Debra Power, a local artist(and kid at heart) adds beauty to our community

Written by Kim Little, Principal of Pinewood Elementary

Last spring, the Pinewood Elementary Parent Teacher Club set out a find an artist willing to brighten the Pollock Pines campus with a custom painted agility trail.  One parent quickly connected the school with Debra Power. Power, a retired science teacher from the El Dorado High School District now spends much of her energy on her passion of art and painting. To the schools delight, Debra agreed to make the group’s vision a reality, plus much more.  After a first walkthrough and meeting, Debra proposed more ideas to beautify the small school campus. Along with an expansive activity course, Mrs. Power shared her ideas of creating a mural by an existing Buddy Bench and repainting a California map on the blacktop. This brought a sense of excitement knowing the students would have something new to enjoy when they returned to campus after the closure.

While our school community was closed down, Mrs. Power devoted hundreds of hours painting these projects. In fact, in the heat of the summer it became commonplace to find Debra working on these projects as the sun came up. Just as often she would return in the early evening to work until the sun sank below the horizon. In a short amount time, neighborhood kids befriended the artist and she invited them to paint alongside her.  Several community members heard about her work and invariably already knew her as a longtime county resident or knew about some of her work on Placerville’s Main Street. It became clear that Debra Power’s reputation preceded her as she leaves a positive and lasting impression with those she meets.  Indeed, with her warm smile and friendly demeanor, she quickly became part of the Pinewood School family.

Recently, Mrs. Powers completed these masterpieces at Pinewood Elementary School. Her attention to detail and devotion to children is evident in her work.  Perhaps the biggest stamp of approval comes from the students themselves who have already spent a great deal of time using the agility trail and admiring her murals. Truly, her Powerful Creations will be appreciated by many for years to come.