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!

We will live this time...

This week was filled with meetings, appointments, migraines, tracking down a typewriter and so much more. I did manage to work, paint, and research regardless of all the distractions. The week started off with a bang as I sold my final Map of the Night from my shop artmaven on Etsy. I can officially call the Maps of the Night series a sell out! I am so pleased about this, I loved that body of work and I hope those who have collected it will enjoy those works for many years to come. There are still eight remaining flashcards in my shop, so snap those up! I also decided to add the remaining secret blocks and have lowered the price on them slightly from when they were shown in galleries, so please check out artmaven for all my remaining small works!

Every purchase helps me stay on the path, helps me stay connected with artists near and far, and helps to encourage and support me. Thanks again to all my many patrons and supporters over the years. I am very fortunate to have your support and I'll never take it for granted. You allow me to to be an artist and that is the greatest gift you can give me; the freedom to stay focused on my art, my true calling on this planet.

In other news, I have begun incorporating type into my new works for my next series, Sometimes I love you and other stories. This is the reason for tracking down a typewriter, which was graciously loaned to me by a local writer. I am tempted to tell you about and show you the beginnings of this series but I feel like I should hold back at this time until it becomes more solid of a concept. I can tell you I am very excited and I have high hopes for this series.

Until next week, keep fighting.

And the serious work begins...

work in progress in the studio

This week has been good, mostly spent painting in the studio, researching, writing and talking about my upcoming series. I have maintained regular hours in my studio and have six paintings on the go currently. They are in the infancy stages, but I am feeling better about all things since I have been spending regular time around my materials and working. It hasn't been easy, there has been a lot of pacing back and forth and flipping through my music to find just the "right" album to set the tone.

This body of work seems like it is going to be a stretch, a bit like pulling teeth with a heavy dose of trepidation but also unbridled excitement and inspiration. I cleaned my studio, took inventory and ordered the supplies I assumed I would need to complete this next body of work. My supplies have mostly arrived and I have a pretty good idea that there will be twenty new pieces in the series. All of this is subject to change as the work and concepts start to solidify. I say this mostly as an escape route for myself and from any expectations from viewers, but truly I hope I can pull of what I am setting out to do.

In other news, having my etsy shop re-opened has been really great. I have enjoyed finding my flash cards and my maps of the night featured in several really lovely treasuries. A treasury is when a fellow etsy seller functions as a curator and creates collections of work they admire. I have had a couple of sales as well. There are only ten flashcards and one map of the night left!

Until next week, you know what to do...

The moment between words...

how I'll arrive
mixed media on paper 6x4"
© 2011 Megan Chapman
Sold

I was a bit absent from my studio this week and I am not sure why. I did manage to create several new flash cards at the beginning of the week and have now completed the series. I also decided to re-stock my, until recently dormant etsy shop ArtMaven. You can find all the remaining flashcards and maps of the night there for purchase with free shipping! It is a convenient way to buy art, as etsy not only uses paypal but also accepts major credit cards. I can ship to anywhere in the world. I hope folks will take advantage of my shop being active again. I always enjoy using etsy as an artist and as an art buyer. I was also thrilled to have my flash card "been and gone" featured in a sweet etsy treasury.

Here are the most recent flash cards for your enjoyment. You can also email me directly if you are interested in these works at megancha@gmail.com.

been and gone
mixed media on paper 6x4"
© 2011 Megan Chapman
Sold

listen to the silence
mixed media on paper 6x4"
© 2011 Megan Chapman
Sold

there is a reason
mixed media on paper 6x4"
© 2011 Megan Chapman
Sold

within the cracks
mixed media on paper 6x4"
© 2011 Megan Chapman
$25

pale remnants
mixed media on paper 6x4"
© 2011 Megan Chapman
Sold

the moment between words
mixed media on paper 6x4"
© 2011 Megan Chapman
$25

In other news, Stewart Bremner who I collaborated with on our series "A question of chemistry" has three of his latest paintings currently on display as part of an exhibition at UNION gallery in Edinburgh. These are impressive works on paper, exploding with color and emotion. Here is a link to the gallery's website so you can see Stewart's work. I wanted to share them with you not only because I think they are impressive and inspired works, but because I want people to see Stewart's voice and hand in his solo work. By viewing his paintings you can learn to recognize his voice in our collaborative work; as many folks that have seen our paintings in person may be more familiar with my voice than his. These three works of Stewart's are striking and powerful and the framing only sets them off further. You can read a little bit about his experience of the exhibition and see a fantastic photograph of the artist and one of his paintings on his blog. I miss working with him in the studio, but don't worry I am working on the ideas and concepts behind my next body of work and excited by the thoughts I am having. I hope to start working on the actual paintings soon!

Until next week, keep fighting.

No Question...

After the storm
© 2011 Megan Chapman and Stewart Bremner
Mixed Media on Canvas, 40x30"
$1,350

This week in my studio has been about the speeding up and slowing down of time. Stewart has returned home to Scotland and our series remains a souvenir to time well spent. I have the luxury of spending quality time with the work now that it is complete, getting to know it and retracing the steps in the process. Stewart only has the photographs. I really wish he could see how the orange pops under the gallery lights. We hope these paintings will all find good homes, but until they do I will study them and remember the act of working with Stewart. We are thrilled to report that one of the paintings, Watching from afar sold last Saturday during our preview of the series. This first sale meant so much to us both. It is validation of our series and our fevered concentration and work. These paintings mean a lot to us and we love what we have created, but when others love it too and want to live with it, there is nothing like that feeling.

Last night was first Thursday at the Fayetteville Underground, so many more people were able to see the series in the Vault Gallery and in my studio. I had some lovely conversations about the work. Many people wanted to know how two artists could work together in such a way and many asked if I had worked this way before. People seemed genuinely impressed with the results and the story behind the work. I was so pleased and gave Stewart a full report this morning through the static of the internet.

This work taught me a lot about myself and life in general. There is something very vulnerable about painting with another; side by side, making messes and cleaning them up. Someone else gets to see every mistake and question before it forms to make something beautiful or intriguing on the canvas. Painting is usually a private process and many artists love this magical alone time and then suddenly there is this other person that must be considered. It was such a gift to have this experience and it is not a time I will soon forget.

Next week, I may start sharing some ideas about my next series of works for my solo exhibition in September. The proposed title of the exhibition: Sometimes I love you and other stories.

Until next week, keep fighting and take a chance. Life is beautiful.