Elizabeth Symington

Current

• Custom Framer at Michaels Arts and Crafts
• Volunteer Admin to Director of Women's Ministry and Small Groups Coordinator at Cordova Neighborhood Church
• Sculptor's Assistant at Self Employed

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Past

• Property Manager at Madison Park Financial Corporation
• Art Internship at Peter Schifrin, Director of Fine Art Sculpture at the Academy of Art University
• Ceramic Studio Technician Intern at ASUC at the University of California, Berkeley

• Ceramic Teacher’s Assistant at Camp Gan Israel

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1 more...

Education

• Academy of Art University

Recommended

2 people have recommended Elizabeth

Connections

25 connections

Industry

Fine Art

Elizabeth Symington’s Summary

“Engineers build structures.
Poets capture feelings.
Picture framers do both.”
-M. David Logan

As a visual artist, I too attack art with science and emotion. It’s the questions, “How does this work?” and “What if?” that forces me to create.

When I make art I pretend to be a scientist: I focus on figuring out how techniques work and how materials relate to one another. Once that is sufficiently explored I move onto mastery of this new knowledge through repetition, like creating 200 miniature magnetic, blue sheep. From there I ask myself “What if I put thumb tacks on their feet instead of magnets?” “What if I knit clothesline with a dowel?” “What if I try to use mostly thrift store materials and make them look like fine art?”

Just like a framer I am driven by order. The techniques and materials I create with are varied, but my art carries strong characteristics, much like children’s books: simplification of concept, tactile experience, questioning, vivid colors, whimsical nature and playfulness.

I approach creating art the same way as a picture framer by utilizing high craftsmanship, exceeding predetermined outcomes in creative ways, with a focus on details and deadlines.

It’s the exploration and surprises that keep me in awe of the art making process and making me thirst for it every day.

Elizabeth Symington’s Specialties:

detail-oriented picture framer,
organizer of objects and data,
thoughtful and resourceful writer,
thrift store scrounging Queen,
AND
a dreamer and constructor of art.

Elizabeth Symington’s Experience

• Custom Framer

  Michaels Arts and Crafts

  (Public Company; Retail industry)

  October 2009 — Present (2 months)

  I help customers select mats, mouldings and the best mounting appropriate for the art. Depending on the order, I may assemble the frame, cut the mat and the glazing, use various mounting techniques including preservation mounting and then fit the art into the frame.

• Volunteer Admin to Director of Women's Ministry and Small Groups Coordinator

  Cordova Neighborhood Church

  (Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  January 2009 — Present (11 months)

  Produced monthly newsletter by gathering/writing articles, designing layout, photographing images and printing newsletter. Lead photographer for events and merchandise. Created, marketed and managed online store.

• Sculptor's Assistant

  Self Employed

  (Arts and Crafts industry)

  April 2006 — Present (3 years 8 months)

  Some tasks that I have completed for other artists:
  •Assisted art show installations
  •Filled orders, then packed and sent them off
  •Finished numerous repetitive projects like sorting bottle caps and casting plaster belt buckles
  •Followed specific instructions in recreating the artist’s style when creating multiples
  •Studio clean up and organization
  •Listened, helped prioritize and brain stormed with artists over problem areas in the art
  •Photo corrected images of sculptures using Photoshop
  
  2007-present • Philip Krohn, Oakland, CA
  2007-2008 • Caroline Seckinger, Berkeley, CA
  2008 • Jillian Rivas-Davila Designs, Portland, OR
  2008 • Dana Lynn Louis, Portland, OR
  2007 • Krishna Khalsa, San Francisco, CA
  2006-‘07 • Michael Gard, San Francisco, CA

• Property Manager

  Madison Park Financial Corporation

  (Real Estate industry)

  October 2008 — December 2008 (3 months)

  overseeing maintenance requests, leasing and event planning

• Art Internship

  Peter Schifrin, Director of Fine Art Sculpture at the Academy of Art University

  (Arts and Crafts industry)

  January 2008 — May 2008 (5 months)

  - quality checked books and packaged them up
  - reorganized the mailing list
  - did many tasks using photoshop

• Ceramic Studio Technician Intern

  ASUC at the University of California, Berkeley

  (Arts and Crafts industry)

  June 2007 — December 2007 (7 months)

  - loaded and unloaded kilns
  - mixed 5 gallon batches of glaze
  - kept studio clean and organized
  - learned to throw clay on a potter's wheel
  - learned several firing techniques: raku, gas, electric and pit fire

• Ceramic Teacher’s Assistant

  Camp Gan Israel

  (Educational Institution; 1-10 employees; Fine Art industry)

  June 2007 — August 2007 (3 months)

  - guided children to be playful when creating with clay
  - explained sculpting and painting techniques
  - assisted with planning projects and purchasing supplies

Elizabeth Symington’s Education

• Academy of Art University

  BFA , Sculpture , 2004 — 2008

  Activities and Societies:

  Cum Laude, GPA 3.79
  Vice President of the Academy of Art's Fencing Team,
  Resident Adviser in Academy of Art's dormitories
  Awarded Best Installation Artist, Spring Show, 2008

Additional Information

Elizabeth Symington’s Interests:

yoga, fencing, cooking gluten and dairy free, reading, traveling by train, art

Elizabeth Symington’s Honors:

2008 • Artist’s Grant, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
2008 • Cum Laude, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
2008 • Best Installation, Spring Show, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
2005-‘06 • President’s Honor List, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA

Elizabeth Symington’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• new ventures
• job inquiries
• expertise requests
• reference requests
• getting back in touch