A good autumnal recipe

Hello there! 

And hello, Mississippi! Fantastic result! Many of us are still breathing a huge sigh of relief peppered with hope after the Democrats swept the US midterms (again largely in thanks to black women getting out the vote). It feels like the sun is shining everyday. It has really given me (and so many others) a boost - long may it continue and may democracy prevail.

I had a wonderful weekend as well, I won't get into all the specifics but it had a really good flow. Cosy domesticity mixed with art, friends, the city, film, good food, and surprises. 

I usually dread autumn as it means darkness and that winter is coming. This autumn, after a rough start, I seem to be leaning into it now with creative hibernation (painting, reading, learning, and as always music) mixed with visiting lovely people in this beautiful city paired with some quality rest. This makes a good autumnal recipe.

In studio news, I currently have eight paintings on the go. Six that I am focusing on just now  - the two others just got the ball rolling and may be abandoned until later. 

I am currently painting on 9x12" mdf and pine panels from Jackson's - they are cradled and are 38mm deep. It's a nice size, feels substantial enough but also intimate. It's early days yet, so no photos. It's a personal ritual at this point, as I return and remember. 

Here's a cookie recipe. 
A film rec.
A punk rock playlist. 
And a talk: Art is a Weapon: Ian MacKaye and Mark Andersen on Punk Rock, Politics, Activism, and Aging. I stayed up late on Thursday night so I could be there live but you can watch the replay.

And that's all I have for you this week. Thank you for tuning in and for supporting my work. I will be sharing more available small works from my archive very soon. 

Keep fighting!

Rise above!

The Great Wave off Kanagawa 

24.6 cm × 36.5 cm (9.7 in × 14.4 in)

Katsushika Hokusai, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Public Domain

Hello dear readers, 

How are you doing? If you are anything like me you may feel like you exhaled for the first time in two years, your shoulders have released, and your blood pressure has dropped considerably. Thank goodness the American people - especially black women, (thank you, thank you, thank you), organised and got out the vote for the Democrats. The people do still indeed have the power and can effectively fight back against the billionaires, tech bros, and oligarchs. America is back - and it's a new dawn. All the dinosaurs (and I am looking across the parties) need to step aside and let this beautiful new voice for America do it's thing. Y'all are beautiful- all the joy shared from Texas to Michigan and across the country was a sight for sore eyes. It took me back to 2008. I am am over the moon and have some hope for a change. The relief is palpable. I may live in Scotland but there is no doubt, I am American made. 

In art news, things are percolating in the studio this week as well. I am telling y'all, it has been a good week - and I am so grateful. 

This past weekend I spent some time in my studio working on two larger canvases (70x50cm) by painting over some works in progress that didn't quite jell. It felt so good to be up before dawn with my big headphones on jumping around and painting. I am not expecting much - just warming up the motor and getting accustomed to the vibes. Remembering again for the billionth time. 

I also ordered some new materials for the first time in a while. This is a big deal, as I have been pretty stuck - frozen and unsure of where things stood in my art world. I was feeling pretty distraught about it really - like I had abandoned it or it had abandoned me. I thought I might even be bitter - but then I realised I was grieving the loss of many aspects of my creative practice.

Aspects such as motivation, inspiration, community, exhibitions, and all the conversations that take place in front of art that sometimes lead to sales and other opportunities - but mostly just being seen and understood. I am a different person when I get to talk about art. The art enjoys and needs an audience, and so do I. So now that that's clear, I can move forward.

Cutting through the Noise
mixed media on canvas, 20x25cm mounted
© 2021 Megan Chapman
SOLD

And there's more! I sold a wee piece from my October series to a lovely collector in Glasgow. Glasgow folks have always supported my art from when I first showed up in Scotland back in 2014. Thank you for seeing me and appreciating what I am trying to do. I love all my supporters of course, but the people really do make Glasgow. 

And the sale just happened to pay for the materials I purchased. So that's a sign - keep going, stay the course - I know how this magic works, but it's so easy to forget. 

So it's been a wild week with a bit of hope, a bit of art and a bit of everything I love and need. Thanks for being part of it. 

Keep fighting and fingers crossed for Mississippi.

Music, Books, Films, Art, Vote!

Oh hello, better late than never? I am unsure, but here I am - it's Sunday but of course this will be backdated for Friday for consistency. I don't have to tell you this - if there even is a you. 

I am listening to a "guilty pleasure" song on repeat. Guilty pleasure is such a dumb phrase. It's a pleasure - it sounds fucking great. I have always been embarrassed that I liked it. It was a hit from 1991 or at least I think it was (I had to go and research this shall remain nameless song for myself and yes it was a hit). 

So anyway, here I am. The sun is shining and the sky is a bright blue so that's nice. I had another "come to jesus meeting" with myself as I have been feeling poorly again lately. I had 4 migraines this week and broke out into hives (again). I just went through this in June, so obviously a few things need to change because that's just pure shite. 

Anyway - I'll see what I can do about it, but I have a few hunches...

