Fuel the Creative Fire!

Creating art can be challenging and filled with obstacles. From an artist's block to a lack of inspiration, it is not uncommon for life to get in the way of making your art. With a few simple steps, time, and care, you can get back on track and make the art you have always wanted. Whether it's getting organized, setting goals, or taking a break from your work, there are plenty of ways to overcome these obstacles and find inspiration again.

It's easy to get overwhelmed and feel like you don't know where to start. I am a big fan of taking a break and giving yourself some time away from your work. This will help clear your head and allow you to come back with fresh ideas. 

It's also essential to find ways of staying inspired, such as taking yourself out to look at art, listening to music, or watching films that spark creativity. Everyone has days when they feel like they are running out of ideas and inspiration. It's normal and ok to take a break from your work. These ebbs are part of the creative process.

Find ways to re-energize so you can get back on track. Try different non-art-related activities, or take a walk outside - whatever works for you! You may find that giving yourself permission to take a break from the endless cycle of social media promotion will help you come back with new ideas and inspirations.

Finally, don't be afraid to ask for help from others who may have gone through similar experiences or who can offer advice on how to best tackle the challenge. 

You could always book a session with an art mentor if you feel stuck while facing a challenge in your work. I offer this service and it is one of my favourite parts of my art practice. I get inspired working with other artists and watching them move forward.

I have been a professional artist for over 27 years, and during this time, I have developed a deep understanding of the creative process. My extensive knowledge and experience have made me highly skilled in identifying problems and offering solutions to help my fellow artists reach their creative goals. Together we can use creative problem-solving and develop strategies and practices to help you move forward. 

My dedication to helping others find their voice and unique spark drives me. With my strong background in art, I have the perfect skill set to support artists looking for advice and guidance in their work. My approach is tailored to each individual and their specific needs. Come get unstuck with me!

I offer one-to-one video mentoring with additional email support for artists at a crossroads with their work or feeling overwhelmed by their projects. In-person appointments can also be arranged in my studio in Leith, Edinburgh. You can book a session HERE or send me a message with any questions beforehand. I hope to hear from you and work with you soon.  

Enjoy a moment of calm and breathe with me on the latest Tuesday Studio Video Visit. Until next week, keep fighting or go take a walk...

Small works and a visit from the past

This week has been spent in the studio mostly laying the foundations for nine small works. You know I like to alternate between large and small as I build a series. Currently, we have five larger works on the go as well. The studio is warming up, slowly but surely, from the holiday break.

I am continuing to "refill the well" by watching art documentaries again this week (you can see the ones I watched last week, here). So far, these are this week's selections.

 Anselm Keifer- Remembering the Future. Brilliant documentary. I love Keifer and have had the thrill to stand before his great work but knowing more about the man, his process, and to see his studio spaces really brings it all home.

Marina Abramovic - The Artist Is Present, I admire Abramovic and understand her work much more after having seen this tender and moving documentary. 

Picasso's Last Stand. A fascinating look at the artist at the end of his career. 

Robert Rauschenberg - Pop Art Pioneer. I've been a fan of Rauschenberg for ages and this was a lovely way to spend some time with the artist and his work. His sense of humour and life force is contagious. 

Again, all of these are currently available on YouTube. Is there an art documentary you think I need to watch or one that has recently inspired you? Leave it in the comments for me. Thanks! I remember in art school, my mentor Ron Graff would tell us to just spend time in our studios, reading, looking at art, flipping through magazines- whatever- that time spent in the studio was good, so if you are feeling stuck, why not watch a documentary in your studio space, whether it's the kitchen table or a spare bedroom, think about art in there while you are not making it and watch what happens.

I have also started mentoring a couple of artists this past week. It has been wonderful to share in their work, their struggles, and to hear of their brilliant ways of seeing the world through their art. I am grateful to be able to do this work. I am still working on my mentoring website, so stay tuned, but if you think you want to work with me send me an email or leave me a comment to learn more. I look forward to hearing from you!

This week for the Tuesday Studio Video Visit, I did something a little different. This week, I filmed myself reading one of my first Studio Blog posts from 2007. It was an emotional experience for me to read my words as I let it sink in just how much has changed in my life and art. Here it is again in case you missed it. You can always find these videos each week on my Facebook Art Page. 

