Meet Courtney Elaine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Elaine.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Courtney. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve always had a very vivid imagination. As a kid, I did a lot of daydreaming. The things I gravitated towards were those that were creative. After being assaulted as a teenager and the injury leaving me partially paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair, I began to suffer from depression and PTSD. My creativity was nurtured in grade school and flourished in college with classes such as acting, photography, radio television and design. I found that what kept me from sinking and ultimately kept me alive besides my faith was the ability and desire to create, so I surrounded myself with other artists.

I met two of my closest friends Vincent Johnson and Contrina Jenkins while I was fighting depression. Vincent and I immediately noticed how imaginative we both were and how well we worked together after I supported him with creating the imagery for his first book of poetry and a spoken word album. He returned the favor and helped me curate my first solo photography exhibition. During this process, my first business The Soul’s Eye Photography was birthed. Vincent and I later joined forces with Contrina to bring into existence one of her dreams which was to write and produce a stage play. With the first stage play Contrina’s independent production company, JalaWorld Productions was formed.

My creative eye expanded and my artistic resume grew with each JalaWorld production. Within the last nine years, JWP has produced at least one project per year and I’ve taken on the role of Creative Director for three stage plays, Director for the first full feature film and Assistant Director for the second. While supporting Vincent and Contrina with their projects and business I started both Courtney Elaine Designs and Trinity’s Theorem Tees.

Has it been a smooth road?
The road has not been smooth I’ve faced many challenges navigating throughout life as a person with a disability. I’ve had to work very hard to stand out for the right reasons and stand my ground to keep from being discriminated against because of my physical differences. Also having my personal battles with depression and PTSD has been an ongoing obstacle to conquer. I’m blessed to have a family that is very supportive and spiritually grounded. I also take my mental health very seriously, therefore, I see a counselor on a monthly bases.

Please tell us about your business.
Courtney Elaine Designs is a design company rooted in the culture of collaboration. I offer graphic design services such as logo design and branding, content creation, photography and print. I form a partnership with each client to communicate their ideas visually. My desire is to help grassroots companies create a visual identity that provokes professionalism at first sight. Trinity’s Theorem Tees is a labor of love. It’s a t-shirt design company offering custom-designed t-shirts. I help clients design t-shirts and other apparel. I also offer my own custom line of garments via the TTT online shop.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Houston is a city filled with many different cultures to absorb and experience. The artist community is huge and is a constant source of inspiration. Being born and raised in the city I can say I truly love it, however, I have a love-hate relationship with the weather.

What are your plans for the future? What are you looking forward to or planning for – any big changes?
I’ve challenged myself to step out of my comfort zone so that I can truly say that I’ve lived my life to the fullest potential. I believe that it is my purpose to share my personal testimony and do so by using my creative talents. I am currently working on my first book which tells my story. I will be touching on the few months prior to being injured, the incident that lead to my injury and the recovery process. My intent is to use my book to motivate others through speaking engagements. I have also started a YouTube channel, Pushing Pretty, where I will give others a glimpse into who I am as a person and a better understanding of what it’s like to navigate through this world with a physical disability. It’s my goal to bridge the gap between the abled and “disabled”. I’m also putting together a quarterly networking mixer to give artist and business owners an opportunity to connect. The thing I’m looking forward to the most is planning a wedding. I’m currently engaged to be married to my fiance’ Devon Johnson Sr. We will begin to put our plans into motion for our wedding soon. And well, we all know the tune: “First comes love…then comes marriage…then comes the baby in the baby carriage.”

• Website: www.courtneyelainedesigns.myportfolio.com
• Email: info@courtneyelainedesigns.com

    

Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.