About Stray Ink
Owner, Tracy Stevens
I am an awkward artist with BIG Dreams! That's me in a nutshell.
I realize that the work is not just about me, it’s about all of us, and we must all do a better job of uplifting one another. With my art I am trying to empower people to wholeness, as said in Isaiah 61:1-3. We’ve all been through trials and tribulations in our lives, and I choose to share mine through my artwork and graphics. I keep my eyes to the sky and my aspirations turned on high! I went through darkness, moved towards the light and can now share with people my story of survival.
November 2020 was one of the darkest times of my life. My ex-boyfriend, who ended our relationship, came to my home asking me to take him back. After I declined, he became physical with me and broke my knee. That resulted in me having a total ACL reconstruction surgery and 2 years of intense physical therapy. More than my knee was broken that day, my heart, my mind, my love of dancing, and my dreams were also shattered.
By the Grace of God, after the injury, I was contacted by the House of Ruth (shelter for battered woman) and Aetna Insurance and I can’t explain how grateful I am for their outreach. They helped me mentally a lot. After learning that I was a fine artist, they taught me to paint my emotions, the fears, the pains, the joys and the hopes and aspirations. They told me to use my art to heal. And I did.
My hopes now are that my Artwork, Artware, and Artwear, in any and all forms, will help people understand that there can be victory after the darkness. I want people to see that yesterday is the past, today is temporary, and tomorrow is a new beginning.
Remember, everything you see or hear isn’t always everyone else’s point of view, and even though things may seem to be at its worst, it’s probably preparing you for the best.
Story of Stray Ink
Established May 2013
Stray Away From the Ordinary. Get Inked!
According to Stray Ink owner, Tracy Stevens, there were a series of events that pushed her to become an entrepreneur. In January 2010, Ms. Stevens lost her dad John Stevens to a brain tumor. Then in November 2011, she lost her mom Johnnie M. Stevens to a rare form of lung cancer. One year later in October 2012, Tracy herself was in a horrific car accident that left her with glass impacted in her skin and eyes. She was forced to take 5 months off from work to recuperate.
A month after returning to her job as a quality expert at T. Rowe Price, Stevens realized that life was too short to live someone else’s dream, so she turned in her 2-week resignation and started Stray Ink, a graphic and website building company. Since then, Stray Ink has blossomed into a vibrant business that spotlights her love of Fine Art and Graphic Art in both conventional and non-conventional forms.
Mission Statement
I believe that everyone should own a piece of original art, so I’ve made, my paintings and drawings very affordable for the art lover. I also create and place uplifting and empowering artwork and graphics on everyday items and clothing, these are what I call ArtWear and ArtWare. I like to empower people to wholeness as said in Isaiah 61:1-3.
I create art with the hopes of inspiring someone.