I think that's all I have for you this week. Every day we paint is a victory but we also have to take the time to keep learning and growing. We have to see the beauty and feel the sun on our faces and spend time in nature. We have to take care of our hearts and minds. 

With gratitude from my heart to yours, thanks for reading.

Music, Studio Visits, and Preparation.

I will let my Tuesday Studio Video Visit (that I recorded this week on a Thursday) tell you what has been going on this week in the studio (click the bottom right corner to turn on the volume on the videos).

Part 1.



Part 2.



This morning, I had a studio visit with Union Gallery owner Alison Auldjo to talk about the upcoming July show. I always enjoy studio visits! Alison has picked out three new pieces from my current series and I am going to be completing a fourth that is currently in progress for the exhibition. I am very pleased with her choices and I can't wait to see them all together on the gallery wall. I am glad to know where I stand in regards to preparing for the exhibition.



Next week I must turn all my attention towards preparing for open studios. I am enjoying the warmer weather, the sun and getting out in it as much as I can. I am working with that elusive life-work balance, that for me is a bit more challenging in the summer months as the weather improves and there are things to do and people to see.

That's all I have for you. Until next week, keep showing up for yourself and your art. The world needs you.

Field trip, Studio makeover, and exciting news!

This week started with an adventure to Dunfermline to see Robert The Bruce, King of Scotland's grave. Genealogy is a hobby of mine and finding him in the family tree was a fun discovery. More than anything though it was just great fun to cut out on a Monday, get on a train and go see new things. Dunfermline is a beautiful place in the spring and the birdsong, ruins, and trees caught my fancy. The air smelled more like home. I put it all in my internal bank to draw from on another day.

On Tuesday, I recorded the video visit that you can see here if you missed it.


As you can see, I was spending the week getting my studio organised and fitting in my new canvas storage and chair that was found in the street! I seem to always find everything I need on the street... The video cuts off (of course) but rest assured I was wishing you well and hoping you were inspired and encouraging you to take some time off and to not be so hard on yourself and to "do no harm but take no shit."

By Wednesday evening I had my studio pretty well sorted out and I must say I love the way it feels right now. It almost feels new again. I have been enjoying the space and have been painting the sides of small works to get them ready for the upcoming Open Studios Event.

Yesterday, I shared some exciting news on my Facebook pages and I will share it with you right now...

My armor, my solace, my connection
© 2017 Megan Chapman 
signed limited edition print
paper size A3 42x29.7cm/11.7x16.5"

Resolute
© 2017 Megan Chapman 
signed limited edition print
paper size A3 42x29.7cm/11.7x16.5"

Paths, ravines, timeless tales
© 2017 Megan Chapman 
signed limited edition print
Paper size 29.7x29.7 cm/11.7x11.7"

HBO bought three of my limited edition prints (see above) from The Distillation Process to use in their series True Detective!

I am beyond thrilled and so happy that they saw them while part of the current exhibition, "From the Ashes" at Fenix Fayetteville in my hometown.

You can see the whole series here: http://bit.ly/2KONcs4

If you are local to the Northwest Arkansas area, please go check out the exhibition before it comes down in June. "From the Ashes" is the inaugural exhibition in Fenix Fayetteville's beautiful new space on the square. There is so much wonderful work to see, enjoy and purchase! Don't miss it!

I appreciate everyone's support and enthusiasm in the sharing of my good news. We'll all have to watch season 3 of True Detective when it comes out!

As I was walking home from the studio the other day, I thought to myself that having the space to create really is the ultimate reward. May you have a room of your own and all the materials you need. 

Cardboard meditations and open studios

This week in the studio I played a bit. I enjoyed the freedom of a meditation in motion in the form of working on "throw away" materials such as cardboard from the studio recycling bin. A simple way to loosen up after working on my larger canvases as well as my smaller series. I enjoyed the freedom to just move along with the paint with no destination and no finished product in mind. You can learn and see more of this on my Tuesday Studio Video Visit, in case you missed it on my Facebook art page here it is again.


You can see the studio snaps of the results of this process.

In other news, we are still gearing up for our Open Studios event at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall. Stewart Bremner of IndyPrints has designed a wonderful poster for our event. We have an exciting and varied lineup of artists and other exciting groups opening their doors on the 9th of June, so please make plans to attend.

