Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Palmer Earl. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Palmer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I am currently preparing a meaningful project for a solo show at Gallery 825/Los Angeles Art Association, which will open on June 3rd. My show is titled “Illuminations” and it is the culmination of years of historical research I have conducted on ancient cultures, with a particular focus on those that worshipped Female Gods. When societies started to shift toward the worship of one omnipotent male God, women began to lose their power in society and found themselves occupying lower positions than men. In my work, I celebrate the beauty and power of women by imagining what Illuminated manuscript paintings might have looked like had the ancient western world never stopped worshipping female deities in favor of their male counterparts.

Palmer, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I grew up in New York City as the eldest of three sisters with an artistic mother, I spent most of my youth pursuing art wherever I could. I took painting classes starting in first grade and later went on to earn my BFA from the School of Visual Arts. In 2006, I moved to Los Angeles to for a change of pace, thinking it would be for six months or so. I continued painting while supporting myself with side jobs like decorative painting for Hollywood producers and pet portraits for a variety of clients. I ended up meeting my husband and have been here ever since. I mostly paint women and animals or a mix of both. Most recently, I have found myself drawn to the study of ancient cultures and how they have affected the way that women are treated in the modern world. I love to spend hours looking at pictures and reading about ancient religious artifacts and often use the same imagery in my work. Since there are only remnants of Goddess-based religions from the Mesopotamian region, I like to imagine what their ceremonies and lifestyle might have looked like.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission is to continue to improve my skills and keep making paintings that explore what it is to be a woman. I know myself well enough to know that I will be frustrated when I am not consistently generating work or spending enough time in the studio. There just isn’t time to be blocked anymore, so I aim to stay prolific without stifling quality or meaning. If I’m ever having trouble starting a new piece, I just trust myself and start painting because not painting is worse for my momentum and piece of mind. At the end of the day, I can always fix it or paint over it and I know I can feel proud just for trying.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Before I had children, I did a lot of pet portraits and decorative painting jobs for money, which left me doing my own work whenever I could. While I did enjoy that work, I longed to follow my heart and paint about subjects that were important to me. It has been hard work but also so rewarding. Now that my kids are older and more self-sufficient, I have more time to pursue my work and I am so proud to show them that if you have a passion and you go after it with all that you’ve got, you can both make a living and feel satisfied in your work. Today, I paint what I want and am making paintings that are meaningful to me and hopefully to others as well.     

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.palmerearl.com/
• Instagram: @palmerearl_art