Rest before the fall

rest before the fall

21 x 15 cm, mixed media on canvas

© 2023 Megan Chapman

Dear Reader,

Did you go to the UK cinema last weekend to see California Schemin'? If not, make plans to go soon. Hopefully this brilliant film will be released in the USA soon as well. Thanks to everyone who has been excited to see my painting in the film. Having your support and enthusiasm means a lot to me and it is so fun to share this experience with you all.

In other news, I had a bit of a full on week - a lot of "go-go-going" without much time in between things which I usually require and prefer. I am glad the week is behind me. It brings a somewhat gross but catchy song from my childhood to mind, and if you click this you will get to experience it too. 

In the few spare moments, I worked on finishing off a wee series of paintings from 2023 that I always liked but hadn't been able to complete. You know - the boring (but somewhat meditative) bits, such as painting the sides of the canvas, signing, dating, titling, and adding the hanging hardware. I decided I needed to photograph them again too as my previous images just weren't up to par.

It's a dark and textured series, a set of six small canvas works that were the offshoot of a larger series painted in that same year. I have a backlog of unfinished projects that I am trying to get sorted in between my other work and my desire for a bit of fun and a lot more rest.

I went back and read one of my early blog posts from 2007 and decided to take my own advice and I am glad I did. I was reminded that little by little the work gets done and action is always where it's at. A lot can be accomplished in 15 minutes and it all adds up. I am feeling good about the progress I have made.

So, that's how you find me, recovering from the week and taking everything 15 minutes at a time. 

holding everything dear

15 x 21 cm mixed media on canvas

© 2023 Megan Chapman

Until next week, keep fighting - the world needs you and the gifts you bring. Thank you for sharing your time with me. 

Time folds in on itself

Co-Star Mic Drop 

I am having frequent migraines, I am working more hours than usual, and there is still never enough time to get things done. My life's work is largely ignored and my anxiety grows. I am avoiding the news because I can't think about war.

Time folds in on itself - how did we all get so old. 

I slept until my alarm chimed bird sounds at 7am. This is a rare occurrence.

My dreams were wild but not memorable, only the feeling and flashes of colour left behind. This is my weekend now, time to recover and regroup but I already feel the weight of obligation and the plans I made for myself. 

I am tired and on shaky ground, yet I will it solid. As I type these dour words I think, what a bummer of an intro, surely this can't stand. I will delete and share the beauty and lightness that I also found this week. Because I can always find it.

If resilience is a curse, I have been hexed. 

Remember too, this place is a creative exercise. Perhaps the only creativity I will experience in the week. I like putting words together. 

The words are partly crafted from the music playing in my big headphones, Marconi Union, Brian Eno, Hammock, Nils Frahm - icy and atmospheric on a warm June morning. Music for introspection - like I need any encouragement. 

I want to write, I think you are beautiful. But who am I thinking of, I do not know. 

I think you are beautiful. 

I walked. I watched a show everyone is talking about. I listened to an audiobook. I have sat in the garden in the sun, knee deep in buttercups and daisies, punctuated by poppies and foxgloves. I am going to see live music on Sunday and Monday. I have talked to friends - human and the furry kind and I have harvested fresh spinach.

I have made good food and healthy drinks, enjoyed naps, yoga and breathing exercises. See what I am doing? I can't help it. 

If resilience is a curse, I have been hexed. 

Susumu Yokota comes on my headphones - glorious. I was trying to be reminded of this album. There are no accidents. 

and I still think you are beautiful.

I'll meet you there

new this week (this painting no longer exists)

Hello Dear Studio Blog Readers. 

Thank you for being here and spending some of your sunny time with me. 

It's positively roastin' here in auld reekie! My niece Elena has been here with me since late Saturday night taking a break from her world travels. It's been great to have her back in Scotland.

I am pleased that I managed to maintain my studio, my Tuesday Studio Video Visit, and now my blog schedule and even did some work with the Scottish Artist's Union this week. I am really happy that I was able to put my studio practice high on the list while still enjoying the sun and some of the sights with Elena. After where I've been lately, this feels like a noteworthy accomplishment.

That's the thing - these things don't need to take a lot of time, just some time and consistency - a promise. Magic happens when you show up even in short bursts. 

This is Elena's last full day in the city, so after I write this I am off to jump on a bus and meet her in the wild for a bit more exploring and sunshine. 

Now to the art. 

Currently, my studio work schedule is Monday, Tuesday and Friday. 

I managed to start two new pieces this week and work back into one I started last week. At last count, I think I now have 9 pieces on the go. This is a good feeling. Currently, I am only using materials I already have in the studio - trying to avoid purchasing any new materials for the time being. I am curious how long I can go. I like to set myself a challenge. 

a piece from last week that I worked back into that is now finished

Here's the Tuesday Studio Video Visit if you missed it on my other social networks. 

In other news, the brilliant Blunt Knife Co. is closing its doors on Thistle Street in Edinburgh so make plans to go by soon and buy one of my prints, pretty please!!  Their last trading day is Saturday 15 July. Make Haste! Support them and me!

