Lindsey Palmer is a visual artist living and working in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the Youth Mentor at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. This role supports the museum’s middle school aged youth after-school program, field trips and summer camps. She received her BFA from Point Park University in Photography, in 2015 and her MFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Photography and Related Media in 2019. Palmer specializes in alternative process, darkroom and experimental image-making.
Published on March 3rd, 2024. Artist responses collected in months previous.
What are you working on these days?
Printmaking! Pretty different from my traditional image based work, but I have been continuing to learn a lot of new skills for my job and have really fallen in love with relief printing, screen printing, and mono-printing. I had the privilege of making some prints for the museum I work at. I've been making some cyanotypes here and there as well, and with the purchase of a new home I am finally setting up a wet darkroom in my basement, now that I finally have a permanent space.
What has been going well for you in your art career and life recently?
Recently I have been trying to find more ways for photography to fit back into my life by volunteering to photograph organizations who have the same mission and community that my job is in. My career is fairing well, but it centers more on education and educational spaces that serve youth who are making art or looking for a safe space. While photography itself doesn't always fit into that career, I am constantly learning new art processes to help teach our youth. I've learned how to play D+D, made rugs, made ball jointed dolls, lots of printmaking, and so much more. I did do some senior portraits this year, and some product photos for a friend--both were fun, low-key things I got to do for people I care about.
What is something new that you have discovered this past year that is meaningful or helpful for you?
It's ok to start a project without knowing what it will look like, or without knowing everything about the process. I often get hung up on "learning to do it" before doing it, by the time I know the ins and outs on paper, the creative moment has passed. I've been more focused on just trying it and learning as I go. It's been hard to break my research minded habits, but it's been worth it.
Briefly walk us through your process of making art or thinking through a new project, focusing on what's most important to you as you create.
My process is usually pretty akin to a lightning strike at this point. I think of an idea and must make it or I feel like I'll explode. Thinking through new projects still looks a lot like journaling, once the idea hits so I don't lose my thoughts and then trying to find time to make it. I try to focus on staying in the moment when I'm making something instead of thinking too many steps ahead (where is it going, what will I do with it, who will see it, how will I know its done...) and just finish something.
Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers?
I don't necessarily know if I consider myself a practicing artist at this point. I applied to join an artist member society and was denied (whomp whomp) and it often feels like I'm on the outs with the arts organizations in my area. I am still struggling with attending things with crowds, and adjusting now that I have spent a lot of time working on my mental health. I have found a passion that doesn't fit into the traditional role of artist, or practice. But as long as you want to hear about it, I'll keep doing this project, with love.
What are you working on these days?
Printmaking! Pretty different from my traditional image based work, but I have been continuing to learn a lot of new skills for my job and have really fallen in love with relief printing, screen printing, and mono-printing. I had the privilege of making some prints for the museum I work at. I've been making some cyanotypes here and there as well, and with the purchase of a new home I am finally setting up a wet darkroom in my basement, now that I finally have a permanent space.
What has been going well for you in your art career and life recently?
Recently I have been trying to find more ways for photography to fit back into my life by volunteering to photograph organizations who have the same mission and community that my job is in. My career is fairing well, but it centers more on education and educational spaces that serve youth who are making art or looking for a safe space. While photography itself doesn't always fit into that career, I am constantly learning new art processes to help teach our youth. I've learned how to play D+D, made rugs, made ball jointed dolls, lots of printmaking, and so much more. I did do some senior portraits this year, and some product photos for a friend--both were fun, low-key things I got to do for people I care about.
What is something new that you have discovered this past year that is meaningful or helpful for you?
It's ok to start a project without knowing what it will look like, or without knowing everything about the process. I often get hung up on "learning to do it" before doing it, by the time I know the ins and outs on paper, the creative moment has passed. I've been more focused on just trying it and learning as I go. It's been hard to break my research minded habits, but it's been worth it.
Briefly walk us through your process of making art or thinking through a new project, focusing on what's most important to you as you create.
My process is usually pretty akin to a lightning strike at this point. I think of an idea and must make it or I feel like I'll explode. Thinking through new projects still looks a lot like journaling, once the idea hits so I don't lose my thoughts and then trying to find time to make it. I try to focus on staying in the moment when I'm making something instead of thinking too many steps ahead (where is it going, what will I do with it, who will see it, how will I know its done...) and just finish something.
Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers?
I don't necessarily know if I consider myself a practicing artist at this point. I applied to join an artist member society and was denied (whomp whomp) and it often feels like I'm on the outs with the arts organizations in my area. I am still struggling with attending things with crowds, and adjusting now that I have spent a lot of time working on my mental health. I have found a passion that doesn't fit into the traditional role of artist, or practice. But as long as you want to hear about it, I'll keep doing this project, with love.
Find Lindsey Palmer on Instagram