to my heart. Yes, there will be things in life that I absolutely need to do, but there is a control to life that I want to be in the driver seat for. My father told me that he’s proud that given what I’ve been through, I still found my way to being successful and I would have to agree with him.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I still consider myself “starting out” because there is always something to learn. Be willing to learn and take chances. Personally, I often found events and opportunities to be “cheesy”, but attending them opened more doors. I would tell young artists that things happen for a reason, so take everything regarding your work seriously. The biggest advice I would give is to treat yourself as a professional, so that other people treat you as such. I created a website and started to present my work on clean, white backgrounds and people around me began to look at me differently. You are a professional amateur.

Contact Info:

• Email: philipsteverson@yahoo.com
• Website: https://philipgabriels.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philsweak/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/philsweak

Image Credits
Adam Riding