2019 Summary

What a year! I am grateful for so many folks who have supported me and my work. I couldn’t have done it without you. Special thanks go to paperandwhite.com- It was a joy to work on those commissions with you. Your support changed the trajectory of my year and for that, I’ll always be grateful. Jeanne Parham and Fenix Fayetteville my hometown representative that enabled my work to be on television for the first time in HBO’s True Detective at the start of the year- what a treat! Thank you! Bikes for Refugees - Scotland SCIO thank you for the inspiring work you do for our new Scots. I am honoured that I was able to use my work to help your important cause and help these new residents. Thanks to my patrons we helped raise £830 (someone gave an extra £5) to put 15 bikes on the road and into the hands of refugees. Thanks of course to the lovely The Velvet Easel Gallery for representing my work, what a haven you have created. Thanks to Dancing Light Gallery for having my work in your idyllic space in the country. Thanks to Doyle Art for showing my work this year in Glasgow - short but sweet- best of luck in the future. Thanks to my union Scottish Artists Union for the important work you do- glad to be a member! Thanks to my studio at The Out of the Blue Drill Hall for all that you provide and the wonderful people I have met under your roof. Thanks to Sandra Brown from Creative Ceramics for my summer residency experience in the old stables. I needed that and I am grateful you made it happen. To my friends, patrons, and supporters near and far and to my fellow artists and makers, thanks for what you give and for what you bring. Wishing you all the best in the year ahead with love and gratitude. ❤️- Megan ✨

When it rains, it pours

Slowly things are returning to a type of normalcy. The studio has been put back together, all the work for upcoming exhibitions has reached its gallery of choice (The Velvet Easel, Doyle Fine Art, and Dancing Light). I am getting caught up on my blog (go back and catch up if you haven't- all gaps have now been filled). I even managed to record a Tuesday Studio Video Visit on a Tuesday! Here is the evidence (and note the progress of the studio as well!)



In other news, as you can see I am turning the hall into a small works gallery. I also started working on a new small works series, these are going to be charity works like I did in the Spring. It feels so good to finally be able to focus on making work and do it in a spirited and loose way. I started with a favourite palette of mine, one that really came to be this summer while I was working on my book series. I mean lets be honest I have been dancing around this palette for a few years, but anyway it's black, white, grey, yellow ochre, and an electric blue and pale sea foam green oil pastel. These colours thrash about, dance and do loopty loops across the A4 sized canvas board. I jump in time with the beat, I curse, I laugh and I dance as I work. This is the best part, to remember again after a break. To create a reason and then to let the momentum carry me. To get out of my own way and to trust my hand, my materials, my understanding and what I love and what I want in a painting. To be the conduit in my space, on my own terms. What a sweet relief, when it rains it pours.

And we're back!

As always, keep fighting. You will remember again if you forget, your hand knows what to do.

Upcoming Exhibitions and Open Studios!

No longer a mystery
Acrylic on canvas
80x100x4cm
© 2019 Megan Chapman
£1,450
*On show at Art in Granton, space allowing

The end of the year is drawing near as the nights are fair drawing in. There are still many exhibition opportunities, open studios to visit, and art to create. This week, I just wanted to make sure you all know where you can find my work.

Upcoming Exhibition Roundup: 

The distance
Acrylic on canvas
40x50x4cm
© 2019 Megan Chapman
£725

Let Go
Acrylic on canvas
40x50x4cm
© 2019 Megan Chapman
£725

Art in Granton: Granton Hub
25th Oct 2019 - 27th Oct 2019
Friday 25th October opening reception starts at 5pm.
Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th from 11am - 5pm
Madelvic House Granton Park Avenue, Edinburgh North EH5 1HS

"You’re invited to the opening of our Art in Granton exhibition on Friday, 25th October from 5pm at Madelvic House. The 60+ artworks by 30+ artists will be on display until Sunday, 27 October, and all pieces are for sale.

