2011 Resolutions

1. Do less!!!
2. Eat weird produce


2010 resolutions
2009 resolutions

LED lantern commission

This project came up when my friend, Andrew McAleavey, said he had a hard time waking up in the morning due to the lack of sunlight.

Andrew's original idea was to commission me to make hanging lights set up to a sunrise alarm clock, so it would get gradually brighter helping him to wake up.

After a bunch of prototypes the installation evolved into lanterns made out of ribbon and plastic containers that are lit with LEDs that are hooked up to a dimmer touch pad.


















Elizabeth Symington
LED Lanterns, 2010
tallest light is about 1.5 feet
made from plastic containers (duck soap pump, laundry detergent caps...), bouncy balls, stiffened ribbon


Check out ElizabethSymington.com for more of my colorful art.


Posts on the steps to creating these lanterns:
Part 1: Inspiration for my Current Commission
Part 2: Inspiration for my Current Commission
Part 3: Inspiration for my Current Commission
Human Slinky
Mandala Mobile - contest (the idea before the lanterns)
Mandala mobile model
testing out various materials- gummy bears?
Inspiration
bouncy ball lantern- prototype
video on the progress of the light commission
Prototypes- slinky lanterns and mini lanterns
LEDS inside of balloons
Switching from paper to ribbon lanterns (video!)
installing the lanterns

Highlights from Art School

1. Fencing on the school team
Practicing 4 nights a week 2-3 hours at a shot, built up a camaraderie and a very buff right side of my body. Just like on past teams I've played on, I felt like I belonged somewhere.

2. Meeting Ian, my college boy friend.
I learned so much about him and from him. Ian taught me to relax, do less, love myself more and to take my health seriously. If it wasn't for his support I wouldn't of finished college. Thank you!

3. Anatomy field trip to draw from cadavers.
I love seeing how the body works, hands-on! I learned so much more sketching from a real person, then from studying skeletons and sketches.

4. Having my food allergies identified
Another blessing from Ian was having his father tell which foods I'm allergic to. I'm thankful to have allergies since having them has brought on a deeper awareness to what I eat and do.

5. GRADUATING!!!
I was raised to say nothing at all if I don't have anything nice things to say, but here I go anyways. I learned a lot from the Academy of Art, but I still don't recommend it. Going there is a good way to start off life in student loan debt. Given the quality of the school, it is way over priced and not worth attending. I'm glad I have a BFA, but I could of gone some place cheaper and received better training.



Latest art creation- LED lanterns

Reflecting on my fondest memories of art school shows that making art wasn't the highlight. I enjoy creating, but I'd much prefer being active. This is the super abbreviated version of my thoughts, but basically my art is evolving into activities I want more of: social interaction, voicing my opinion, feeling free and uninhibited, having less control over the outcome of situations and having a more physically demanding way of creating art. More about that later.

From college I learned that I LOVE learning new skills and building friendships while practicing a sport. I get high on life and things look bright and shiny. All I want to do is stretch, run, kick, punch, and do some shrimp-ups. I so much prefer sculpting me to making all of my past art and learning how my body works, becoming more disciplined and aware of how to better treat myself.

It would be a dream job to be paid to exercise with other people. (I've never had that thought about making my art.) With that said, my art needs to evolve into activities I can't get enough of.



Next art project???

November 2010 HITS

Welcome to the November HITS (Happenings in the Studio), where I recap my life as a visual artist. This month I continued studying to be a certified picture framers (CPF), finished the LED lantern commission and started decorating my Christmas tree with bouncy balls and crazy straws.


Framing News
Work continues to be a rewarding challenge where I learn new skills daily. I made up a study schedule for taking the Certified Picture Framer's Exam by referencing the PPFA's recommended reading list of 23 books. This link is a list of those books and which libraries in the San Francisco bay area carry them. For the books that are not available at a library, I requested that they consider purchasing a copy.


My Christmas Tree- In Progress



I wanted to skip the boring step of fluffing the tree, but there was no way around it (and no one to do it for me). I'm glad I fluffed it, it made a huge difference.




The initial idea and placement of ornaments. I'm just using materials in the studio, like crazy straws and bouncy balls.








I tested which size would look best on the tree, hence the 2 different sizes in the above photo. I'm going to make more garlands out of tinfoil that are a little bigger then the larger one in the photo. I think they need to be bigger otherwise they will be the same size as the bouncy ball garland and the eye likes variety.




Monkies from barrel of monkies!




More pics to come as I continue to work on the tree.



Lanterns



These lanterns are hanging at a friend's loft. Andrew's original idea was to commission me to make hanging lights set up to a sunrise alarm clock, so it would get gradually brighter helping him to wake up. After a bunch of prototypes the installation evolved into lanterns made out of ribbon and plastic containers that are lit with LEDs.


















Thank you for looking at my art. As always it's great to have readers. I'll see you next month for the next issue of the Happenings In The Studio (HITS).



October 2010 HITS (Happenings In The Studio)

HITS Table of Contents

Tales of a Female Knight

I grew up in England around castles reading the Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce. The story is about Alanna of Trebond who disguises herself as a boy so she can train to be a knight. Because of those books I've pretended to be a knight with red hair and violet eyes.

I recently found out that the author Tamora Pierce has written many more books about the realm of Tortal. Over the past year I read the winning Caldecott books, so my treat to myself for 2011 is to read all of Pierce's books.

