HAVING THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES

For the past 26 years, Dr. Palmer has taught at the University of Central Oklahoma in the Art Department. He is an active member of both the OAEA–Oklahoma Art Educators Association and the NAEA–National Art Educators Association. Dr. Palmer started Palmer Studios, Inc. and has completed well over 1,500 murals across the state.Several years ago, Dr. Palmer and his students along with a professional crew, painted the Oklahoma House Chamber at the state’s capitol. While the dome was being built at the state capitol, Dr. Palmer and his crew painted a trompe l’oeil wall in the atrium.Dr. Palmer’s reputation has gone international, having done both workshops and mural projects in Croatia, Macedonia, Mexico and Canada.Dr. Palmer believes everyone deserves “good art.” One can travel across the state in many small Oklahoma towns and see his work. Slice Magazine featured Dr. Palmer as a “Visionary in the Arts”. His Ponca City mural project was Oklahoma’s 2011 Best Main Street Project. In Oklahoma’s Centennial year, 2007, Dr. Palmer was Oklahoma’s featured mural painter. In 2007, his peers–Oklahoma Educators, selected Dr. Palmer as the Art Educator of the Year.Currently, Dr. Palmer is writing a book about his mural projects across the state. The book will feature many of his works with stories about each project. He is also presently working on an art exhibition that will help make the public aware of the devastating effects of human trafficking.Dr. Palmer promotes to his students the business of making a living as an artist. Gone are the days of “starving artists.” He instills in them that if he can do it–you can too!