Adman. Rainmaker. Pirate tycoon. Prankster. Peter Pan.

Frank Palmer is known for being a lot of things.

But rarely for the one thing he loves most.

His art.

As a young man, Frank found his gift for drawing. But the thought of being a starving artist was haunting.

So, after studying commercial art at Emily Carr Institute, Frank leapt head first into advertising – a place where his two favourite worlds of art and commerce could collide.

Not long thereafter, he started his own ad agency, Palmer Jarvis. And over the next 50 years, commanded the most creatively and financially successful agency in Canada’s history and established himself as this country’s truly original Mad Man.

But he never forgot his first passion.

And he began painting again.

With a vengeance.

This is a collection of Frank Palmer’s portraits. Of people, he knows. Of individuals, he’s observed. Of icons, he admires.

Each is unique but all, almost immediately recognizable for Frank’s signature love of vibrant and vivid colour.

“I’ve never been that technically accomplished, so I choose to paint my subject’s soul.
Colour is my way of putting their soul on the canvass,” quips Palmer, in his typically self-deprecating manner. “I just hope people like them.”