Abstractionistas Exhibition This Weekend!

You are invited to our new exhibition!

"Paper" is the latest exhibition by the Scottish women's art collective, the Abstractionistas, featuring artists, Megan Chapman, Judith Shaylor Art, and Susan Elizabeth Wilson. The group is delighted to bring their works on paper to the Granton Hub during the Edinburgh festival.

The three-day pop-up show is open to the public from 11-4 pm on the 12th, 13th and 14th of August at the Granton Hub, Madelvic House, Granton Park Avenue, Edinburgh, EH5 1HS. The artists will have a public reception on Saturday the 13th from 2-4 pm. Join us!

Abstractionistas: Paper
August 12-14th 11-4 pm
Reception Saturday, Aug. 13 from 2-4 pm
Granton Hub, Granton Park Avenue
Edinburgh, EH5 1HS

Research, mentoring, and a publication!

Hello Dear Readers, 

This week got away from me a bit and I am not sure how, but it did. Oh, I remember now... I fell down a rabbit hole of Hans Holbein the younger's works along with a deep genealogy dive. Look at his lines... Swoon-worthy. 

James Butler, later 9th Earl of Ormond and 2nd Earl of Ossory (c.1496-1546),
c. 1537, Hans Holbein the Younger

In other news, I had some technical issues with my phone so I couldn't film the Tuesday Studio Video Visit, so I will pick up with those next week. Thanks for your patience. 

Excitedly talking about art 

In other, other news, I have enjoyed a bit of artist mentoring again lately and am reminded how much I love that work. If you are interested in working with me please book an appointment through my ko-fi shop. Currently, one hour of mentoring costs £20.

I offer one-to-one email or video mentoring for artists who are at a crossroads with their work or for those who have been away from their art for a while and want to return to it. We can examine your past work, creative habits, and blocks - working together to push through obstacles in a supportive, encouraging, and yet challenging way.

Thanks to all the artists past and present that have used my mentoring service over the years, thank you for trusting me with your thoughts, feelings, and of course your work. It's always an honour. 

Click here to book an appointment: https://ko-fi.com/s/d7d95833e0

One pigeon wing to tether a ghost's heart 

And last but certainly not least, I am delighted to share that I have had a drawing published in issue #3 of 'Less' a journal on degrowth, radical sufficiency and decolonisation in Scotland, produced by Enough! Scotland. The drawing above can be seen next to 'Unlearning empire ~ re-membering earth' by Vishwam Heckert

Vishwam explores how we move beyond empire and imperialism, abstraction and disconnection: “...if we wish to transform our world, we cannot do so without unlearning the embodied and psychic habit of separating ‘us’ and ‘them’ or ‘me’ from the ‘world’.

Pick up a copy at any of the COP26 civic hubs in Glasgow:

– Govan Free State at the GalGael Trust

– COP26 Coalition – Adelaide Place
– Centre for Contemporary Arts CCA Glasgow

– The Centre for Human Ecology’s Clydeside Sessions at the Pearce Institute
– The Tramway

Copies will be distributed to hubs across Scotland shortly – watch this space!

I hope you will pick up a copy and give Enough a follow on Twitter.

That's all I have for you this week. I hope you are well, happy, and inspired (to raise a little hell). Until next week, keep fighting.

Two exhibitions! Make plans to attend!

Hello Dear Studio Blog Readers, 

I am happy to share again that I have work coming up in two exhibitions in July. It's time to get serious about the promotion of both of them. So here goes with thanks to both press releases. If you are local to Edinburgh or plan to visit, I hope you can catch one if not both of these exhibitions. 

Artwork by Abigail Osborne ‘a lot of people want you to throw this away' (2020)

granton:hub is pleased to announce that our community is now included in the 'Coastal Knowledge’ project funded by the RSE Young Academy Scotland and led by Dr Niki Vermeulen (University of Edinburgh) celebrating Scotland’s (prolonged) year of coast and waters.

As a coastal community, Granton plays a part in developing diverse forms of knowledge about the coast and experiences that people have living and working on the coast.

