Inspired by creative and artistic details and processes, Terri Symington shares that passion in her mixed media portfolio. Visit her website to see more of her work.
“Lavender Fields Forever” (Series: A Woman’s Glory) Oil and Cold Wax on Canvas, 30” x 40”
Series: A Woman’s Glory—From biblical times, a woman’s hair has been considered her crowning glory, and in some cultures is still required to be kept “quiet.” Here, in my painting series, the woman’s glory represents all that she can or desires to be, without shame or apology.
As young as three, I remember the details of my favorite TV programs, the Liberace Show and the Loretta Young Show, while waiting for my older sister to get home from kindergarten. I was fascinated with Mr. Liberace’s fingers dancing across the piano keys. He was always dressed in tails and the “room” was dressed with elegant drapes and a candelabra on the top of his piano. He played with such passion and joy!
“Cote d’Azure” (Series: A Woman’s Glory) Oil and Cold Wax on Canvas, 30” x 40”
My favorite part of the Loretta Young Show was the beginning; the camera would pan in on a pair of beautiful French doors that would swing open and she would sweep through the doorway! She always had on a beautiful dress or gown that showed off her tiny waist. Her long chiffon scarves and luscious fabrics would float as she would twirl around to close the doors. They both possessed the grace and ease of a dancer.
“Anticipation” (Series: A Woman’s Glory) Oil and Cold Wax on Canvas, 36” x 48”
I knew from the age of four that I wanted to be a dancer, so my mother put me in a dance class, along with my sister. But, much to my misery, she took us both out at the end of the year since my sister wasn’t interested. It wasn’t until I was nine that I was finally able to convince her that I needed to dance! It was my passion and obsession. When I wasn’t dancing, I was designing the costumes for the dance programs or drawing figures in a notebook where I would record the dance positions.
Untitled (Series: A Salute to Venice) Oil and Cold Wax on Canvas, 30” x 40”
Series: Salute to Venice—Venice is a magical city; it fills the senses with illusion and delusion. These paintings represent the playful desire to be seen while remaining incognito behind our masks, allowing us to release our inhibitions while only fooling ourselves of our anonymity.
I quickly accelerated with my dance training and at the age of fourteen I joined a modern jazz/ballet dance company in Houston. I continued to dance well into my twenties, but when I was sixteen I had mononucleosis and it affected my stamina and endurance and I knew I had to make a choice as to the direction I would take. So, when I started college at seventeen, I decided to go into commercial art. The art curriculum wasn’t what I wanted in order to achieve my goal, so my art training became for the most part self-taught and self-guided.
Untitled (Series: A Salute to Venice) Oil and Cold Wax on Canvas, 24” x 30”
Focusing on fashion and illustration, I became the art director for an in-house Houston clothing retailer, which soon led to a wonderful position as an art director with The Horchow Collection in Dallas.
Untitled (Series: A Salute to Venice) Diptych — Oil and Cold Wax on Canvas, 30” x 48”
Eventually, needing to broaden my creative practices, I entered into the interior design industry. I’ve had a long and successful career as a professional, award-winning interior designer.
Untitled (Series: A Salute to Venice) Oil and Cold Wax on Canvas, 30” x 40”
I’ve always viewed my transitions from one creative medium into the next as a natural progression, each made of layers that built upon the other.
Untitled (Series: A Salute to Venice) Oil and Cold Wax on Canvas, 24” x 30”
All required consideration of the basic design elements: light, form, composition, line, spatial considerations, balance, harmony. I have no doubt that my time as a dancer influenced my interest and knowledge of the human body, which translated into other careers, and especially now with my focus on figurative painting.
Untitled—WIP (Series: Reflections of Deception, AKA—Don’t Eat the GMO’s) Oil on Canvas, 30” x 40”
Series: Reflections of Deception, AKA Don’t Eat the GMO’s—This series represents the deceptions that our lives are filled with, and how they will affect our lives or have already affected our lives looking back, or forward to the future.
Because of my love and respect for the human body and my interest in health and nutrition, I am now using my voice through my paintings to hopefully bring awareness to the deception perpetrated upon society by the pharmaceutical and food industries, through what some may view as uncomfortable and perhaps controversial depictions.
Untitled—WIP (Series: Reflections of Deception, AKA—Don’t Eat the GMO’s) Oil on Canvas, 24” x 30”
I now divide my time when not traveling between living in Houston and Switzerland, working at my easels in both studios, exploring the ways I can express my figures to include inspirations from traveling, from my desire to share awareness, or to just share the beauty of the female figure.
Artist Terri Symington invites you to follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
I think it is now appropriate that I don’t dismiss some important parts of my bio, of which are now reflected in some of my art work…
When I joined the dance company when I was 14, it was a result of my mother pulling me out of the dance studio that had been my home and family for over 6 years. On the way to what was to be my last performance with the dance school she told me I could not return the following season. This was the worst blow my mother could ever lay upon me… because it was through the nurturing of my dance teacher that I realized that I had an identity and value… and that my wonderful teacher had opened up the world for me. My mother, being a covert narcissist, was extremely jealous of my relationship with my teacher, even though she did not want to invest the time and relationship that one would expect a mother to give…
It was my dance teacher who arranged for me to join the dance and arrange for my transportation since I didn’t drive at the time. I’m sure any incidental expenses were covered by my teacher as well…
I truly believe that it was from my deep depression that following summer that I caught Mononucleosis, because my immune system was so depleted.
Yes… there is a name for the type of person my mother is… and sadly many, children have their whole lives affected by these type of people… although my relationship with her has been strained my whole life, I can at least separate myself from her manipulative abuse. My goal as a mother was to never be like my own mother… because even the cycle of emotional abuse has to be put to an end.
I realize that this disclosure will probably ignite the rath of anger from my narcissistic mother… but I believe that if art is a tool for healing, then this is my opportunity to present it.
My painting titled “The Invisible Child” is my first depiction of me childhood feelings… available for viewing on my website: https://terrisymington.com/workszoom/2841333
I love the Reflection of Deception. It speaks a thousand words. Nice job!
Thank you Rhonda… I appreciate your comments…