Tanya Lee Raycroft
Artist Bio
Originally from Wooster, Ohio, and moved to Rochester, NY at 16 years old as an emancipated minor. At a young age, writing, painting, photography, music, fashion design, writing, etc., were just a part of who I am. Being a creative person just allowed me so much freedom to participate in the arts at all levels while expressing myself through various mediums. My education was really important to me, and I fought for it. I didn't want to be a product of my environment but rather to strive to achieve all I can in this life. I earned my High School Equivalency Diploma, an associate degree in Business Management/Information Technology, an associate degree in Humanities & Social Science Liberal Arts, a Bachelor of Science degree in English Literature/Pre-Law, and studied two academic years for my Master of Science degree in International Business. I am a single - parent of three adult children with two grandsons. After spending many years in tax accounting, I began to work professionally in the arts in 2023, becoming a full-time creative. I grew close to my walk with Jesus after losing my sister to cancer, after a near-fatal car accident, after menopause, after being an empty nester, after COVID-19, and after a huge, brutal betrayal from family and exes. I had three deeply painful years from 2019 to 2021; definitely not the worst pain in my life, but it led me to my authentic self. I can only say, "God saved me again and again". I look forward to the future with hope and joy now. I became an entrepreneur in 2023, and I currently multitask between projects. I have been an activist for two decades and will continue to appeal to people's humanity in my products and art. I do not know what will happen tomorrow, but God knows.