By Millie Huang
One person who defines dedication is Abby Graham, a grade 12 visual artist here at Collingwood. Always found with headphones on, it is fascinating to watch her intense focus on the strokes of her pen as she brings characters to life in the studio. Unmistakably, Abby’s passion for art is embedded deeply into her nature.
Growing up, Abby mentions that although her dad’s side of the family is “all business,” her mother’s side is very artistically-inclined. Her grandma used to do wood carvings of birds, her grandfather built items for craft fairs, and Abby’s mother herself enjoys sewing. Her sister, who is an alumnus of Collingwood school, focuses on silk screen and currently attends Emily Carr. Generally, Abby describes the artists of her family as people who like making “cool stuff,” and cites her sister along with famous pop artist Andy Warhol (who Abby loves for his artwork that reflects the times) as her biggest artistic influences.
As for herself, Abby prefers traditional methods over digital art, and enjoys illustration as well as hand-drawn graphic design. When asked her favourite mediums, she lists “silk screens, illustration, drawing, pencil, sharpie, collage, and mixed paint.” Art is meaningful to Abby because she believes it can be an outlet for one’s emotions, and she states that it can “help when you are upset and with any issues you may face. I use my art to escape, especially in situations where I’m stressed or fighting with friends.” Other than art, Abby enjoys playing video games, going to EDM concerts, raves, travelling, and meeting new people.
One person who defines dedication is Abby Graham, a grade 12 visual artist here at Collingwood. Always found with headphones on, it is fascinating to watch her intense focus on the strokes of her pen as she brings characters to life in the studio. Unmistakably, Abby’s passion for art is embedded deeply into her nature.
Growing up, Abby mentions that although her dad’s side of the family is “all business,” her mother’s side is very artistically-inclined. Her grandma used to do wood carvings of birds, her grandfather built items for craft fairs, and Abby’s mother herself enjoys sewing. Her sister, who is an alumnus of Collingwood school, focuses on silk screen and currently attends Emily Carr. Generally, Abby describes the artists of her family as people who like making “cool stuff,” and cites her sister along with famous pop artist Andy Warhol (who Abby loves for his artwork that reflects the times) as her biggest artistic influences.
As for herself, Abby prefers traditional methods over digital art, and enjoys illustration as well as hand-drawn graphic design. When asked her favourite mediums, she lists “silk screens, illustration, drawing, pencil, sharpie, collage, and mixed paint.” Art is meaningful to Abby because she believes it can be an outlet for one’s emotions, and she states that it can “help when you are upset and with any issues you may face. I use my art to escape, especially in situations where I’m stressed or fighting with friends.” Other than art, Abby enjoys playing video games, going to EDM concerts, raves, travelling, and meeting new people.
A well-seasoned artist, Abby also has valuable advice for those who may be just beginning: “I believe it is great to try many styles, realistic, cartoon, I personally use animated cartoon, realistic was never really my thing. Try many as possible, even if you don’t think you’re good, just keep working with it, and it is almost impossible not to find something you like.”
Abby’s work has been exhibited at many Collingwood art shows, as well as the 2018 grad art show at Dundarave ferry building gallery. She has also made apparel, hoodies that are decorated with the words “valley rat,” as a homage to her community in Lynn Valley.
As for the future, Abby mentions that she is on the waiting list for UVIC fine arts, but mentions that “if I was to not get in, I would take a gap year, improve my English mark, then apply for EC and UVIC again.” She is looking forward to doing an internship this summer to work on graffiti murals called Studio in the City, and is also looking forward to taking summer courses, encompassing everything from sculpture and painting to animation.
Abby’s dream for the future is to become an artist (like a comic book illustrator or clothing designer) and she states an interest in becoming a business-owner. In the end, whichever path she chooses, there is no doubt that creativity will always be an essential part of her life and the unparalleled love Abby holds for art will take her to spectacular places.