Art in Granton is a collaboration between Granton Hub and Curious Edinburgh, who host the Granton heritage walk on their app. The exhibition reflects artists’ inspiration from the walking tour stops and celebrates the heritage, urban vistas, landscapes and people of Granton.

The National Galleries of Scotland have also donated a pencil drawing of the Old Castle at Caroline Park, dating back to 1850, as a high-resolution digital print.

I am pleased to be part of this very local exhibition so near where I live and where I worked this summer on these newest paintings from my series, "The Anchor Holds." (See above)

Of Night and Light - The Velvet Easel Gallery

2nd of November 2019 - 1st of March 2020

298 Portobello High Street

Portobello Edinburgh 

EH15 2AS

Gallerist and painter, Roz Walker always creates stunning mixed exhibitions for her lovely gallery in Portobello. I am delighted that I will be showing three of my new pieces from my latest series, "The Anchor Holds." As always the opening will be an all-day drop-in affair on the opening date of the exhibition with drinks and nibbles. 

Separate Languages
Mixed media on canvas
80x80x4cm
© 2019 Megan Chapman
£1,450

I carry the light
Mixed media on canvas
80x80x4cm
© 2019 Megan Chapman
£1,450

The anchor holds
Mixed media on canvas
80x80x4cm
© 2019 Megan Chapman
£1,450


Doyle Fine Art Gallery
23 Parnie Street
Glasgow
G1 5RJ

This Friday, gallery owner, John Doyle will be coming through to pick up a few new works for a gallery refresh since his grand opening. I am delighted that he will have some smaller works of mine from an earlier series for his lovely patrons to enjoy in Glasgow. The works below will be on show.

Where we say goodbye
Mixed media on canvas
40x40x4cm
© 2017 Megan Chapman
£550

To tell you everything
Mixed media on canvas
40x40x4cm
© 2017 Megan Chapman
£550

Far away
Mixed media on canvas
40x40x4cm
© 2017 Megan Chapman
£550

Last but certainly not least, I am pleased that I will have some even smaller works available at the Dancing Light Gallery. Some of you may remember I showed my work there in the Spring Exhibition earlier this year. A selection of the following works below will be on show.

Winter Warmth Exhibition: Dancing Light Gallery
23rd November 2019 to 29th January 2020
Preview Reception Saturday 30th November 2pm - 5pm
Whitmuir
Nr. West Linton
Edinburgh
EH46 7BB



Where my soul roams
Mixed media on canvas
20x20x4cm
2019 Megan Chapman
£325 framed

Making, doing, seeing, being.

I started on three large canvases this week, bought more black paint, and worked on twelve small paper pieces. The week moved along until here we are, Friday.

My studio time was punctuated throughout the week by my brilliant friends. Tea drinking and charity shopping with Philip on Sunday, studio time and a meeting in the city on Monday, coffee and a walk with Jane on Tuesday (along with an exciting appearance of the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon), a gorgeous brass statue of Lord Ganesha was acquired on this day as well, and of course, we can't forget the filming of the Tuesday Studio Video Visit. Wednesday I spent working in the studio with periodic chats with my friend, Aoife. Yesterday, I walked up Calton Hill with my friend Tamsin, spent some more time working in the studio, and then enjoyed dinner with my friends Aoife and Megan. Today, I enjoyed an early morning meet up with my friend Peikko in a cafe in the Meadows before we participated in the climate strike and marched through the city centre. 

So as you can see, I enjoyed a partially sunny and full week of work and friendship, balanced by evening walks, photographs of the sea and sunsets, and even a couple of films. It feels good to have this lovely community of friends and balance in my life. I am truly thankful for it all. You may ask, what does this have to do with art and I would tell you again, everything. It is the foundation.

In strictly art related news, my studio G23 is scheduled to be open on Sunday from 12-5 pm as part of the Makers Marque at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall located at 36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, Edinburgh. I will be sharing my book series, my small paper pieces, as well as previewing the beginnings of my new series. There may be some bargains to be had so come on by!

The Spring Exhibition at the Dancing Light Gallery is coming to close on the 29th of May. If you are in the area and haven't yet been by, don't delay!