If you are on facebook, please say you will attend by marking it so on our event page. We really would love to see you there!

Every day we paint is a victory. Every day we care for ourselves, each other, and the world is an even bigger one. The world needs you. Thank you.

We are more alike than we are different

The latest pieces from the series
"Communication techniques of the easily silenced"

This week in the studio layers of paint and paper continued to be added to my latest canvases from my "Communication techniques of the easily silenced" series of small works. I also finished another wee square work on canvas (20x20cm/8x8") and worked on two large 80x80cm canvases, getting one of them close to completion.

Small work

I also filmed my Tuesday Studio Video Visit, if you missed it on my Facebook art page, you can see it here. You will be able to see the small works being created and that my studio is getting a bit messy again (always a good sign).

Small work

I continued working on organising Open Studios this week as well. I think we have it mostly together now, just a few more nuts and bolts and finishing touches and then I can turn to getting my studio in order so that the public can enjoy it!

Large works in progress

Last week, I mentioned our culture jaunt to the modern for the fabulous Jenny Saville paintings in the NOW exhibition. This week in cultural outings, I had the pleasure of meeting visiting Australian artist, Jan Allsopp. Jan is visiting the UK on holiday and delightfully arranged to visit with me in my studio. I adored spending time with her in a local coffee shop as well as in my studio. I have admired Jan's work and ethos for a while now and to meet her in person was a treat. It is always good to talk with other artists that share the same painterly language and headspace. Visit Jan's website and learn more about her beautiful work.

This world is large and we are all so spread apart. The world is at the same time, small and filled with kindred spirits tucked in the corners and it is always a joy to meet one.

Until next week, know in your heart of hearts we are more alike than we are different and the world needs you and your art.

Step out into the light

Small work from my latest series

This week I worked on more small works in the studio, my 'communication techniques of the easily silenced' series.These small works were born between bursts of organising and meeting with artists and administration of the Drill Hall as we ready ourselves for our Open Studio event to held 9th of June from 11-5pm at 36 Dalmeny Street at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall. Put it in your diaries if you are in the area, we would love to see you there!

A small collection of new works.

Back to the art, these small canvases are layered with paint, paper, and more paint. They are a bit dirty, with the colours muddied a bit, just how I like things. With these small works, I allowed myself the pleasure of creating pieces that look like they could have been found mouldering away on the floor of an abandoned house in the sultry south. I would love to stage them in such surroundings.

I have been thinking more about what I love about the south, the wildness of it, the heavy air and the electric charge that comes with the change in the weather. I would say that all of my work since I have returned to Scotland from visiting Arkansas in December and January has been an atmospheric homage to where I am from. 

It's been a curious and exciting week, lessons were learned. Intuition is always something that I have relied on in my life. However, sometimes I still forget to heed it. All will be revealed in time. Keep listening to your intuition.

Jenny Saville, Propped, 1992 

Oil on canvas, 213.5x183cm. 

In other news, I took in some much-needed culture and stood before the impressive Jenny Saville paintings at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. They taught me a thing or two about space and commanding it while retaining our vulnerability and humanness. Saville's larger than life paintings of women are raw and unadulterated, personal, universal and moving. They were a treat for the senses, painterly visions of flesh and blood. I will be returning to spend time with these works again before they move on.

Francesca Woodman (1958-1981)
Self-deceit #6, Rome, 1978

As I rounded the corner from Saville's work and into the hall, I was delighted to discover five photos by Francesca Woodman  (one of my favourite photographers). These dark photos with their intimate scale and searching feminine voice were the perfect counterpoint. 

If you are in the area, I would not miss the exhibitions on now at the modern one and two.

Until next week, the world needs you and your art. We need to share ourselves and our visions so that others may see themselves and step out into the light.

Communication techniques of the easily silenced

this is my paradise

I worked most of this week in the studio helping to organize our Open Studio event (Saturday 9th of June 11-5pm). I have now been to parts of the Out of the Blue Drill Hall I had never seen until this week. I also finally met loads of folks that I have been working alongside for years. I cleaned my studio, filmed my Tuesday Studio Video Visit, and started twenty-three small paintings (but only nine actually got somewhere)!? I even worked on a couple of large ones too!

