Hello There

 Hello, my name is Tracey Abraham, I am 19 years old and a sophomore in college. I am from Slana, Alaska but I recently moved to Fairbanks for school and other opportunities. For those who do not know where Slana is, it is located between Tok and Glennallen. I graduated from Slana School in May 2023; my graduating class was two. Currently I am in college pursuing a Bachelor of Art degree, I am majoring in Art, my plans for after graduating college are to earn my teacher certifications to make a career as an Art Teacher. Growing up in a rural small community has had an impact on my life as well as my mindset when it comes to taking care of and having respect for the land. 

The best way I could describe my relationship with art is it's my version of therapy, a way for me to release my wordless thoughts onto paper or canvas. I come from a very artistic family, whether it be musical, painting, print making, beading, sewing, ceramics, all of it. I paint, sew, and draw. Growing up I was a very anxious kid, and I used painting and drawing as a creative outlet for stress. As I have gotten older, I have found that my paintings come out better when I have a heavy heart or a lot going on inside of my head, compared to when I am bored and choose to sit down and paint. It's one of those I have to be in a certain headspace for my artwork to come out the way I am most proud of. Painting for me is a release of all the emotions weighing my mind and spirit down. The only art that I own is a few gold pan paintings from a friend of the family who specializes in painting old gold pans, and a couple paintings of biblical figures that my late grandmother painted before I was born. 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/art-therapy?msockid=009bbfc984556ac909ccacca85e66b93