Powell made the following statement on his NAD bio form: "Left Ohio at about one year old to St. Elius, Ill.; taken to Oregon 1879. Took hunting parties and surveyed in the Cost Range Mountains; 1886 formed Sketch Club in Portland. 1887 studied in San Francisco Art School. 1893 in Chicago; winter 1893-94 Houston Texas; 1894 St. Louis School of Art; 1898 moved to New York City. Went to France in 1904, 1906, 1908; made several sketching trips to Glacier National Park, Montana; Washington State; Idaho; California; Connecticut. Now located in Dutchess County, New York."
Powell's prizes include: Vezin Thumb Box Prize, 19l3; Salmagundi Club Sketch Prize, 1928; Isidor Prize, Allied Artists of America, 1930; Hanson Prize, New Rochelle, 1930; National Arts Club Small Picture Prize, 1930; Lay Members Prize, Salmagundi Club, 193l; Annual Oil Purchase Prize, Salmagundi Club, 193l.
In 1935 an exhibition of his work, principally winter landscapes done in Dutchess County, was held at Lowenbein Gallery, New York. Powell lived on Long Island before moving to Dover Plains, NY in 1929. He was a member of Allied Artists, Salmagundi Club, New York Water Color Club, the Kent Art Association and was a president of the Dutchess County Art Association.