Dancing Light Gallery
Whitmuir by Lamancha
West Linton
Edinburgh
EH46 7BB

Gallery Hours:
Mon-Sun. 10am-5pm
Phone 01968 660200
Email: info@dancinglightgallery.co.uk

Also, the Off the Wall exhibition at the Velvet Easel Gallery in Portobello remains on show until the 30th of June so if you haven't been by there yet, please put it in your diary as I have 4 small framed works remaining on show there. 

Velvet Easel Gallery

298 Portobello High Street
Edinburgh, EH15 2AS

Gallery Hours:
Thu-Sat. 10am-5pm

Sun. 12-5pm.
Phone 07813 916684
Email: https://velveteasel.co.uk/contact

And last but not least, for my friends and patrons back home in Fayetteville, Arkansas, you can find a selection of my small original paintings and limited edition prints at the Fenix Gallery. If my work is not currently on show, just ask to see it!

Fenix Gallery

16 W. Center Street

Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701

Gallery Hours:
Wed-Fri 10-5pm
Sat. 9-2pm

Email: https://www.fenixfayettevilleart.com/contact

Go out and see some art, support artists, and keep fighting for a more just and fair world for us all! Don't forget to see your friends while you are at it. Community is key, thank you for being part of mine. 

We need you here

In the window!!

Dancing Light Gallery sent me this photo of my painting, "This is where I wait for you" hanging in their window. Lovely! It's always a joy to see one's art in the window, hell anywhere in a gallery is nice, but the window feels extra special. I feel very honoured to have four of my pieces showing in Dancing Light at the same time I have work in The Velvet Easel. I hope they both have success, these are both women-owned and run establishments and they do a brilliant job! Support them!

Inspired, I started working back into some paper works I had put on hold. I have an idea about this series, I'd like to use it for a fundraising effort. We will see what happens...

Until next week, keep making and doing. Keep feeling and fighting. We need you here.

Exhibition, Studio, Union!

This week started off with a lovely trip to the country with a friend to take five of my paintings (see above) to the Dancing Light Gallery. I like the gallery's tag line, Contemporary Art, Contemporary Thinking. It's a slightly unusual venue being that it is situated on an organic farm but its uniqueness makes it a destination spot. One can make a day of it by taking in the art in the beautiful and light-filled contemporary gallery, dining in the organic farm to table restaurant and cafe, all while picking up their organic messages and produce, browsing the antique store, charging their electric car and perhaps going for a wee hill walk in the majestic countryside, just outside the city of Edinburgh.

This is my first time showing with the gallery and I was delighted to be asked to participate in their Spring Exhibition.

Spring Exhibition is on show from the 30th March to 29th May 2019. The Preview & Wine Reception will be on Saturday 30th March 2pm To 5pm.

Dancing Light Gallery
Whitmuir by Lamancha
West Linton
Edinburgh
EH46 7BB

Gallery Hours:
Mon - Sun. 10am-5pm
Phone 01968 660200
Email: info@dancinglightgallery.co.uk

You can see me talking more about this wonderful opportunity and the exhibition in my latest Tuesday Studio Video Visit. 

In other news this week, I cleaned my studio, studied my scroll series and worked on a stack of small works. 

I rounded out my week with the Scottish Artists Union. I participated in a consultation session to review a draft of the Fair Work Contract. It was wonderful to be a room with passionate and professional individuals working for the best interests of all artists and to get paid fairly for our time! I am proud to be a union member, it feels good to be part of something that recognises the time, effort, and expense of being an artist and the intrinsic value of our work. We are workers with rights and deserve to get paid like everyone else. The union protects these rights, educates artists and the art community, and supports the artist. If you are a artist working in Scotland and are eligible to join your union please do so, we are stronger together and the benefits of joining are plenty. This is the second union event I have attended since joining in the new year, the first presentation was on basic income and how it would benefit artists (and everyone else) - both presentations were valuable and empowering. Join today! 

Thanks for reading, I hope you are well, happy, and inspired wherever you are. Keep fighting!