The Recycl-Age Art exhibition was selected as part of this Coastal Knowledge project and is included in the 2021 Edinburgh Science festival, offering artists a unique opportunity to showcase their work. Recycl-Age Art 2021 includes painters, printmakers, collage artists, ceramicists, illustrators, photographers, textile artists, jewellers, composers, poets and makers. Many artworks incorporate recycled elements, indeed several are made of 100% recycled and repurposed materials. Some artists reflect on what recycling means to them, figuratively or conceptually

With contributions from: Marta Adamowicz –  Elise Ashby – Anna Baran – Emily Brooks Millar – Sandra Brown – Megan Chapman – Erin Colquhoun – Michael Dawson – Gina Fierlafijn Reddie – Penny Forbes – Komachi Goto – David Gray – Lorna Johnson – Jessica Kirkpatrick – Victor Nobis – Valerie O’Regan – Abigail Osborne – Ludovica Perosin – Ian Reddie – Judith Shaylor – Jacqueline Thow – Mark Urban – Rosemary Walker – Bev Wright

Here is the preview video:

I am delighted to participate in this exciting exhibition. As you may recall I was very inspired by the granton hub when I showed there in the past and wrote a blog about the experience. You can read that post again here. That positive experience encouraged me to apply to become a volunteer at the hub. I have been enjoying helping behind the scenes in preparation for the Recyl-Age exhibition.

On to the next big show... 

A really exciting moment is approaching for the Abstractionistas, the new abstract collective of which I am a proud member. I really hope to see you at this exhibition.

Advancing the Abstract’ debut exhibition by Abstractionistas collective

Friday 9 July 2021 - Sunday 25 July 2021

Reception: Saturday 10 July 2021, 2-6 pm

Open daily from 12-5 pm

Gallery Two, Edinburgh Palette, St. Margaret’s House

151 London Road

Edinburgh

EH7 6AE

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abstractionistas/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Abstractionistas

Book your Free Exhibition Tickets: https://bit.ly/exhibitiontickets

‘Advancing the Abstract’ is the debut exhibition from a new collective of abstract painters based in Scotland. The collective, aptly named, The Abstractionistas, is currently made up of four artists - Esther Donaldson, Megan Chapman, Judith Shaylor and Susan Wilson. These women bring a depth of experience in the arts and a firm dedication to abstract expression, each one striking a different chord with their use of colour, line, space, and drama.

The goal of the collective is to create more opportunities to share the enduring importance, power and pull of abstraction with viewers across Scotland. Please join us for this exciting inaugural exhibition.

The exhibition will be open to the public, subject to current government guidelines. Masks are required except for those who are exempt, social distancing will be in place, and hand sanitiser will be available.

Please book your free tickets on Eventbrite so that we can provide you with a safer and more enjoyable exhibition experience. There are 10 tickets available for each 30-minute time slot to allow for physical distancing.

To attend the opening reception please select ticket times between 2-6 pm on Saturday 10 July. All the artists will be available at this time and would love to see you there!

The Winter Variations : New Small Works

Winter Variation One

Winter Variation Two
Sold

Winter Variation Three

Winter Variation Four

Winter Variation Five

Winter Variation Six

Winter Variation Seven
Sold

Winter Variation Eight
Sold

We are in the dead of winter. 

Hibernation. The rain, the wind, the sea, and shades of grey surround. 

A quiet time to listen, sleep, watch, breathe, and repeat. 

The winter variations. 

These original mixed media paintings are on heavyweight hot-pressed Fabriano Artistico paper. The mount window is 5x7" and these are ready to pop into an 8x10" frame. £45 with free shipping in the UK. I will be adding these to my ko-fi shop soon and sharing them on social media. 

I hope you are well. 

Thanks for everything, 

Megan

You said I made a bad decision: A new series of small works

See these new works (mixed media on linen panel 10x10cm, set into a 15x15cm tray frame) and much more at Open Studios, Saturday, December 1st from 11-5pm at The Out of the Blue Drill Hall 36 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh. You'll find me in Studio G23. See you there. 

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