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.

Let Go

Oops, I did it again, I am running a wee bit behind on my studio blog this week (and for those that notice, my Tuesday Studio Video Visits too). I am pretty much going to blame everything on the VISA process until I get it done (which I hope will be this week - send me love and strength, this process is pretty intense). As easy as it is to get overwhelmed with life, it is equally important for me to remember my art, the events and things I have coming up in the future, and what I offer to my community and my new country through my art. I have spent the morning catching up on my Facebook Art Page, posting recent sales and upcoming events and aim to do the same here. Thanks as always for your patience and continued support. 

Last weekend's Open Studio event was lovely and I enjoyed talking with all those that came by. I enjoy the young artists that are just starting out and wondering how they are going to figure this gig out. It's a wild ride for sure. I answered questions, try to point them towards resources and give them straight talk, as well as a little bit of hope. If I have ever talked to you at open studios and you were left wanting more help or guidance don't forget I do offer this service at a professional level and sometimes only one or two sessions can help you gain a lot of clarity. Visit my mentoring website for more information and if you are 25 or under I am happy to work with you for my concession rate. 

I would love to see you at the next Open Studio and Makers Marque event on Sunday 17th of November from 12-5pm. My doors will be open again!

Besides the fruitful conversations, I was delighted that this piece sold at open studios. 

In other news over the past week, I entered my book work for the John Byrne Award with my entry, "Have you accepted art into your life?" Their website is gorgeous and it felt good to share my books and ethos behind them on this platform. Click here to see my entry. 

In keeping with submitting my work, I took the same three pieces that got rejected from the RSA and submitted them to the upcoming Art in Granton exhibition and happily they got accepted! That's how we do it! Here's more about that. If you are local, please make plans to attend, the Madelvic house is a wonderful venue with a storied past. 

Let Go

40x50x4cm

Acrylic on canvas, £725

Megan Chapman 2019

The Distance

40x50x4cm

Acrylic on canvas, £725

Megan Chapman 2019

No longer a mystery

80x100x4cm

Acrylic on canvas, £1,450

Megan Chapman 2019

*Accepted on show space allowing

My statement regarding these works for the exhibition.

I live in Granton in the lower cottages across from Wardie Bay Beach. These paintings were all painted in a temporary studio space I was invited to use during the summer. A Duke of Buccleuch owned property from 1840 across from the harbour provided me a change of scenery from my usual studio in the heart of Leith.

The sturdy old walls of the stable influenced these dark works as much as the creak of the boats, the wind, rain, and waters of the bay across the road. These paintings speak of the atmosphere and memories of the past - abstracted but grounded in my surroundings, I breathe in the stories that have been lost and found.

Art in Granton - a curated exhibition on place.
Exhibition opening times:
Friday 25 October 5-8pm.
Saturday 26 October 11-6pm
Sunday 27 October 11-5pm.

Madelvic House

Granton Park Ave.
Edinburgh
EH5 1HS

I think that's us mostly caught up. I hope to get into the studio and make some marks this week as well as film some videos. I haven't actively painted for a month now and I don't like how that feels but I also have to give myself a break with all that is going on and obviously, I am still doing art-related things. Again, I will say writing a blog and keeping track of the art things - the making, the selling, the submitting, the thinking about, the ups and downs, and the dreamings and inspirations always makes me feel better about things. This is one habit I would recommend to everyone. Thanks again for your patience and support of my work and for going on this ride with me. Until next week, keep fighting. We need you and your work. 

*****************

You can find my work at the following galleries.

The Velvet Easel Gallery

Portobello, Edinburgh

Scotland

Doyle Fine Art Gallery

Glasgow

Scotland

Fenix Gallery

Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA

And of course around the internet on all your favourite channels!

Web: www.meganchapman.com

IG: instagram.com/ethermaven

FB: facebook.com/megan.chapman.artist

Twitter: twitter.com/ethermaven

And of course, at my studio G23, located at 36 Dalmeny Street Leith, Edinburgh EH6 8RG 

Walls too crowded, budget tight? You can still support my work. Click the link to buy me a coffee. Thanks!

Support Me on Ko-fi

   

Books, books, books...

After a wonderful opening reception at Doyle Fine Art in Glasgow last Friday, I spent this past week working on my books. I was fretting about getting them framed and then I remembered that frames were not part of my original plan anyway. I want a table filled with yellowed paper, hard book backs, and spines unleashed. I want you to touch the art and "read" the books. I want you to feel them and pick up the stories that are meant for you. I want you to have an experience. 

As the promotion for the book market says,  “Megan paints and draws in the pages of old hardback books to tell stories collected on the wind and sea. These books are made to be handled and touched, read and collected, like any other.”

Consider yourself personally invited and make plans to attend: Art Walk Porty - The Artist's Book Market, at the Dalriada located right on the Portobello Promenade across from the sea in Edinburgh. Saturday the 7th 12-6pm and Sunday the 8th of September from 12-5pm.

In my Tuesday Video Visit this week, I talk in-depth about my thoughts behind the books and why I started them 20 years ago and why I continue with them today. While my face is not in the video this week, you get a good sense of what this project is all about. I hope you will give it a listen. 

Until next week, keep fighting!

Exhibitions, studio work, and more!

Monday came on strong with several smaller (but not small) works on canvas and a large painting was summoned up by the afternoon.

Just some of the smaller works on canvas from Monday. Here is the large piece that came later.

On Tuesday, I filmed the Tuesday Studio Video Visit and talked in-depth about my feelings regarding the large canvas. You can see it again here if you missed it.


In other news: a reminder that tonight from 6-9pm is the opening reception for John Doyle Art located at 23 Parnie Street in Glasgow. This brand new gallery aims to bring an eclectic collection of talent and skill together under one roof. I am delighted to be part of it. 

In two weeks, it will be Art Walk Porty - The Artist's Book Market, at the Dalriada located right on the Portobello Promenade across from the sea in Edinburgh. Saturday the 7th 12-6pm and Sunday the 8th of September from 12-5pm. I really need to properly turn my focus to this upcoming deadline and get my bookwork show ready and stop working on the rolled canvas works (note to self). 

Last but not least, a new patron just sent me this photo of two of my small works that have now be framed and lovingly placed in their new home. These two small works look dynamic together and I love how they’ve been framed. Word to the wise, these were picked for a song from my online studio sale. 



Until next week, may you be well, happy, and inspired. Remember that every day we paint is a victory. The world needs you and your art! Thank you.