Gary Symington

I was born in Massachusetts and raised in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Being surrounded by natural beauty year-round was a huge influence on me, and I began painting lessons at the age of 12 under Ted Ray, a well-known local artist. After graduation from high school I studied painting at Syracuse University, where I received my BFA in Painting in 1977. I moved from coast to coast but eventually settled in Portland, Maine for 10 years, where my career took an unexpected "commercial" turn!

While sharing studio space with an accomplished book designer, I started receiving freelance commissions for illustration and graphics jobs. My clients included companies like McDonalds, L.L.Bean, McGraw-Hill Publishing and Windows magazine, as well as many ad agencies. I have had illustration displayed with the Society of Illustrators in Los Angeles and won numerous awards for my design work. Ultimately, I made my last move back to California 23 years ago.

After concluding my career as an illustrator/graphic designer in 2017, I began concentrating full-time on my fine art. I paint primarily landscape and seascapes, but also create portraits. My work has been influenced by Impressionists like Mary Cassatt, Frank Benson, Arthur Streeton ...

1977 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting; Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

Placer Arts League Juried Show
First Place, Oil on canvas; Best of Show Award, 2008, Lincoln, CA

Railway Reflections Juried Show, 2008, Nevada State Library Gallery, Carson City, NV

Ironstone Vineyards National Juried Exhibition, 2009, Murphys, CA

Blue Line Gallery Juried Show, 2011, Roseville, CA

Gallery at 48 Natoma (Folsom City Parks Gallery) 2-Person Exhibition, 2016, Folsom, CA

Placer Arts League “Art Walk” Solo Exhibit, 2018, Auburn, CA

Blue Line Gallery Studios Tour Show, 2018, Roseville, CA

Arts Council of Placer County–Artists Studio Tour Solo Studio Exhibition, 2018, Meadow Vista/Auburn, CA

Arts Council of Placer County–Collaboration Show Group Exhibition, 2019, Rocklin, CA

California State Fair Juried Exhibition, 2019, Sacramento, CA

Elk Grove Fine Arts Center Juried Show
First Place, Watercolor/Mixed Media, 2019, Elk Grove, CA

Arts Council of Placer County–Artists Studio Tour Solo Studio Exhibition, 2019, Meadow Vista/Auburn, CA

Light Space and Time Gallery Online Juried Exhibition–Merit Award, Painting April, 2020

Camelback Gallery Online Juried Exhibition–Merit Award, Painting May 2020

Blue Line Gallery Medley Show, July 2020, Roseville, CA