We communicate through static...

artists megan chapman and stewart bremner
© 2011 megan chapman

This week found myself and artist Stewart Bremner again mostly in the studio and this time fervidly working against the clock. Stewart returns home to Scotland on Tuesday, so we had to make this week in the studio count. We continued our series "A question of chemistry," deciding to paint a total of nine works. The collaboration proved a successful surprise producing works that are decidedly both his and mine, yet definitely a cohesive body of work. Orange sparks from the darkness of many of these pieces, both mine and Stewart's favorite color. Other colors such as olive green, blue, charcoal, and blinding white hold the elements within the paintings together and provide balance. You can feel the immediacy of the work, the pace and buzz of two artists working together when looking at these paintings.

This collaboration wasn't always easy, but it was a rewarding and valuable experience. To paint in the presence of another, is to let go or at least attempt to. This collaboration, was a fine balance between sharing the experience, controlling it, and taking it to a new level. I will miss painting with Stewart, but I also look forward to translating what I have learned from this experience into my future paintings.

In other news, come say hello and goodbye to Stewart this Saturday from 1-3pm at the Fayetteville Underground. As I mentioned above, Stewart goes home soon and would love to say goodbye to all the lovely people of Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas as well as talk about his joint photographic exhibition iteration/span one last time.

There will also be a special preview of Stewart and my collaborative series of paintings "A question of chemistry" showing in my studio. This will be the only time the we will be together to show the entire series. We would love to see you there!

And without further ado here are our most recent works from our series. We hope you will enjoy them. There will be a couple more next week as well!

Watching from afar
© 2011 Megan Chapman and Stewart Bremner
Mixed Media on Canvas
16x20"

We communicate through static
© 2011 Megan Chapman and Stewart Bremner
Mixed Media on Canvas
30x24"

One small spark

© 2011 Megan Chapman and Stewart Bremner
Mixed Media on Canvas
16x20"

Beneath the silence

© 2011 Megan Chapman and Stewart Bremner
Mixed Media on Canvas
30x24"

A question of chemistry

I thought I would find you here
© 2011 Megan Chapman and Stewart Bremner
Mixed Media on Canvas
60x48"

If you read my blog last week, you will know that I had just begun a collaborative painting with Scottish artist Stewart Bremner, who is visiting Fayetteville to show his and Craig Munro's joint photography exhibition iteration/span currently on display at the Hive Gallery in the Fayetteville Underground. Our painting collaboration didn't exactly happen as we had hoped for, it started out more along the lines of a unnecessarily complicated dance that neither one of us knew the steps to. After our rocky start we talked about the process and the steps to take in the future and then smartly we walked away from the painting and the studio for a few days.

When we returned to the studio to view our work, we were happily surprised to find a painting that we could both be proud of, a painting that we could see each other in and yet something that was definitely a fusion of our two styles. We made a few more small changes and decided to call it done, photograph it and get it on the gallery wall as soon as possible! It was a wonderful rush, a thrill I have not exactly felt before. Once on the wall in the back Vault gallery of the Fayetteville Underground, we just sat in front of the work. We sat there simply absorbing the large painting. I was a bit speechless. To me, the large 5x4 foot work felt like a magnet, I was drawn to the stillness of all the white and to the complexity of all the layers and colors within the painting. It was a wonderful moment and one that I will not soon forget. We declared ourselves victorious and at that moment we knew we had more work within us that we had to create together.

This past week Stewart and I have completed three more works in our collaborative series, A question of chemistry. Here are those works. We are excited about the direction the series is taking and simply the act of painting together and being able to share our works with you. There are more works in the series planned. Stay tuned...

A strange currency
© 2011 Megan Chapman and Stewart Bremner
Mixed Media on Canvas
40x30"

We took the quiet roads
© 2011 Megan Chapman and Stewart Bremner
Mixed Media on Canvas
30x40"



A fearless humming across the wires
© 2011 Megan Chapman and Stewart Bremner
Mixed Media on Canvas
30x40"

Getting to know you...

painting collaboration in progress & the shoulder of artist, Stewart Bremner

This week was a bit scattered in the art department. I followed through with a few leads, sold a couple more flashcards and made a house call regarding the large commission. I also started a collaborative painting with visiting Scottish artist Stewart Bremner. He started the large canvas, worked on it for about ten to fifteen minutes listening to his music while I watched. I then plugged my ipod in and dove into the painting also for about ten to fifteen minutes with my music on as my usual guide.

Working with another artist is a complex process. I have done it before with English artist Steven Heaton on our delay before abandon piece, but it is a different process when the artist you are working with is actually in the room with you.

It is an interesting thing to watch an artist you admire as they choose their colors, their brushes and plan their next move. The color choices and strokes you recognize after studying their work, yet you also recognize the fact that this work it is not going to be your own but something shared and new, a strange hybrid. My internal dialog while watching Stewart paint runs amok..."Do I paint over that, do I leave it? What if I don't like raw umber...?" Let's just say there was a spirited debate during and after painting. There are lines and boundaries that get pushed and crossed when collaborating with other artists, even ones you are close to. We laid the frame work for something is about all I can say. Will this painting be something we will ever show? Is this just an exercise? Only time will tell.

I enjoyed the experience and I look forward to working back into the painting with Stewart and seeing how it evolves. We have set some basic guidelines and have agreed that both of us want more time with the painting and more consistent music selection. Alternating every ten minutes just never let me connect to the piece or go inside of the painting the way I am used to doing when I work. It is a telling experience, one that I look forward to exploring further this week. I will keep you posted!

Until then keep fighting...

More flashcards and more art!

this is where I hide

mixed media on paper 6x4"
© 2011 Megan Chapman
sold

This was another busy week getting ready for First Thursday at the Fayetteville Underground. The week leading up to the openings is always exciting and this week was no exception. I am pleased to report First Thursday went off without a hitch and all the exhibitions were well received. It really was wonderful to have visiting Scottish artist Stewart Bremner present at his and Craig Munro's exhibition, iteration/span. I know he enjoyed talking with people about their work last night. Luckily for those local folks who might have missed First Thursday, Stewart will be giving an artist talk at the Fayetteville Underground tomorrow, Saturday May 7th from 11am-12noon.

In other news, I did manage to paint this week and I am grateful. I worked on some more flashcards. When time is tight and inspiration is low it is still better to paint than not, and it is even more of a victory. I am glad I was reminded of this. Perhaps, it was having Stewart working in my studio. He was busy painting while also preparing for iteration/span and I thought if he can paint during this chaotic time, then perhaps I can to! Here is a link to his recent paintings.

And here are the newest selections from my affordable flashcard series. The paper isn't perfect, there are some rough bits where the tape masked the borders. These works are about the process, the immediacy and the action of making. These are flashcards and the paintings are the answer. You provide the questions. For more information on how you can reserve and purchase one of these small works please email me at megancha@gmail.com and stay tuned, more flashcards to come...

the textures of you
mixed media on paper 6x4"
© 2011 Megan Chapman
sold

the hope that lives undercover
mixed media on paper 6x4"
© 2011 Megan Chapman
sold

patterns from the past
mixed media on paper 6x4"
© 2011 Megan Chapman
sold

If wishes were stitches
(I'd have you all sewn up)
mixed media on paper 6x4"
© 2011 Megan Chapman
sold

Assembly in darkness
mixed media on paper 6x4"
© 2011 Megan Chapman
sold

Until next week, keep fighting but don't forget to have fun too.