That's ridiculous and because of that, I am tired. The sun has been out a bit more too, making it hard to stay focussed and in my windowless studio.

Not to worry, this weekend I will have a chance to recover, regroup and start again on Monday. I think everything is going pretty well, I am just using my brain in different ways and talking to more people than usual and not working quite as much as I would like (except for those twenty-three wee paintings!).

There is some sort of hunger or reaching for something or waiting for something to happen and I can feel the tension of it. I'll just observe it for now. Perhaps it is some sort of longing. Spring is about to burst open and I want to be out there in the midst of it and not miss anything.

Communication techniques of the easily silenced
Small works in progress

I want to be warm.

It's all kicking off!

Everything I Love
mixed media on canvas 80x80cm
©Megan Chapman 2018

This week was a busy one. It was a week of painting documentation, deadlines, meetings, finishing touches, mentoring, the one-year anniversary of the Tuesday Studio Video Visit, and using an online calendar to keep it all straight. It was a great week of work moving from one thing to another and feeling in the zone, staying up late and getting up early. I even managed a massage, a community meeting, meeting a friend for tea, and a few moments by the beach. Yes, I had help to accomplish all of this and I am grateful for it.

I happily delivered the painting above, "Everything I Love" to the Velvet Easel Gallery in Portobello to replace the one that recently sold as part of the 'Spring, Thy Name is Colour' exhibition. I am very pleased with this piece, it's one of my favourites from my latest series.

There are a few exciting things coming down the line soon, the first one is that I am to be featured in the upcoming UK edition of Painters Tubes Magazine #8(available in print and online). I am also being interviewed for the Jackson's Art Supply Blog. I will let you know when both of those are available for you to enjoy. It's all very exciting!

Next week, I need to start getting busy as I am helping to organise as well as participating in the Open Studios Event at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall on June 9th from 11-5pm. We are proud to be part of the Leith Festival. It should be a great event as folks will get a behind the scenes of our studios and there will be a wide variety of art available to enjoy and purchase as well. Last but in no way least, this July, I will have four large-scale pieces in the 'Summer Garden Party' exhibition at the Union Gallery. As they say here, 'it's all kicking off!'

It's almost 10:30pm on a Friday night and this blog has been brought to you by a Chinese delivery meal, most of a Marzipan Ritter Sport chocolate bar and this song turned up way too loud in my headphones.

Thanks for being part of my art world, please consider me part of yours. Until next week, the world needs you and your art!

Keep showing up

I haven't had as many words available for my blog lately. Perhaps it's because of my Tuesday Studio Video Visits. Or that I have been using my words in my recently revamped mentoring practice. Perhaps, it's because it's the middle of April and it's still winter here in Edinburgh. Either way, I keep showing up here each Friday and manage a few words and share a few photos and I am glad of that. It's an important part of my practice. I am sure there will be more thoughts and ruminations on art and the bigger picture again soon (like when the sun comes out).

This week I started a new 80x80cm canvas, I also bought a couple of new paint colours to excite and partially bribe myself to get in my studio after a less than inspiring weekend. That worked for Monday but by Tuesday I needed a field trip and went to the Royal Botanic Gardens to spend some time in nature and the Victorian Glass houses for the warmth and a change of scenery. It was a beautiful way to spend an afternoon and a complete feast for the senses. I even filmed a quick two-part video visit from the gardens. You can see part 1 here and part 2 here if you missed it on my Facebook art page.

Paradise at the Botanics

Wednesday, I took another day off from the studio to recover from my garden sensory overload but by Thursday I was ready to get serious again and mostly finished the large 80x80cm canvas (see at top of post) I had started previously as well as three 20x20cm/8x8" wee canvases. I have to say I was very pleased with how the wee ones turned out (pictured below).

Wee abstracts

I think that's all I have for you on what's been a slightly off week for me personally. However even on this off week, I still painted and spent time in my studio, I saw beautiful things and was inspired and I showed up as best as I could for myself. It's all part of the creative process, the great ebb, and flow. Thanks for being part of my art world. Until next week, we need you and your work! Keep showing up!

