insideKENT Magazine Issue 69 - December 2017 | Page 36
ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
KENT ARTIST PROFILE:
MICHAEL PALMER
WOOD IS A MATERIAL THAT IS WILD AND BEAUTIFUL.
IT CAN BE USED TO CREATE INTRICATE WORKS OF ART
THAT ARE BOTH STRIKING AND USABLE, WHICH IS A
RARITY. ARTIST, MICHAEL PALMER, THINKS THAT WOOD
IS THE ULTIMATE MEDIUM TO WORK WITH – WE HAD A
CHAT WITH HIM TO FIND OUT MORE.
If you had to define your art, how would
you describe what you do? What is it about bowls in particular that
inspires you?
I’m an artistic wood turner who has a passion
for working with wood to express its natural
beauty and character. My preferred style is
fairly minimalistic, using a design that allows
the wood to show its grain, figure and bark to
best advantage. I love to include natural edges,
knot holes, burrs, spalting, and other naturally
occurring imperfections. I don’t like too much
embellishment or fiddly features. The great thing about bowls is that there are
an infinite number of shapes and effects
depending on the size and type of wood. Each
one I produce is truly different and it isn’t
always the one I expected to make! I am taking
risks with the wood to produce an object with
flowing lines that is pleasing to the eye every
time, and I love that.
How did you become an artist? What has been your proudest artistic
achievement to date?
I’ve evolved into being an artist since I retired
six years ago. I started to learn to turn about
fifteen years ago and I’m still very much
learning! I’ve become somewhat obsessed
with ‘form’, so as to get the line of the curve
absolutely right. I am very critical of my own work and am
constantly trying to improve – occasionally
though, I manage to make something I am
content with. I recently made a hollow form
in olive that stayed in one piece in spite of
being a risky piece of wood.
Who or what are your artistic inspirations?
I’ve been much influenced and inspired by
Phil Irons, who has helped me develop my
turning skills. Bert Marsh’s work has been a
great inspiration too. His ability to turn a vessel
that somehow lifts itself is amazing.
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Where have you exhibited your work?
In 2015, I had a joint exhibition at Creek
Creative in Faversham with Geneviève Ellis.
Her colourful photographs of tree bark
complemented my natural bowl forms very
well. This year, I was a guest at Pilgrims Way
Artists exhibition in Lenham, and I’ve done
Open Studios and Christmas fairs here in
Faversham too.
You have three homes: one in Kent, one in
Normandy, and one in Amsterdam. Does
this influence your work?
Woodturning needs heavy machinery and I
am lucky to have three workshops; my main
one is in Faversham, where I store and process
wood. I also have a big lathe in Normandy,
but in Amsterdam my workshop is up steep
Dutch stairs, so I use it to keep my hand in
and make smaller objects.
What does the future hold for you?
I’ll be here until after Christmas with my eight
grandchildren, then I’m off to France for New
Year. I’ll be in Amsterdam until Easter, but am
planning to have a second exhibition here
with Geneviève later in 2018 – it’s all go! I’m
always looking for new wood and love to make
pieces for those who donate them from their
own trees.
www.mikepalmerwoodturning.co.uk