Available Now at Blunt Knife Co. Edinburgh for £25 each!
Get one from the shop before they close!

In other other news, I did some more litter cleanup this week, I highly recommend finding a small area nearby and just cleaning it up - it is amazing how much satisfaction can be felt after working for an hour or less and making a visible difference. A cure for what ails, I tell ya! If you do this - take a before and after picture and message it to me and I will send you a coupon code to save money in my shop. Thank you for making the world a better place. 

That's all I have for you this week on the Studio Blog. Be well and enjoy the sun. Thank you for staying the course with me. 

Like what I share? Support me!

A new manifesto

A reminder © 2010 Megan Chapman

This week in the studio consisted of starting one new painting ( it has a long way to go, or I would show you) and completing the third installment of my collaborative effort with English artist Steven Heaton. I also managed to mail out some art as well, which for some strange reason is always the hardest part.

I wish I could say I was on fire in the studio, but this week consisted of a lot of business emails, tax preparation, inventory, promotions, meetings, and mixers with potential clients. It was productive, but not in the creative way that an artist dreams of. However, necessary just the same.

I've come to some conclusions this week. I need to change some things in my life so that I can pursue my art while maintaining my health and peace of mind. I don't really want or need to get into them here, but lets just say things are out of balance. Making art can be just like any other career, and you can push yourself too hard at times and lose sight of the other elements of your life. I am struggling with this currently, and need to stop just escaping into my art world. I have always had issues with balance, but it is really catching up with me. To remedy this, I hope to spend some time out of doors in the sun (if the weather cooperates) out of my studio, away from my cell phone and over long lists, and away from the computer too. It is time to refocus my energy.

As a dear friend put it, I need to switch off and become a cloud watcher for awhile. So that is what I plan to do.

Music for watching clouds:



see you next week, with either stories of clouds or more art...

Moving at a certain velocity

Well, yesterday marked the first Friday in my studio blog's history that I didn't post something while not on some pre-arranged hiatus. Is this the beginning of the end? Is this the Saturday blog now? You can rest assured I sat in front of my computer logged into blogger, waiting to write something, anything- yesterday but nothing came to me. I have a pretty good idea why. In my opinion my blog has lost something, it has been here but it hasn't been the in-depth, inspired blog of the past. This saddens me really, as this blog was one my favorite things, but it appears to be one of the first and obvious victims of my lack of balance.

This lack of balance stems from many things and many of them good and happy things. Rediscovering my love of photography and posting an image everyday on blipfoto has taken some of my focus away from my painting and has been an additional and very rewarding way to express myself and has put me in touch with a new community. Moving into my studio outside my house and being heavily involved in the artist community of the Fayetteville Underground has taken a lot of energy and stamina. I love the community there, but it has taken a lot out of me to learn how to deal with ten or more personalities, and go to all the organizational meetings to get this all off the ground. Keeping the peace, trying to play all sides, and all the while maintaining a studio practice is a harder than I thought it would be.

But, while it has been a busy and scattered time, I have been productive. I had to take stock of all this on Monday. I was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed that I wasn't doing enough, as I don't have a exhibition on the horizon any time soon and sometimes I can lose my way when I don't. So, I went to the studio early (before my peers- when all is quiet) and I wrote what I had done in the last 8 weeks or so.

"Just in the past 8 weeks, I have sold 7 canvas paintings and 14 small works on paper.
I was in a group show at the ddp gallery.
I moved into a new studio.
I have painted 6 new paintings and have 8 new paintings in progress.
I have painted 20 new works on paper.
I have checked in with all my away Arkansas galleries in person- and now have work in Texas.
I keep exploring my passion for photography every day on blip.
I have a whole new multi media project that I am excited about in the works and I am learning new things, had the guts to ask Swedish musician Af Bellinde to perhaps collaborate.
I went to Atlanta and Kansas City and fed my need for new art and music and culture.
All this while going to all sorts of meetings and helping to make The Fayetteville Underground (fifteen artist's studios and four galleries) a successful place."

So, I missed yesterday's blog, and some past entries haven't been as rich as they were before. I can see why, and ultimately it is no big deal. Ideally, I could manage it all, you would still be getting the quality you deserve here, my house would also be super organized and lovely, my dog would not feel neglected by me, I would be the picture of complete health and all my relationships would be in tip top working order. But I am not that skilled at managing it all, and my expectations for myself are unrealistic.

So, I suggest that you too, slow down and take stock of what you are doing, it is sometimes hard for us to see how hard we are working, especially when we are always moving at a certain velocity through this life, through our art, our career. You may be surprised at what all you have accomplished and what you are capable of. Trying to find balance in this life is a worthy pursuit, but if you are not able; don't beat yourself up either. Know that you are doing the best you can do, and that everyone in your life is doing the best they can do as well.

I am awake- it's morning. I am listening to the most beautiful music in the dark of 3 a.m. and this is my life. It's a wonderful life.

Thank you.

PS. If you happen to live in Manchester England, Steven Heaton's Dreams in a changing landscape opens today! Good luck Steven!