All that I am: Publishing News!

Image Credit: Printano. Painting: All that I am by Megan Chapman 

Dear Readers and Patrons,

I have some exciting news to share with you all.

I was recently contacted by the creative director of Image Conscious, a San Francisco-based art publisher and distributor of open-edition fine art prints, posters, and canvas reproductions. 

"Image Conscious is one of the largest wholesale art suppliers worldwide, they sell exclusively to retailers, art consultants, interior designers, frame and poster shops, speciality shops, and wholesale framers. In business since 1980, their collection is comprised of some of the world’s finest contemporary artists and photographers."

I am happy to share, I am now one of them! I am beyond thrilled to have signed a contract to license a very special series of my paintings for worldwide reproduction across a variety of platforms, including wholesale and retail! 

Image Credit: Printano. Painting: Everything I love by Megan Chapman 

That means that wherever you are in the world, you can now purchase quality reproductions of my series, Echoes and Memory. There are 15 paintings in the series to choose from, all beautifully reproduced, and now in a variety of sizes available as a rolled or framed print, or a stretched canvas, with all sorts of beautiful framing options. 

It has always been important to me that my art remain accessible and working with Image Conscious makes this a reality, and takes it to the next level! I am really excited about this new partnership. 

As part of this arrangement, I am also delighted that I am currently a featured artist with Printano. 

"As planet-conscious individuals and artists at heart, we envisioned creating a platform that offers the highest-quality artworks to our customers while steadfastly supporting artists and the planet. We believe in the power of art to inspire, transform, and bring about positive change in the world. This belief fueled our mission to create a sustainable and artist-friendly marketplace. Printano came to life in 2022, born from a passion for art and a commitment to sustainability."

I love their ethos and I am so pleased to be part of it and have my work available to more people than ever before. Shop and enjoy the collection on their elegant site.

Image Credit: Printano. Painting: Your quiet heart by Megan Chapman 

Besides Image Conscious for wholesale orders and Printano for retail, you can also find this body of work beautifully reproduced on Art.com, Allposters.com and in more places soon. Currently, at Printano they are offering 15% off your first order and free shipping for orders over $100. 

I am just so happy to share some good and exciting news.

To be an artist is to persevere. 
To be an artist is to protect your work.
This is no easy task but sometimes good things do happen and hard work gets noticed. Good working relationships in the arts can exist and when one of us succeeds, we all do. 

Thank you for your support and enthusiasm for my work and for being here to witness it all. 

Keep fighting.

We are the roses

Work on paper, 2024

I don't really know where to start or what to write this week. My regular readers/viewers will know, this year has been pretty wordless on the old studio blog. I have mostly posted images of my works on paper as I complete them. The past two weeks have seen reactionary posts due to the state of arts funding in Scotland.

Yesterday, I was at the demonstration at the Scottish Parliament regarding the cuts with my peers and fellow artists from the Scottish Artists Union. It was a spirited protest. I chanted, held my placard high, and listened to all of the impassioned speeches. I am always moved by anything Roz Foyer (General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress) has to say and as usual, she didn't disappoint with her speech yesterday. I could share all the photos I took and I could write more in-depth about the experience. However, I am not sure I have it in me to post that blog today. 

I do feel that trade unions hold so much promise. If you are someone looking for help, a safe place to land, and a place to create change and get involved, then your union might just be the place to go. Our unions are only as strong as our membership. The more engaged our members are, the more power the union has to affect real change. So if you haven't already and you are eligible to join a union, please do so and ask how you can be more involved.

If you are in a reasonably stable place, and you have a bit of time to possibly attend meetings, go to learning events, or perhaps simply read a newsletter and familiarise yourself with your union's website and workings, you will probably get something meaningful back in return for your time. 

I am reminded of John F. Kennedy's famous and often quoted inaugural address from January 20, 1961.  

"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

I'll paraphrase his wise words with an unapologetic union slant: Ask not what your union can do for you, ask what you can do for your union and what together we can do for the freedom of all workers.

I guess I knew what to write all along... and if you have read these last few blogs, thank you. If you have been in the trenches the last couple of weeks and well beyond, thank you. 

You and your work matter. Keep fighting.

Your exposure is my exploitation

Between fear and joy (that's where we live), works on paper, 2024

Thanks to everyone who read and shared my studio blog last week. That post was my most viewed of the year.

There is clearly a systemic misunderstanding of what artists do, how we live, and what we need and want. There is also a devaluation of our time, skills, and methods. Continuous gatekeeping and obfuscation at every turn is the norm. The results of this continue to land on the artists with wounding effects.

These broken systems dine out on the culture we create, yet we are left holding the tab. Emotionally, physically, and financially, we suffer, while the systems that claim to support us grow and thrive. The very systems that pit us against each other while also breaking us down and filling us with doubt. 

Artists seem to be meant to live speculatively and unmoored. Our faith, resilience, and dedication towards creation are meant to sustain us wholly. This is untenable. 

I am not your creative economy. I am an artist. 

I am not your academy. I am an individual. 

I am not your content creator. I am a worker. 

Your exposure is my exploitation. 

My art is my life, not just one part of it. 

I deserve ground under my feet. 

I deserve to be seen and understood. 

I deserve to live well. 

We all do.

The ship is sailing

but I don't want to stop, work on paper, 2024

Through my love of genealogy, I have learned so much about my family’s place in history and the history of the world. It is meaningful to find the beginnings of one’s strength of character, creativity, moral code, or adventurous spirit embedded in the documents of those who have come before. It is moving to find your place in their words, deeds, and movements across the land and sea. 