Song of the Lioness Quartet are on my book list for 2010. I ran through them in less than two weeks. I've reread them so many times- I adore them!

PPFA Recomended Reading List

PPFA (professional picture framers association) recommended book list for preparing for the CPF (Certified Picture Framer) exam:

I requested that the Berkeley, Oakland, Peninsula and San Francisco Public Libraries consider carrying all of these books. I'll be sure to update this list as they add to their collection.




Caring for Your Art
A guide for artists, collectors, galleries, and art institutions by Jill Snyder
A good general reference book everyone should have handy. The book covers the basics in most areas of preservation framing, including matting; hinging; and how to deal with heat, humidity, light, and pollution. It also covers storing, crating, and shipping artwork, as well as photographing, documenting, and insuring art.
Berkeley Public Library
San Francisco Public Library


The Art of Showing Art, by James Reeve
Peninsula Library System
Berkeley Public Library
San Francisco Public Library


The Life of a Photograph, by Laurence E. Keefe, Dennis Inch
Berkeley Public Library
San Francisco Public Library
Oakland Public Library


(recommended to me by a friend) Secret Lives of Frames, one hundred years of art and artistry by Deborah Davis with photographs by Gerardo Somoza.
Oakland Public Library


CCI Notes: Paintings
Canadian Conservation Institute
PPFA put together a selection of painting sections pulled from the complete CCI Notes. These have particular relevance for the painting questions on the CPF exam.

CPF Study Guide
Developed by the PPFA Certification Board, the CPF Study Guide is designed to help framers prepare for the CPF examination. It covers, in an easy-to-read outline format, specific topics that candidates are tested on, a bibliography of recommended reference materials, and a section of sample test questions with an answer key. If you’re planning to take the CPF exam, you won’t want to be without this important test preparation booklet. (Supplementary reading for the exam.)



Mat Cutting & Decoration, Volume 2 by Vivian C. Kistler, MCPF, GCF
This text contains how-to instructions for cutting more than 50 simple and advanced mats, including inlays, offsets, singles, doubles, V-grooves, oval, and cove mats. Also included are decorative matting techniques, such as French mats, painted mats, faux finishes, and glass mats.

The Mounting and Laminating Handbook
Third Edition by Chris A. Paschke, CPF, GCF
This comprehensive technical reference book is a complete source for basic techniques, procedures, applications, and tips for both beginning framers and seasoned veterans. Broken into understandable chapters, it covers TTPM (time, temperature, pressure, and moisture); adhesives, materials, and substrates; wet, spray, and pressure-sensitive adhesives; and dry mounting, cold mounting, laminating, digital electrophotographic, electrostatic, thermal, and inkjet technologies. It also features mounting suggestions, overall tips, and heat tolerance test results for commonly framed digital art and digital photographs.

Picture Framing, Volume 1 by Vivian C. Kistler, MCPF, GCF
A comprehensive reference for the professional framer, this book provides a complete overview of custom picture framing from the layout of the shop to the work order process. Other topics discussed include cutting and joining wood or metal moulding, cutting glass and plastics, measuring, mat cutting, color selection, and stretching oil paintings.

PPFA Guidelines for Framing Paintings on Canvas
These guidelines provide information on paintings on canvas, how they can be damaged, inherent faults, handling, environmental concerns, and framing procedures.



Preserving Textiles, A Guide for the Non-Specialist
Harold F. Mailand and Dorothy Stites Alig
This text is meant to aid the non-specialist in making informed decisions on the proper care of these objects in order to preserve them. Topics include environment (climate control, lighting, mold, insects, and rodents), cleaning, humidification, stabilizing damaged areas, archival materials, mounting, and exhibiting, as well as a glossary.

PPFA Art & Picture Framing Glossary of Standard Terms
This glossary replaces the PPFA dictionary. It has more than 1,300 terms, 470 new entries, and many updated definitions.

Color & Design for the Picture Framer, by Nona Powers, MCPF

Creative Mounting, Wrapping and Laminating, by Chris Paschke, CPF

A History of European Picture Frames, by Paul Mitchell, Lynn Roberts





Framing Photography, Volume 6 by Allan Lamb, CPF

PPFA Guidelines for Framing Works of Art on Paper

Mounting Objects with Clear Film, by James Miller, MCPF, GCF

PPFA The Complete Guide to Shadowboxes and Framing Objects by James Miller, MCPF, GCF

October 2010 HITS

Welcome to the October HITS (Happenings In The Studio). This is the monthly recap of what's been going on in my life as a visual artist. Over the month of October I've finished setting up my new apartment and art studio. Peg board is on the wall. Tools are organized. Art supplies are sorted and I'm ready to finish the LED Lantern commission.

I'm searching for my new rhythm at my new job and apartment. Must admit I am pretty tired, albeit content, so I apologize that this is an atypical half-hearted HITS.

This month I finished my online class on how to design a hybrid class. And for my other online class, which is about how to be an effective manager, I just took the midterm. I'm already salivating over the plethora of classes I get to choose from for the Spring semester.

I'm also studying to take the exam to be a certified picture framer. I don't have a date yet set up, but since there are 18 recommended books to study, I think I'll take it Fall 2011.

Wish I had photos and more art completed this month, but all in due course.

Ciao,
Elizabeth