Permission to rest

A work in progress and my studio from back in the day. Look at all those canvases. 

This week got away from me or did it? 

I attended two union meetings, mentored a brilliant artist, had a doctor's appointment, went to my studio for a bit of a clear out, received some work back from a gallery, had a video chat with an artist pal about artists' working conditions, and recorded my Tuesday Video Visit. 

And then I took it easy - I have permission to rest. I finished watching Station 11 and tonight is the season finale of Severance - no spoilers! Severance is probably one of my favourite programmes since the first season of Twin Peaks. Highly recommend. 

I'm still not painting much this year - and it's already April. I am not sure I have ever gone this long without making new work. I think I am okay with it. I think much of my previous work was fueled by internalised capitalism and built upon a foundation of doubt and fear. That wee truth bomb is brought to you by the union and a lot of personal work. The good news is that I don't have to work like that anymore.

However, I will say, I have been seeing flashes of work in my mind's eye again lately and that's always exciting. There's a new plan for the studio at the drill hall afoot which could be beneficial, fun, and see me working there a bit more soon as well... I will keep you posted. 

Here's the Tuesday Studio Video Visit if you missed it. A very general demystification of art exhibitions and galleries - and just a few things to think about. 

I will leave you with a reminder of the Abstractionistas Exhibition News: 

Current:
Awakenings, Detour Espresso, 

39 Argyle Place, Marchmont, Edinburgh until April 17th.
M-F 9-4pm and Sat-Sun 10-4pm 

Future:

Inception, Dalkeith Palace, 

Dalkeith Country Park

May 6-8 

Learn more and get your tickets: https://www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/event/inception-art-show/

Enjoy my video visits, photos, writing, and art? Support my work on ko-fi. 

https://ko-fi.com/meganchapman 

Thanks! And as always, keep fighting!

Are you a Scottish Artist? Consider joining your union.

Are you a UK Artist? Here's a report on the working conditions of artists that you might be interested in reading.

Exhibition, Studio, Union!

This week started off with a lovely trip to the country with a friend to take five of my paintings (see above) to the Dancing Light Gallery. I like the gallery's tag line, Contemporary Art, Contemporary Thinking. It's a slightly unusual venue being that it is situated on an organic farm but its uniqueness makes it a destination spot. One can make a day of it by taking in the art in the beautiful and light-filled contemporary gallery, dining in the organic farm to table restaurant and cafe, all while picking up their organic messages and produce, browsing the antique store, charging their electric car and perhaps going for a wee hill walk in the majestic countryside, just outside the city of Edinburgh.

This is my first time showing with the gallery and I was delighted to be asked to participate in their Spring Exhibition.

Spring Exhibition is on show from the 30th March to 29th May 2019. The Preview & Wine Reception will be on Saturday 30th March 2pm To 5pm.

Dancing Light Gallery
Whitmuir by Lamancha
West Linton
Edinburgh
EH46 7BB

Gallery Hours:
Mon - Sun. 10am-5pm
Phone 01968 660200
Email: info@dancinglightgallery.co.uk

You can see me talking more about this wonderful opportunity and the exhibition in my latest Tuesday Studio Video Visit. 

In other news this week, I cleaned my studio, studied my scroll series and worked on a stack of small works. 

I rounded out my week with the Scottish Artists Union. I participated in a consultation session to review a draft of the Fair Work Contract. It was wonderful to be a room with passionate and professional individuals working for the best interests of all artists and to get paid fairly for our time! I am proud to be a union member, it feels good to be part of something that recognises the time, effort, and expense of being an artist and the intrinsic value of our work. We are workers with rights and deserve to get paid like everyone else. The union protects these rights, educates artists and the art community, and supports the artist. If you are a artist working in Scotland and are eligible to join your union please do so, we are stronger together and the benefits of joining are plenty. This is the second union event I have attended since joining in the new year, the first presentation was on basic income and how it would benefit artists (and everyone else) - both presentations were valuable and empowering. Join today! 

Thanks for reading, I hope you are well, happy, and inspired wherever you are. Keep fighting!