In the house you live

Outside the window

I am watching pink blossoms and their greenery dance in the breeze outside along the window sill. Theo, my cat, sits on the other side of the window stretched out on my desk while soaking up the sun. I am resting on the sofa across the room with a wee knee injury (nothing serious - just got a bit overzealous with my fitness last week). 

Earlier today, I had my third session of training in the Fair Work Rep series through the Scottish Artists Union. I am learning a lot in these sessions and really enjoying getting to know the other artists that are participating. I even dug out my union badge and have been wearing it with pride. 

If you are an artist in Scotland, please consider joining your union. We are stronger together and the benefits are immense. Become a member.

In other art-related news this week, the Abstractionistas took our exhibition down at Detour Espresso yesterday. Thank you to everyone who enjoyed "Awakenings" at Detour. It was a lovely and friendly venue and we enjoyed sharing our work with you. 

We have also been getting ready for our next exhibition as part of Inception at Dalkeith Palace. Signing our contracts, sending in our label information, and getting all our ducks in a row. 

I will have 6 larger pieces in the exhibition in the palace as well as 9 canvas smaller framed works and 9 small raw canvas mounted works in the pop-up shop space depending. Showcasing a range of my work to suit most budgets and tastes. I know Susan Wilson and Judith Shaylor and all the other brilliant artists and organisers are working hard to bring you the very best!

Get your tickets here: 

https://www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/event/inception-art-show/

After cleaning my studio up last week, I have also begun the process of moving some of my paintings and materials that had migrated to my home during the pandemic back to the studio. Hopefully, we will get my pal settled into the space for the start of May and maybe I will start painting again. 

Conversation at 3 a.m.
Mixed media on canvas 6x8.5"
© 2014 Megan Chapman 

This next bit is for those in Arkansas and specifically my hometown of Fayetteville. I am in the early stages of organising an online sale of some of my works that are actually all still there in Fayetteville looking for good homes. Stay tuned, locals! (the two pieces of art in the post are just two examples).

Royal Botanic Gardens

In other non-art related news, I have really been enjoying the spring in Edinburgh, the sunshine has been divine. The flowers are blooming like mad and the trees are just starting to leaf out. Such joy for this time of year to come around again. I made it a point to visit my favourite graveyard, the botanic gardens, and a favourite park this past week along with a few other choice walks and suntraps. I even walked through The Meadows blooming on the way to take down the show at Detour.

And here I am on the sofa with a sore knee, but I will be back amongst the flowers soon enough.

In the house you live
Mixed media on panel
12x12"
© 2014 Megan Chapman

Dear Artists,

Stand up for yourselves. Stop working for free. Stop underselling your work and yourself. Challenge the way the art world functions and who it is set up to benefit. Set boundaries. Exposure doesn't pay the bills. We must support and encourage each other. We are in the same fight. We are not in competition. Share your secrets and let's reach our goals together as a unified front. Get organised. 

Don't forget to rest and to allow yourself time for joy. Remember what you wanted to express in the first place - you probably won't find it on Instagram but you might find it in your heart, your mind's eye, or in the pit of your stomach. Let it out. We can take it.

Love,
Megan

******

Want to leave me £3 ($3.91) in exchange for my work (words, art, videos, and photographs)? It's easy and it feels good to be a supporter!

Click here: https://ko-fi.com/meganchapman 

Thank you!

Don't Stop! Give it all you got

The Clash: The Magnificient Seven

The above Post-it note is stuck on the windowpane in front of my desk. This yellow square kept me motivated as I did eight hours of data entry on my archive today. There have been many long days recently working on this task and I was planning on going into more detail about how the process of working on this makes me feel. However, my cat is in my lap as I balance my laptop on the arm of a chair, so perhaps next time. Theo is supremely important. 

There was a short and sweet Tuesday studio video visit recorded this week. If you missed it, here it is. Thank you for your likes, shares, and subscriptions to my YouTube.

Like many this week, I have been staying in as we weather these two big storms in the UK. I am thinking of everyone affected - Edinburgh has gotten off lightly so far. I hope you are warm, well, and safe wherever you are. 

And that's it, I am going to cut this short, it's time for some dinner and some Netflix, but of course, Theo is still in my lap so it may be a while before dinner yet...

Thanks to everyone who has supported my work over the years, as I go through the archive I am reminded of conversations, emails, chats, faces, and memories of everyone who has bought and supported my work. It's been quite emotional and really fulfilling - more on this soon. Thank you. 

Until next week, take care and keep fighting!

PS. When the sun comes out again, go celebrate at Detour Espresso in Marchmont, the Abstractionistas exhibition continues... 

Let's exchange the experience

To hide the best parts, 40x40x4cm

Mixed media on canvas, Megan Chapman

Hello, dear blog readers, 

The Abstractionistas exhibition, Awakenings continues this week and through April 17 at Detour Espresso at 39 Argyle Place, Marchmont, Edinburgh. Opening hours are 9-4pm M-F and 10-4 Sat-Sun. The exhibition was installed in the lovely light-filled and high-ceilinged space last Friday evening, see last week's blog for installation photos and a few thoughts about the work as a whole. 