Recently, I was looking at ship manifests from 1774. This particular one contained a list of passengers on board Ulysses bound for North Carolina from the Port of Greenock, Scotland. Listed are the passenger names, ages, former place of residence, business, and lastly, the reason for emigrating.

“High Rents and Oppression.”

Listed over and over and over again.

“High Rents and Oppression.”

We all know of the Highland Clearances, and most of us know what happened there and why - but for some reason, to read “High Rents and Oppression” repeatedly in this way hit me a bit harder and differently.

250 years later, the same plight comes crashing down around us, “High Rents and Oppression.”

Workers are struggling to pay their rent. Artists are struggling to pay for their studios.

Buildings that held promise are being left to rot - gap sites of misunderstandings and budget cuts. Yet, there is always money for something new and shining.

And then, the news this week from Creative Scotland regarding The Open Fund for Individuals - the fund that supports artists, writers, producers and other creative practitioners in Scotland would be closing due to the Scottish Government being unable to confirm the funds required.

“High Rents and Oppression.”

I am an artist. I tell stories and express feelings with colour, shape, and form. I watch the world and comment on my place in it. I get to be dramatic, daring, and critical. However, I worry some may think I am being too dramatic or that I am not from here and do not have the right to make such connections. I am from here, and I have returned. I stand rooted in my ancestor’s boots.

And I know that artists are packing up their studios, packing up their lives, and hanging up their brushes and other tools. Their offerings and forms of art are disappearing in front of our eyes.

Ideas float past a heartbroken painter, yet she will not look up and grab them. These ideas will float on and away. The jubilant words you need to hear won’t reach that writer as they push their dreams away. The play, the dance, the song, the film - they continue to fade. They are leaving us now...

A cultural diaspora in the making.

The ship is sailing.

Grocery lists

There is a song for the feeling. 

Your ghost lives here

Musical interlude...

My brushes are clean

I gave my brushes a good bath (the pictures above are after the bath). I did some technical things relating to my art career. I went out and saw some good art around town. I said no to an opportunity. Another opportunity ended and another showed up. I listened to music and I talked to good people. I worked and I sang and I took a risk.

It's the start of August. 

Already. 

And my brushes are clean.

We might could

Falling to earth

A certain detatched sadness

Your tender heart

That's right

 Seems to be a theme.

Order of operations

 

Hello to the strong winds that brought me here

 

Process the old news

 

There's so much I could say, but I'll let you finish.

Exhibition news and a bit of backstory

Time spent as someone else

Mixed media on canvas

40x50cm

Megan Chapman

£645

On Thursday night, I was "making the scene" at the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Leith. It was a large event celebrating the history and just some of the talent that has been a part of making the Drill Hall a storied arts venue.

There were loads of people and lovely food and drinks provided by the incredible cafe staff. The event focused on a stage offering up a rousing performance by All or Nothing aerial dance company set to a remixed cover of Lesley Gore's You Don't Own Me, there was a scene from "Made to Connect" a play written by Duncan Kidd and performed by Active Inquiry. There was ethereal music provided by a talented member of the Clarsach Society. And of course, there was a DJ. New celebratory banners hung high above, created by the Out of the Blueprint, and buckets hung from the ceiling in a bright display. There was also an art exhibition by several resident studio artists. 

The participating artists included:

Felicity Inkpen @felicityinkpen

Solen Collet @solencollet

Cluster Studio 

Elaine Wilson  @elainewilsonvisualart

Daniel Murray @danmurrayartist

Megan Chapman @megan.chapman.artist

Mairi MacSween @mairimacsweendesigns

Catherine Giselle @catherinegiselleart

Precious Metals Workshop: featuring work by Amanda McGrattan, Cameron Murdoch, Eve Smith, and others. 

It was good to see my peers and have some laughs. The residents' exhibition was installed this past Tuesday & Wednesday and it comes down on Saturday, June 1st at 5pm. Blink and you will miss it - so don't blink! 

My blog is being posted a bit late, so if you are reading this on Saturday, June 1st and you are near Edinburgh, you have from 10am - 5pm today to enjoy the show. Pop in, have a coffee, and see some art in a bright, airy, and historic place. 

Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 8RG

Now that we have the particulars squared away, I am going to tell you a little about the work I decided to share in the exhibition from my series All The Ways.

Stolen moments

Mixed media on canvas

40x50cm

Megan Chapman

£645

I wrote this about the work at the time.

"Colour has always been extremely important to me. Even though the bulk of this series seems to be covered over with a neutral grey, there are ochres, greens, blues, pinks, Payne's grey and charcoals dancing or wrestling together. The colours are flickering, sputtering, jumping, and clawing their way up out of the grey. There is a faded beauty, something beneath the surface dripping and aching yet energetic, always making its way through the grey. Sometimes the grey is well-known and comforting in its nothingness. This is a series about resilience." 

This series was created in 2017 during the first year of Donald Trump's presidency in the United States. 

The pink was unusual within my more standard palette and its use was a form of rebellion. Trump was in the white house and wreaking havoc. As the world seemed to be getting darker by the minute, I grabbed the pink.

At the time, I didn't talk about this series being a direct reaction to what was happening in American politics - couching it in terms of resilience was easier and seemed more palatable. I think I told a few close friends and trusted patrons, and then I kept it to myself. 

Back to the present - I arrived home from the event and checked the news. There was another reason to celebrate. Donald Trump was found guilty in a court of law. 

It seems more than fitting that these are the selections on display. 

The art never lies.

To hide the best parts

Mixed media on canvas

40x40cm

Megan Chapman

£550