Alison Syer
Artist Bio
Alison Syer attended Sheridan College, and successfully completed the Art Fundamentals (Illustration) Ontario College Certificate program in 2007, then graduated, with Honours, from the three-year Crafts and Design program in 2010, having earned an Advanced Diploma of Applied Arts, with a studio concentration in textiles. In 2013, she received an honourable mention (Textiles) at the Mississauga Arts Council's MARTY Awards. Her special projects include the strawberry farming themed design for one of
Mississauga Arts Council’s “Banners and Boxes” vinyl-wrapped utility boxes and accompanying banners. Her book, Drawn In: An Illustrated Garden Tour was published in 2022.
Artist Statement
Previous works have included a series of acrylic paintings based on the markings and colours of a given butterfly, abstracting these and creating patterns to compose the piece. My most recent paintings andworks in progress are largely botanical. Colour and pattern are again central, and I work from collected inspiration materials, gardens, and my photographs.
My textile art Psyche series is also butterfly inspired - free-motion embroideries, each a different butterfly, pinned and framed much like real insect specimens are in natural history collections. These collections contrast looking at these insects from a representational, natural history inspired look; and abstracted studies of their patterning and colours. My 2022 illustrated book, explores the lines and textures of our garden plantings. I’m currently exploring art quilting, planning an experimental series of mixed media textile pieces further exploring the garden theme, using fabric collage, digitally printed fabrics, and embellishment.
Artist Bio
Alison Syer attended Sheridan College, and successfully completed the Art Fundamentals (Illustration) Ontario College Certificate program in 2007, then graduated, with Honours, from the three-year Crafts and Design program in 2010, having earned an Advanced Diploma of Applied Arts, with a studio concentration in textiles. In 2013, she received an honourable mention (Textiles) at the Mississauga Arts Council's MARTY Awards. Her special projects include the strawberry farming themed design for one of
Mississauga Arts Council’s “Banners and Boxes” vinyl-wrapped utility boxes and accompanying banners. Her book, Drawn In: An Illustrated Garden Tour was published in 2022.
Artist Statement
Previous works have included a series of acrylic paintings based on the markings and colours of a given butterfly, abstracting these and creating patterns to compose the piece. My most recent paintings andworks in progress are largely botanical. Colour and pattern are again central, and I work from collected inspiration materials, gardens, and my photographs.
My textile art Psyche series is also butterfly inspired - free-motion embroideries, each a different butterfly, pinned and framed much like real insect specimens are in natural history collections. These collections contrast looking at these insects from a representational, natural history inspired look; and abstracted studies of their patterning and colours. My 2022 illustrated book, explores the lines and textures of our garden plantings. I’m currently exploring art quilting, planning an experimental series of mixed media textile pieces further exploring the garden theme, using fabric collage, digitally printed fabrics, and embellishment.