ELIZABETH GAIR PALMER

A love of nature and landscape was nurtured by childhood spent living next to bushland in outer Brisbane and subsequent family moves to Karumba, Longreach, North Queensland and Noosa Heads. 

An obsession with drawing the human form began from the age of three or four. In Grade One Elizabeth was severely disciplined for drawing a figure including eyelashes and eyebrows when the teacher had instructed the class in drawing a stick-figure. 

Now she takes the advice of William Robinson: "Paint your life". 

This has meant Elizabeth paints the Noosa National Park and surrounds, flowers from her garden and suburb, interiors and objects and people when she can get them to sit still long enough. 

ARTIST STATEMENT

"Optimism is a conscious act of courage; painting flowers is a political act"
Elizabeth Gair Palmer

Painting and drawing are a way of being for me. They are how I relate to the world and how I decipher what I find. Painting never fails to excite my senses. My practice is one of finding hope and beauty, often in the plainest or most ordinary of subjects. As an eleven-year-old I read about Vincent van Gogh's The Potato Eaters and it has inspired me ever since.

My subjects range from figurative, landscape, still life, travel and my dreams. Inspiration is all around.

Ultimately I strive to make work that speaks of hope and optimism and to show that painting in a representational style still holds deep meaning for people.

CV

Elizabeth Gair Palmer,   B.A., Univ. of Qld., Grad. Dip. of Sec. Teach.  Kelvin Grove,  Bachelor of Fine Art,  Qld. College of Art, Griffith University  

 

Solo Exhibitions: 

2014  Wild Canary Restaurant, Brookfield Garden Centre

2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 at Oriel Gallery, Ascot

2002  Shared exhibition with Master Glassmaker, Peter Crisp,  Oriel Gallery

 

Exhibitions:   

2014  Brisbane Modern Art Gallery, Fortitude Valley.

2013  Graduate Exhibition, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University

2013  Project  Gallery, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University

2012  Rotary International Art Spectacular (invitation only)

2011  River Studios, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University

2010  StanthorpeRegionalArt Gallery (invitation only)         

2010  RNA   Exhibition Art Show

2005  Barefoot Gallery, Noosa Heads

2004,  2005,  2006  Rotary International Art Award, Brisbane

2003  Martin Hanson Art Award, Gladstone Regional Gallery

2001   Oriel   Gallery,  Ascot, Group Exhibition

 

Prizes & Awards:

2015   Brookfield Show, First Prize, Oil Painting

2014   BrookfieldShow, First Prize, Oil Painting

2013   Griffith Award for Academic Excellence

2001   Brookfield Show, Second Prize, “Courier Mail” Art Award

 

Commission Works, 2009-2011 (see below)