This week has mostly been focused on promoting the exhibition and the individual pieces across our Facebook, Instagram, and my YouTube. 

I tried something new this week with the Tuesday Studio Video Visit which I am excited about. I was able to record myself talking on camera about the five pieces I am showing at Detour, as I guide you through the work in question on the screen, picture in picture. This is pretty close to the experience you would get if you popped into my studio or met me at an exhibition for a discussion of my work. I tell you about the titles and meanings of the paintings as well as some of the strategies I use while creating the works. I really miss these in-depth discussions about my work with patrons, so please do watch the video if you haven't already. It is just under 15 minutes and I cover a lot of ground. Let me know what you think in the comments, and please like and share. I hope to do more videos like these in the future. 

That is all I have for you this week, some rewiring is being done in the house this morning, so I wanted to get this out early while I had a quiet moment. Thank you all for supporting and enjoying my work and for your enthusiastic support for the Abstractionistas. It means a lot to us all. If you are local, go have a coffee at Detour this weekend or make plans to go in the near future to support a wonderful local business and local artists! 

Until next week, take care and keep fighting!

Awakenings at Detour Espresso in Marchmont, Edinburgh

Work by Susan E. Wilson on the left and Megan Chapman on the right

‘Awakenings’ an exhibition by the Abstractionistas is now on display at Detour Espresso, 39 Argyle Place, Marchmont, Edinburgh. 

Enjoy abstract paintings by our members Susan Elizabeth Wilson, Megan Chapman: Abstract Painter, and Judith Shaylor Art while enjoying great coffee and tasty treats in a beautiful and friendly atmosphere. If you ask us, this weather just screams for good coffee and art. Detour Espresso is just the place for both!

Work by Megan Chapman on the left and framed works by Judith Shaylor to the right and below the bike.

The exhibition is made up of thirteen pieces by the three artists in the collective. Each work explores different facets of working in the abstract, such as colour, atmosphere, energy or are influenced by the land. Some pieces serve as meditations in motion or to tell stories and share our inner worlds. Each artist's distinct voice shines through.

If you are in Edinburgh, make plans to pop by with a friend and enjoy the exhibition.

I love showing art where folks can go to be comfortable and cosy, such as in a coffee shop. Art is a natural part of that equation - we live around art - we eat, drink, solve life's mysteries and share laughs and tears around art. The Abstractionistas are honoured to show at Detour Espresso. 

In other news, you can see my Tuesday video visit here. Other than preparing for this show I have been really getting stuck into the Artwork Archive (I talk about that a bit in my video as well). If you are an artist and can afford it or raise the funds for it, I highly recommend it. 

More shows are on the horizon! More on that soon. Until next week, be well, take care, and keep fighting. Thank you for your support.

Abstractionistas Exhibition at Detour Espresso!

The Abstractionistas present, ‘Awakenings’ to be held at Detour Espresso at their Marchmont location during the months of February and March at 39 Argyle Place, EH9 1JT, Edinburgh. 

Enjoy your coffee alongside some fresh, hot, abstract art by artists Megan Chapman, Judith Shaylor and Susan Elizabeth Wilson. All our work will be available to purchase and collect by contacting us directly throughout the 2-month exhibition. 

We are looking forward to having our paintings out in the world again and in such a beautiful and relaxed setting as Detour Espresso. 

It will be great to be showing alongside my peers again! We hope you can pop by and enjoy our work while you are out and about in Edinburgh over the next two months. 

I plan to show the following pieces depending on space. Message me with any inquiries and as always, I am open to instalment plans. 

Hiding in plain sight
Mixed Media on Canvas
41x51x4 cm (16x20x1.5")
£325.00
To purchase email: megancha@gmail.com

Out of my mouth come flowers, come barbs
Mixed Media on Canvas
41x51x4 cm (16x20x1.5")
£325.00
To purchase email: megancha@gmail.com

Time spent as someone else
Mixed Media on Canvas
41x51x4cm (16x20x1.5")
£325.00
To purchase email: megancha@gmail.com

Stolen moments
Mixed Media on Canvas
41x51x4cm (16x20x1.5")
£325.00
To purchase email: megancha@gmail.com

To hide the best parts
Mixed Media on Canvas
40x40x4cm (15.5x15.5x1.5")
 £275.00
To purchase email: megancha@gmail.com

I hope everyone is as well as can be and starting to dream and think about the spring. I saw some snowdrops today on my walk and have enjoyed a few sunny days with the birds as they sing their spring songs. I am looking forward to everything bursting open again soon. I must be patient. 

Oh, and if you missed this week's Tuesday Studio Video Visit you can see it here. It's a quick musical exploration of ten small works. Enjoy. 

Thank you for joining me this week and for your continued support.

Until next week, keep fighting!