With my open eyes and heart

Friday again, and sadly no new painting to share this week either, but I did paint and I did look at clouds.

I spent the whole day in my studio painting the same painting over again and again on Monday. Here is a detail of that which no longer exists.


I went to a toxic waste site/poisoned town on Tuesday.

dream house, Picher Oklahoma © 2010 Megan Chapman

I gave a lecture/tour on Thursday.

I meditated in the woods today.
(and I remembered how much I love the sound of running water)

Tilly Willy Bridge © 2010 Megan Chapman

I have some strange ideas about April, May and June...
Now, here is a lovely video. Until next week, keep fighting.

A new manifesto

A reminder © 2010 Megan Chapman

This week in the studio consisted of starting one new painting ( it has a long way to go, or I would show you) and completing the third installment of my collaborative effort with English artist Steven Heaton. I also managed to mail out some art as well, which for some strange reason is always the hardest part.

I wish I could say I was on fire in the studio, but this week consisted of a lot of business emails, tax preparation, inventory, promotions, meetings, and mixers with potential clients. It was productive, but not in the creative way that an artist dreams of. However, necessary just the same.

I've come to some conclusions this week. I need to change some things in my life so that I can pursue my art while maintaining my health and peace of mind. I don't really want or need to get into them here, but lets just say things are out of balance. Making art can be just like any other career, and you can push yourself too hard at times and lose sight of the other elements of your life. I am struggling with this currently, and need to stop just escaping into my art world. I have always had issues with balance, but it is really catching up with me. To remedy this, I hope to spend some time out of doors in the sun (if the weather cooperates) out of my studio, away from my cell phone and over long lists, and away from the computer too. It is time to refocus my energy.

As a dear friend put it, I need to switch off and become a cloud watcher for awhile. So that is what I plan to do.

Music for watching clouds:



see you next week, with either stories of clouds or more art...

burned me down to the wires

As many readers of this blog know, the music I listen to is the greatest inspiration for my paintings, photographs, and the words and titles that I put to my art.

While I was happily celebrating my birthday on March 6th, one of my favorite inspirations decided he had had enough of this life.

Mark Linkous shot himself in the heart.

The next morning when I found out the news, I was heart broken.

He was a musician I had never met, nor had I the chance to see him play live. He was not a friend, but he was a companion in the studio just the same. He will be deeply missed and his music will always be treasured and continue to inspire.

And the birds sing sweetly

This is what I wanted to show you last week:

Sometimes © 2010 Megan Chapman

This painting was finished all along. I looked at it in the natural light, I thought about it and studied it for days and whatever I thought I needed to do to it faded away. I am glad I left well enough alone.

While I was waiting for the above piece, I started a new one.

Where Stranger's Dreams Cling © 2010 Megan Chapman

There are currently seven paintings in the new white series. Last night was First Thursday art night at the Fayetteville Underground; the crowds were huge, it was wonderful. My studio was open, and I received great feedback on the new series- it was wonderful to give people a taste of what I have been so excited about. I had moved all my colored paintings out of the studio, so that patrons could only view the new white series and The Manual for Living (a ten page guide). Many people talked about the Manual. My newest work could not have been received much better. I am so pleased and I can not wait to get back into the heart of a painting.

the beginning pieces from the new white series in my studio

Also in my studio, I debuted Delay before Abandon: A Transatlantic Collaboration a new project between myself and English artist Steven Heaton. Click on the link above to learn more about the project. We are both very excited about being able to work together. This project seemed to catch patrons imaginations, all of them thought it was an interesting idea, they wondered how we met, how it felt to cover over each other's work, how thick the paper would become as it is encrusted with paint, would the project last 6 months, 6 years, or twenty? So my studio feels a buzz with new activity, inspiration, and some sort of renewed power.

And last but not least, my work debuted in the Vault Gallery at the Underground last night. I love showing my work in the old vault of the bank that the Underground is housed in. It just fits with the space and came alive under the gallery lights.

Selected works by Megan Chapman: Vault Gallery

So that has been my week! Tomorrow is my birthday, and I don't know what the next year holds for me, but if I can remember the power and passion I have felt in the last month even half the time, I think this year could be quite special. Thanks for sharing this journey with me.