As this blog is about art  - I will share some culture. This month, I enjoyed the following books.

I am half way through the sequel to Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, called, More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop (not pictured). These are quiet and calm books with a host of interesting enough characters and are very soothing, and not exactly my usual type of book. Piglet was very stressful but also very hard to put it down. Convenience Store Woman was great - I really enjoyed the lead character and her job in the convenience store brought to my mind, with wistful appreciation, - my old dishwashing days. Grief is the Thing with Feathers was excellent - the actor reading it was superb, the character of Crow really comes to life. Have you read any of these? 

In the film department, I watched Awakenings from 1990 with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. A beautifully shot and a deeply moving film based on a true story, directed by Penny Marshall. It's wild how different films looked and felt back then - it really made me feel nostalgic and the film is a heartbreaker. I had to look up how old De Niro was at the time of filming, 47. Now you know. 

Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4921497

I also finally saw the acclaimed film from Olivia Wilde, The Invite. Intense, funny, and very entertaining - a modern classic within a gorgeous interior. 

By A24 - https://press.a24films.com/films/the-invite
Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82885822

Photo credit Cyan Clayworks

On Friday, I popped by to see my pals Fiona and Chris at their fabulous pottery studio, Cyan Clayworks. It's always a joy to sit a spell and have a blether over tea. Go see them and support their work - good people, doing good things always deserve your custom.

In other cultural news, the midterm election is on Tuesday. If you are in the States please for the love of all things normal, healthy, and hopeful go vote! Your vote matters more than ever.

And on that note...keep fighting!

The sun holds nostalgic promise

Sing to me of your life long ago
mixed media on canvas
20x25cm
Megan Chapman

I am facing the wrong way. I close my eyes and smile as the sun illuminates my face. It beams at me fiercely through the back window of the bus, and no one is enjoying it more.

While waiting for this bus I watched the sun on the walls of a building across the street. The sun holds nostalgic promise, I typed into the notes of my phone. I quickly returned to the warm glowing wall and my dreaming. I was somewhere else then, I was riding in a car through a forest by a river. I was in a different country and I was young.

Dark symphony (the radio comes on)

Dark symphony (the radio comes on)

Mixed Media on Canvas

20 x 25 cm

£65

This original mixed-media painting is on raw canvas

The mount window is 5x7" and is ready to pop into an 8x10"/ frame

Cutting through the noise

Mixed Media on Canvas

£65

This original mixed-media painting is on raw canvas

The mount window is 5x7" and is ready to pop into an 8x10"/ frame

I found myself (here come the clouds)

Mixed Media on Canvas

20 x 25 cm

£65

This original mixed-media painting is on raw canvas

The mount window is 5x7" and is ready to pop into an 8x10"/ frame

Wrong turn

Mixed Media on Canvas

20 x 25 cm

£65

This original mixed-media painting is on raw canvas

The mount window is 5x7" and is ready to pop into an 8x10"/ frame

Sing to me of your life long ago

Mixed Media on Canvas

20 x 25 cm

£65

This original mixed-media painting is on raw canvas

The mount window is 5x7" and is ready to pop into an 8x10"/ frame

Easter surprise (spring love)

Mixed Media on Canvas

20 x 25 cm

£65

This original mixed-media painting is on raw canvas

The mount window is 5x7" and is ready to pop into an 8x10"/ frame

October's Post Box Originals features this series of gestural small works from 2021. Each painting is signed, titled, and dated on the back. Price includes P&P in the UK and the work will be insured and tracked.

I thought I would share an example of a framing option using an affordable off the shelf 8x10" frame from B&M. These frames also have a built in hanger or a ladder back in case you would rather display your painting on a shelf or table. As I hope this illustrates, these pieces can become display ready with very little additional effort or expense. Offering original art that is more accessible for a range of budgets has always been important to me and will continue to be.

We deserve bread and roses and living with art can be essential.

Let art be your roses.

Until next week, keep fighting. 
With love and gratitude, 
Megan 

Cutting through the noise

Cutting through the noise

Well, here we are - it's the second weekend of October. There is a chill in the air as the low light casts its warm shadows amongst the falling leaves. 

Last month, I introduced you to Megan Chapman's Postbox Originals: Accessible art through your letterbox. This month, I am featuring a series of six, gestural small works from 2021. Each painting, on raw canvas, is mounted and fits an 8x10" frame. Each piece is signed, titled, and dated on the back and the price includes p&p within the UK. The work will be insured and tracked. It's a more affordable way to build your collection and support me so that I can devote more time to creating new work. 

I hope you can take a break from the world and cut through the noise with this month's featured series.

Thank you for your support. 
Until next week, keep fighting.

Rest my chemistry

Hey Folks. 

I am going to do something I haven't done in a while. I am simply going to share a bit of Interpol doing what they do best. Cheering me up and bringing the tunes. Here they are live on KEXP.

Until next week, you know what to do - keep fighting!

And if you are from the USA make a plan to vote in the midterms, vote early if you can, and if you are living abroad, get your ballot in the post as soon as possible!