Back to the place I enjoy and remember

My latest work from the studio

After my cold last week, this week saw me mostly back to work in the studio. Monday through Wednesday I was in active painting mode (see painting above) complete with the Tuesday Studio Video Visit. I didn't sleep too well on Wednesday night so by Thursday I just spent some time looking at my current work in the studio and attended the initial planning meeting for our upcoming Open Studios at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall (locals mark your calendars: Open Studios will be Saturday, the 9th of June from 11-5pm, more on this as it gets closer). 

By Thursday night I could tell I was feeling run down again, with a bit of a cough and a sore throat. Because of this, I spent most of today in bed, until it was time for an energising online mentoring appointment with a new artist client.

In other exciting news, I was contacted for an upcoming interview in the blog of a national (UK) art supply retailer. I am honoured and delighted to have been asked and will let you know all about it soon!

So while I am frustrated to be seemingly under the weather again so soon, it was still a rather productive week. I am feeling good about things; productive, spirited and in the zone. I am getting back to a place in my art world that I enjoy and remember. I am grateful.

Thanks for being part of it all. Until next week, please remember that the world needs you and your art.

New work, exhibition news, and a sale!

I am writing you from my bed this week, no coffee shop experience here. This week I came down with a wee cold. I only made it to my studio on Monday. I worked on two paintings, quite energetically. It felt so good to work that I just went for it and I think I just did myself in. By the evening I knew I was heading down sore throat lane and would be soon spending quality time with our sweet cat, Theo and Netflix for the remainder of the week (there are worse things).

I even missed the Tuesday Studio Video Visit! Even with all this, I do have a fuzzy image of my latest painting to share and then later some good news! First the painting, this is just a snapshot from the studio (my old iPhone is showing it's age with the blurry camera- but you get a sense of it).

New work

This piece is a bit smaller than the others in the series. I was having a bit of trouble with the much larger 100x120cm canvas I was working on and needed to make something come together, and this 51x41cm did the trick.

In exciting news, I was just asked by the fabulous Union Gallery here in the west end of Edinburgh to paint 4 large-scale pieces for a group exhibition coming up this July! This thrills me to no end and I can't wait to get to painting these pieces. I will keep you posted as the work emerges and it gets closer to the show but if you are local/regional to Edinburgh pencil sometime in July to attend an opening.

In addition to that great news, today I was informed that one of my new large-scale works just sold from the current exhibition at The  Velvet Easel Gallery! I may have squealed a bit when I read the good news from the gallery owner. It is always such an electric charge to sell a painting, it feels like the best reward for years of hard work and I am overjoyed and very thankful! It's an honour for me when someone sees and responds to my vision for my art and chooses it for their own.

Acceptance 80x80cm mixed media on canvas sold

With this good news, as well as my art mentoring continuing to pick up steam, things feel very hopeful at this moment professionally. I am working hard and it's weeks like these when it all starts to feel like it's coming together. I am grateful.

Next week I look forward to catching up in the studio and having a nice long chat with you all on the Tuesday Studio Video Visit, along with a dash of mentoring with my fellow artists near and far.

I hope you are well, happy, and inspired. If you are not any of those things, I hope you know the world needs you and your art and the good things usually will come back around, so hang in there. Thank you all for being part of my art world.

Ride this wave with me: New paintings and mentoring

I am sitting in the coffee shop, listening to the Brambles (again). I have written several blogs from the coffee shop since my return after the winter holidays. The coffee shop is my generic paradise complete with sickly sweet soy chai, gluten-free biscuits, and free Wifi. It is a simple respite from the demands of the studio, the dishes at home, and the clamor and drink of a pub as well as a wee reward for working hard.

So, now that I have set the scene, let's dig in. It's been a busy week.

First of all, there have been paintings. I worked on a total of four paintings this week and I think I resolved two of them. Here are the studio snapshots of the two pieces.

A slightly smaller piece than what I've been working on in this series but still a good size. 60.9x91.4x4cm/24x36x1.5" Mixed media on canvas

A larger piece, 100x120cm mixed media on canvas

Besides working in the studio, finishing these two paintings and recording the Tuesday studio video visit, I also started mentoring two artists this week! If you recall, last Friday I mentioned I was going to reintroduce mentoring as part of my art practice. I really enjoy helping other artists work through their obstacles. I offer support and am an ally for artists so that they can push through barriers and refine their goals for their art. It was a joy and an honour to work in this way again and it left me feeling very excited and inspired.

