Graphite lines & yellowed paper: a love story

a strange sense of containment
12x12" mixed media on canvas
© 2011 Megan Chapman

I've been busy in the studio this week and it has felt really good. I currently have sixteen new paintings under way for my upcoming exhibition, "Sometimes I love you and other stories." I have ten that are complete and some that are close. I have a lot more work to do and time feels like it is running out. I need to start thinking about my statement for this work and have the paintings documented for publicity purposes and my records.

I plan to work over the weekend and get a lot more done. I am very pleased with what is happening so far. These works are brilliantly white and clean, very spare and minimal. I have never been in love with pencil lines like I am in this moment. Then to top it off are the words, stray thoughts like poetry against the pages of discarded books, public letters to a distant lover embedded in the paint. To many this concept in my work will be brand new, to me it is a full circle moment. It was in the pages of discarded books that I found my voice in the B.F.A. program at the University of Oregon. Oh the stories I would spin! Some autobiographical and some completely fictitious. My scrawl across the pages, charcoal, pencil and white paint surrounding my words.

I am not returning to the past but perhaps I am righting my course. I have been working on that process for the last two years, starting in 2010 with the manual for living, the white series, maps of the night, the flashcards, and the letters never sent. These are all a part of one canon of work, perhaps my most intimate one.

I will always love rich layers of color, texture, space, and design based shapes. You can still find those works in my studio and in galleries but I will also love my monochromatic worlds that speak from my heart and that remind me of my story. I hope these new works will remind you of your story too.

Here is a scratchy outline of a possible statement...

Sometimes I love you and other stories...
September 2011
Vault Gallery
Fayetteville Underground

This series of paintings explores the kind of love that catches you unexpectedly. You always knew it was there somewhere on the planet but it was for other people. At the same time that this love sounds special or unique it is also ordinary and known. It is new and old at the same time. Never simple or easy it somehow fills the gaps within, making the core of the person it touches stronger. A rebuilding takes place after years of personal neglect.

Sometimes I love you and other stories represents the absence of fear and the challenges to our beliefs about ourselves, the world outside, and finding another soul that you can sometimes love. How do you paint a questioning love? How do you paint passion? The first moment you touch or the first argument? How do you paint the freedom and inspiration found in another?

I have no idea....but I can't wait to dive in and try.

and sometimes life gets in the way...

like the blinding light from when you were born
© 2011 Megan Chapman

There has been a lot going lately. I mean a lot... let's just say it has been a stressful time and that would be putting it mildly. I am doing well and there are so many things I am excited and happy about that are going on, but in general things could be a little better.

I have an exhibition, "Sometimes I love you and other stories" that opens September 1st 2011. That is right around the corner! Am I ready for the exhibition? No...life got in the way. Will I be ready? Of course and I am looking forward to the next few intense weeks as I switch gears and sequester myself and dive into the work. I plan on spending some serious hours in the studio in the coming days.

Do I have more to say? Probably, but I can't say it right now. I am thankful for all my friends, family, all my art patrons and for all the love and support in my life. Thank you.

Until next week keep fighting...

ps. If you haven't checked out my etsy shop in a while please do, there might be a letter there for you.

Letters Never Sent...

secret messages
Mixed Media Painting on 140lb. Arches Paper
9x6" with about an inch border on all sides.
© 2011 Megan Chapman
sold

keep reading
Mixed Media Painting on 140lb. Arches Paper
9x6" with about an inch border on all sides.
© 2011 Megan Chapman
sold

a witness
Mixed Media Painting on 140lb. Arches Paper
9x6" with about an inch border on all sides.
© 2011 Megan Chapman
sold

futile
Mixed Media Painting on 140lb. Arches Paper
9x6" with about an inch border on all sides.
© 2011 Megan Chapman
sold

blinding light
Mixed Media Painting on 140lb. Arches Paper
9x6" with about an inch border on all sides.
© 2011 Megan Chapman
$35

keep reminding me
Mixed Media Painting on 140lb. Arches Paper
9x6" with about an inch border on all sides.
© 2011 Megan Chapman
sold

quite as alive
Mixed Media Painting on 140lb. Arches Paper
9x6" with about an inch border on all sides.
© 2011 Megan Chapman
$35

through the distance
Mixed Media Painting on 140lb. Arches Paper
9x6" with about an inch border on all sides.
© 2011 Megan Chapman
$35

six hours
Mixed Media Painting on 140lb. Arches Paper
9x6" with about an inch border on all sides.
© 2011 Megan Chapman
$35

please remember
Mixed Media Painting on 140lb. Arches Paper
9x6" with about an inch border on all sides.
© 2011 Megan Chapman
sold

This is my latest series: "Letters never sent." These works pick up where the "Maps of the Night" left off and are a precursor to my next series "Sometimes I love you and other stories." They are available for $35 plus shipping on my etsy shop Art Maven. If you live in Fayetteville please email me and I can reserve your piece for payment and pickup through the Fayetteville Underground. Email me at megancha@gmail.com with any questions. Thanks for your support! Visit my Etsy shop here: http://www.etsy.com/people​/artmaven

typed words, dreams and paper

This week I started some more small works for my etsy shop. These pieces are a precursor to my series "sometimes I love you and other stories." I have two completed and three more currently on the go. I have incorporate small abstract paintings with typed text and I must say I am very excited! My goal is to create at least ten of these new works before I put them on etsy. I hope that will happen either this weekend or in the early part of next week.

In other news, there are only two flashcards left! I am thrilled that twenty seven of these small miniature works have found good homes so far. Perhaps you have been meaning to get yourself a flashcard before they are all gone! Visit my etsy shop to see what remains. I may also be adding some of my older smaller color paintings to etsy. It is time to let go of the past and make room for the new. Every dollar you spend in my shop or on my art keeps me on the path, funds my next series, and truly keeps me alive. I am honored when people spend their hard earned money on my work as I understand it is tough all over.

There has been a lot going on professionally and personally in my life lately and sometimes it is hard to keep my head above water. However, when I talk with a patron of the arts about my work and my dreams for the future everything seems possible. Thank you for your encouragement.

Next week things will kick into high gear with my new paper works on etsy and more progress being made on my latest series of works on canvas. You know I will keep you posted.

Until then, keep fighting.

Like painting under water...

she's of two minds

This week was busy almost. Many days were spent in the studio and certain rushes of excitement were felt as small breakthroughs have been made in the series. The paintings, rather than forming one by one seem to be forming more as a whole. I currently have thirteen new paintings on the go for my series Sometimes I love you and other stories. THIRTEEN! Yeah, it totally caught me off guard as well. This has been some strange painting, minute movements, as the title of this post suggests, like painting under water. The words are there but the paintings are being slower and more coy and as I sit here this seems to make perfect sense. Coy on the surface perhaps or maybe a bit shy and reserved until you get to know them and then BAM! I think they will pack one hell of a lovely punch. I will keep you up to date and yes, of course there will be some sneak peeks along the way as well...

In other news, I must say again how pleased I am to have returned to Etsy. My flashcards have been selected for many lovely treasury lists, which are collections curated by other members. I am always honored when my work is chosen and fits in perfectly with all the other impressive selections. So please check out my Etsy shop Art Maven for affordable works on paper. There are only eight flashcards left and I do not plan on offering any more of this series.

And lastly here is the sound on repeat from studio...



PS. Keep fighting. The world needs YOU and your ART.

PPS. Artist Stewart Bremner is letting go of the past and you can pick up a painting for a song! If bold, graphic paintings with a pop art bent are your style then he has the paintings for you! Even with shipping from Scotland these paintings are a steal! Check them out. There are only twelve left! Go here to explore!