Palmer, Marsha

Artist Statement
For most of my life, I have dabbled in different media beginning with watercolor paintings in high school and most recently created floor cloths and gourds. After retiring from elementary school teaching, I hoped that I might again find my artistic “niche”. For two years, I displayed my floor cloths at art fairs around Sylvania, Ohio. It was fascinating to talk with other artists and to learn more about the art community in my area.

After speaking with a gourd artist, I became interested in the gourd as a completely unique surface for artistic expression. Now, I work solely with gourds and am thoroughly enjoying the process.

The gourds I use are from California, because they are thick and unblemished. I prefer to use paint and gourd dyes with beads, raffia, or other embellishments. Each gourd is unique in appearance and design, taking on a theme from nature. When my work is going well, I am filled with a sense of pride.

Currently, I’m concentrating on composing fewer pieces, with the desire to engulf myself in each one. Observing textures and designs in nature and in fabrics usually helps me to imagine how to apply them to my gourd art. Working with the gourds challenges me to relax and think about the creative process.

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About Marsha Plamer
Marsha Palmer began her gourd artwork career after retiring from teaching at the elementary school level. She had painted watercolor and acrylic paintings and designed floor cloths, but none of these media gave her satisfaction.

In 2007, she discovered the world of gourd art while being a vendor at a summer art fair. Since then, she found great satisfaction taking a raw gourd and visualizing it as an art form.

Presently, Marsha is being represented at Don Terra Artworks and has exhibited in and around her hometown area.

Artist Code: MP