So often artists just need a sounding board, someone outside of the situation to survey the scene and offer a little guidance. I get such a thrill when I can step into this role. The two artists I worked with this week, live and work outside of Edinburgh, in other parts of Scotland so we used the benefits of modern technology and worked together through Skype and Facetime. I am looking forward to working with both of them again soon.

Perhaps this is a service you might benefit from or perhaps you have more questions about how I could help you? Please email me at meganchapmanart@gmail.com My fee is £30/hour if we work together online and £35/hour if we work together in my studio and includes a pre-meeting email sharing of what's going on for you as well as a follow-up email summary of our session. Make sure to read last week's blog for a more detailed outline of what I offer and what people have said about working with me in the past. I look forward to hearing from you.

Until next week, the world needs you and your art!

I want to paint and I want to help

This week saw more painterly progress in the studio. I completed two more new pieces in the series.

Again I am flirting with harder shapes and angles combined with an ethereal atmosphere with an icy yet earthy palette. In these pieces, I enjoy playing with the consistency of the paint as well. As the series progresses, I continue to expand on the concept of "what is enough" to tell and teach me when to stop with these works. Less is more.

I feel good about my painting progress this week while also taking time away from the studio for some necessary art administrative work. I also managed my Tuesday Studio Video Visit. You can see it here if you missed it. I can't believe that my weekly studio video visit series will be a year old next month!



Here are the latest four painting in the series. Soon the work will be properly documented and titled.

In other exciting art news, I have decided that I want to return to mentoring artists who could benefit from an understanding ally in their creative practice.

I have worked in this capacity formally and informally with various artists over the years and have always enjoyed it. I recently mentored a fellow artist for several hours at the start of the year and realised once again how much I not only enjoy this work but how much I have missed it. I am an enthusiastic believer in art and artists and I want to help more artists feel supported and encouraged.

I now offer one to one mentoring/coaching services 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. I want to gently mentor artists by working with them to examine their past work, creative habits, and blocks - working together to push through obstacles in a supportive, encouraging and yet challenging way.

I will work closely with the artist to create a customised plan to jump-start their art making through the use of various process exercises, guidance, and accountability. This can be done in person at my studio at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Leith, Edinburgh as well as online via Skype and through email. In accordance with the Scottish Artists Union 2018 rates of pay, my fee for this service is £30-35/hour (depending on if we work together in person or online only) payable through PayPal or bank transfer.

If you think this is something you might be interested in or have additional questions, please email meganchapmanart@gmail.com

*I will have a few reduced fee scholarship spots available to those artists in need (especially to those who identify as women, people of colour, single mothers, differently abled and LBGTQIA+ each quarter - you do not have to identify to me, just mention "underrepresented" in your email and I will see what I can do). Please don't hesitate to inquire about these slots.

Here are a few things that folks have said about working with me over the years.

"Megan Chapman is an inspiration with her passion and commitment to art in the community and this spreads worldwide through the power of the Internet. Early on in my career, I commissioned Megan to do a portfolio review which was absolutely brilliant and helped me a lot with my path forward."
– Deborah E Burrow

"Ms. Chapman has reviewed some of my paintings and helped me fine tune my process, allowing me to take my work to the next level. In addition, she has offered a constant stream of encouragement for my installations. I will be forever grateful."
– Craig Colorusso

"Megan Chapman exudes kindness, enthusiasm, and passion so that art can live, projects can exist and for all of this to be shared."
– Christian Demare

"Megan Chapman helped me progress experiments, to an international standard. When we first communicated, I painted in a dusty cold garage, yet through her guidance, I have progressed to a studio, and then to director of studios, and my work evolved with her input at every stage. I'm grateful for her experience, talent and willingness to share technique, style, and presentation."
– Steven Heaton

"Megan is the person you want in your corner when it comes to promoting your art. As a novice artist, her encouragement and belief in my work was the primary motivation for getting my art exhibited. No one works harder on your behalf."
– John Spurgeon

Well, that's all I have for you this week. Thanks for reading my blog. Until next week, keep making, doing, and seeing. The world needs you and your art.