Friday, May 16, 2008

Stamina and Refrain


She calls at 3a.m. like clock work for a couple of weeks out of each month. She is the breeze through my window that kisses me awake. She is the lone bird that sings in the dark, and she is the street light that filters through the leaves and onto the side of my house. She is the blue purple sky with dark tree silhouettes. She stirs my heart, and then grabs me by the neck and pushes me up the stairs to the studio. She chooses the music as she clears the path for me, and if she is willing, she allows me to remember my last dream before she called.

Once in the studio, she starts to fade away and sits guard in the corner to watch the show unfold. The blank canvases, stark white stand before me, I glide my hands down the surface, and I breathe in their size and tooth. I must cover them up; and any color will do, but gold is preferred these days. I breathe a sigh of relief. Blotter paper comes out and is pressed to the canvases, picking up paint and revealing texture. This must dry before the layers of oil can be applied, blotted again, and wiped away. Slowly building up the textures and color overlays that create the depth and atmosphere that I hunt for. I go within this process and disappear.

I dive within the diptych before me; again I lay the gold, then a swath of my blue, jagged across the canvases like a horizon line. The diamond shapes arrive stacked on top of each other oddly like a totem. Yellow ochre comes a long, then some white, and then more diamonds. A rich earthy brown comes on the scene. I add some charcoal dust, and the spray bottle does its work and papers are applied to blot the excess and the painting starts to become something interesting. I vow to set it aside until tomorrow...

She calls at 3a.m. like clock work for a couple of weeks out of each month. She is the breeze through my window that kisses me awake. She is the lone bird that sings in the dark, and she is the street light that filters through the leaves and onto the side of my house. She is the blue purple sky with dark tree silhouettes. She stirs my heart, and then grabs me by the neck and pushes me up the stairs to the studio. She chooses the music as she clears the path for me, and if she is willing, she allows me to remember my last dream before she called.

Finding myself back in the studio, the rich earthy brown is taken over by an olive green. The diamond shapes are blanketed with transparent orange oxide, and the spray bottle comes along again and then more blotter paper. The diamonds remain but they are softer now, and the orange film on top suits them. This same oxide takes over the gold on the two top sections, and creates a type of nuclear sky. Hours pass as I work the painting, and again I must set it aside until tomorrow. She gets up from her corner post and whispers in my ear, "see you in the morning, you are almost there...."


Pictured Above:
Stamina and Refrain
Megan Chapman
40x 60" diptych
mixed media on canvas
2008

Evidence of the Disappearance
June-July 2008
Opening Reception Friday June 6 from 5-9pm
Blue Moon Gallery
718 Central Ave.
Hot Springs, Arkansas


It is time once again for the paper painting/print give away! This month I will be giving away a small paper painting to one lucky reader that leaves a comment on today's blog. I will mail to anywhere in the world. I will randomly draw a number to correspond with the comments in the order they are received. Leave your comment between now and Tuesday at midnight. I'll post the winners name in my blog next Friday; please be sure to check back, so that I can contact you. I really appreciate everyone who reads and comments on my studio blog. Please don't be shy, and if you want to comment but don't want to be included in the drawing (previous winners etc.) just say so. GOOD LUCK!

27 comments:

  1. Very poetic and dreamy writing! You are a gifted soul :)
    The diptych is fabulous and very "you", but with a maturity like before.
    Impressed and stirred, I am.
    Your guide, whether internal or external is a wonderful being to be treasured and nurtured...
    Congratulations x

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  2. Thank you Megan for this better than news news, you can not know how much inspiration you are for me and how much I enjoy your ramblings and insights, or how happy that I am that I stumbled on to how to respond, I hope I can remember it next time, your friend nathan

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  3. Beautiful writing, wonderful thoughts, Megan.

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  4. Very nicely put.

    Thank you for sharing your inner workings, week after week. They never fail to comfort and enlighten me.

    I saw you out of the corner of my eye last Friday too! I was tired, though, and on my way out. Nice to see you, nonetheless.

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  5. Love the colors! Nice painting!
    Love your work.
    :)

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  6. I love reading your blog every week. You have inspired me as artist. You are a great artist. Never stop painting.

