Today we’d like to introduce you to Abigale Palmer
Hi Abigale, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I spent my childhood creating, as all children should—whether it was building dollhouses out of scrap paper or concocting daily Barbie doll hair soup, every day was a new adventure. I have been obsessed with color from a very young age, and as I have reflected on that as an adult I believe I found an explanation. My eyesight was not great, and it went undiagnosed for a while. So color played a much larger role in my understanding of the world during my early years of childhood while the shapes were fuzzy. My love for creation and color continued into junior high, where an art teacher introduced me to artwork that wasn’t just about accurately representing what you see. She introduced me to conceptual art, and I found it fascinating. In high school, I had another art teacher who introduced me to the California artists, whose influence continues to shape my work today.
Originally, I planned to pursue a degree in the medical field, and my studies in art were meant to serve as a pathway to that goal. But when I began my studies at BYU as an art major, I felt like a kid in a candy shop. It was like I was going to school to play and explore with ‘my paper and crayons.’ That experience solidified my passion for art and set me on the creative path I’m on today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting a career while raising children is never without its challenges. After each new baby was born, I’d tell myself I was done making art—it felt impossible to balance both. But creating was something my soul craved. The satisfaction of making something that wouldn’t need to be washed, consumed, or folded was too strong to ignore. After baby number three, I decided it was time to dive in, even if that meant carving out just 30 minutes each day after the kids went to bed.
To stay focused, I painted an apple a day. I predetermined the size, subject, medium, and time limit, which allowed me to simply create. This was a great starting point for prioritizing some time daily at a period when my children needed me all day and my husband traveled a lot for work. While there have been many struggles, the biggest obstacles were the mindsets and beliefs I had about myself and my work. Learning to embrace rejection and even find gratitude in it has been a crucial part of my growth, but it’s a lesson that took time to appreciate.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in creating bright, bold imagery using oil paint and watercolors. Living in Utah, I often draw inspiration from the diverse landscapes here, focusing on mountains, fields, and desert vistas. My work explores the pursuit of dreams and aspirations, highlighting both their beauty and the adversity that comes with them. I am deeply inspired by the intense emotional response I feel when standing before the immersive works of artists like Mark Rothko and Joan Mitchell. Over time, I’ve developed an obsession with color, studying its emotional impact. These large-scale paintings allow viewers to experience color in a visceral way.
My bookshelves and audiobooks are filled with information on color, pigments, and the history of art. I enjoy exploring how color influences our mood, our interactions, and even our perceptions. It’s my mission to help people embrace a more “colorful” world.
At home, my husband and I often debate color—he’s “colorblind” (I use quotes because seeing color differently doesn’t mean blindness). We love discussing how colors shift with lighting and how our perceptions change based on neighboring hues. It’s an ongoing conversation that fascinates me.
My large-scale artworks immerse viewers in vibrant color fields, often incorporating landscapes, portraits, and still lifes to provide familiar entry points for engagement. One example is my piece Bright Beginnings, a 20-foot painting split into three panels. This piece invites viewers to mentally climb rocks and chart their own paths while enjoying the textures of transparent Alizarin Crimsons, Thalo Greens, and opaque Titanium Whites and vibrant Cadmium Reds.
In addition to landscapes, I’ve explored themes of motherhood and repetition in a series called Fruits of Our Labors. Using fruit in an Andy Warhol-inspired style, I place each piece on a round plate, tightly boxed within a square composition. This tension mirrors the repetitive, often mundane tasks of daily life, which, when viewed in aggregate, reveal a beautiful, meaningful tapestry formed over time.
Whether in a large-scale landscape, a portrait, or a still life, my work is an exploration of color that seeks to breathe life into each piece.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Get involved in your field. Do workshops online and in person. If I was starting out today that is where I would begin for networking, mentorship, improving your skills, and gaining knowledge.
Go to art openings and make friends with anyone there. Many artists are introverts, so be brave and introduce yourself. My most influential mentors have been friends I was lucky to meet.
Find a few like-minded friends who do work you admire and form a group. Start doing shows together, meet at each other’s studios for constructive criticism of your work, do an art swap, and advocate for each other.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://abigalepalmer.com
- Instagram: @abigalepalmer