    I love how you put on how did your painting here. I love your painting both paintings here real pretty. Your friend
    Joshua
    http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=198511775

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  7. love love love it!

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  8. love love love it! this paint have the absolutely perfect color of the sea! when i see this color i want to swim!

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  9. Thanks everyone who has commented so far. I appreciate your time and your words so much. I know that signing into here to comment if you don't have an account is a bit tricky, so I think anonymous is an easy way to do so. However, if you sign in as Anon. please leave some way I can identify you if you are interested in the paper painting give away.
    Thank you!

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  10. Looking forward to seeing the show in Hot Springs. Lovely post!

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  11. Megan - I so enjoy reading your blog. This post is extraordinary, such an honest and deep look into your inner world of the Muse. I can not fully explain why I call my coaching practice 'Dance of the Soul'...but I think you know what that means! BTW, have you ever considered incorporating bits of your writing into your art pieces?? ..."evidence of the disappearance" - I like that!
    Blessings, Cynthia

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  12. I agree with Cynthia about leaving some writings about at your exhibition - they are so connected with your art. Obviously they are from your point of view, but even as a viewer it gives your work a different dimension with is so spiritual and really conveys your passion/drive/connection with the universe...
    (Don't count this comment for the art -to-win draw)
    Damn I wish I could just jet over to Hot Springs for your exhibition.
    Can you take a video??
    x

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  13. I love love love your stuff. Am going thru a crisis and ridding my life of clutter and making my writing space beautiful. I hope I win your painting because it will look lovely in my office.

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  14. Your writing is very deep and poetic. Thank you for giving such life to the process of creating art.
    Your MySpace Friend,
    M

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  15. Ha! I'm 19. Yay!
    I like your work. I really like the repetition of the leaf/diamond shape throughout all your work. Repetition is a big thing for me and I use it a lot in my own work (you may have noticed that with all the coffee mugs at my show at StudioLoud gallery).

    So, awesome work. And I'm glad I met you so you could tell me how to say your name. Mee-gan. I thought it was the other way.

    Anywho. Hope you pick #19 cuz my wife would love a piece of your art.

    Take care.
    Shawn
    myspace.com/coffeegrinderpress

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  16. This comment is from Jo Soos, posted by me. There were some posting issues. : )
    I have never "commented" before__I've only stood back up behind the trees...however, your blog has become almost like coffee to me, so I thought I should say so.

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  17. I imagine describing the artistic process is as difficult a subject as there is in this world. You have done it beautifully. Insite into the whisperings of the artist's muses, for a non artist such as me, is a rare and special thing. Thank you for sharing so openly.

    Andy M.

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  18. I am mesmerized by your words and process. I've never gotten the call in the middle of the night, so I'm fascinated by those who do.

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  19. Nice post. Beautiful paintings. Looking forward to seeing you.

    Love,
    Sean

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  20. "To be an artist is the most difficult thing. With each piece of work the painter must reach within their soul to create hence, putting a piece of them self out for all to see, be judged and analyzed. Then selling that piece is almost selling a piece of the artist soul...how do you put a price on that? They say most artists are crazy in some way but would the person who spoke that spend one day putting their soul on display...I think not.
    "Starving Artist," not so much for food...but for the perfection of ones self."
    ~Pamela
    (posted by me for Pamela- posting issues)

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  21. Hello Megan chapman. I wanted to tell you I enjoy your paintings. I love the colors in your paintings. Your art work always amazes me. I love your work.I love the colors in your paintings. You are great role model for me.
    Keep up the great work in your paintings.
    Your friend
    Joshua
    http://www.myspace.com/jsunfishpainter

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  22. MEGAN CHAPMAN - AN ENDORSEMENT
    Please consider Megan's offer of a review of your porfolio for just $25 - her review of my portfolio has been enormously helpful to me, and I assure you she does just what she says- a quality review with integrity.
    All you have to do leave a message to request!
    (this message not to be entered in to win art)

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  23. Dear Readers and Friends,

    Thank you so much for your comments on this post. I am glad to be able to share my experience of being an artist with you. You words of support carry me along on this journey.

    Comments are now closed to be entered into the give away, but you can still comment.The above readers have a 1 in 21 chance of winning the paper painting- I guess that means I better go paint one!!! : )

    With much love and admiration,
    Megan

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