Like a mirror to my soul

Conversations on stillness, mixed media on canvas panel © Megan Chapman

Hello Dear Readers, 

I had two paintings on the go last week that I meant to return to and work on but I started a new one instead. See above, conversations on stillness. I enjoyed working on this piece, building up the layers and textures. It was an old fashioned meditative experience (I need more of those). I was listening to Brian Eno and Nils Frahm while I worked and I think you can tell. 

On Monday, my friend Julia and I went to see Resistance: How protest shaped Britain and photography shaped protest at Modern Two. The exhibition was conceived by artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen. It was compelling to see the stark and powerful exhibition and to learn some of the stories from a century of protest. If you are local to Edinburgh or are passing through, do go see it before it closes in January. Did you know that on the First Monday of each month you can pay what you wish (minimum £2)? It's a very helpful offering for artists and arts workers on a budget. 

We also crossed the road to Modern One and I have to say even though we ran through the lower floor with haste before closing time, my heart was so happy to see some of my favourites. I don't visit Modern One near enough and it was a delight to see these old and new friends. I do think of certain artists' works as a key that opens the door to my very existence - like a mirror to my soul - there you are and there I am...

Artists such as Frankenthaler, Albers, and Morandi set my brain on fire and then we entered a room with three Agnes Martin paintings?! Oh, you can bet my heart was singing! I love Agnes Martin - she speaks the language of painting so beautifully and deeply that I could roll around in it. No bullshit. Honest. My day was made. 

Untitled #5 by Agnes Martin National Galleries of Scotland
ARTIST ROOMS National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. Acquired jointly through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Art Fund, 2008  ©Estate of Agnes Martin

I even saw one of the wee Francesca Woodman photographs from the collection (the gallery has 23 of her photos). I feel very fortunate that all of this great art lives in my city. It still blows my wee Arkansas born mind at times but mostly just fills me with gratitude and genuine awe.

This weekend there will be more painting and more rest. Thank you for checking in here and spending some of your time with me. I hope you are doing okay. I know it is hard out there. Keep fighting. We need you and the gifts you bring, now more than ever. 

Arkansas Sale! Last 2 days!

Oh Arkansas, I am still looking at you...

These are the last two days of my special sale of original works and limited edition prints. I am delighted that seven pieces have sold already but there is still time to find the perfect work for your collection, support my work, and support the work of AbleTalks too! The sale continues until Saturday at midnight. Visit the sale here: https://www.artworkarchive.com/rooms/megan-chapman/79a12b

Please know that while this sale is pointed towards locals in Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas if you are further afield and need a piece posted to you elsewhere in the United States we can make arrangements. Shipping will simply be an additional charge. Hit the purchase button under the piece you are interested in on the sale site and it will send me a message with any questions or concerns you have. Here are a few of my favourite remaining pieces still available in the sale. 

Listen to the wind

Mixed Media on Canvas

15 x 21 cm

(5.91 x 8.27 in)

£60.30

Click here to see this piece on the sale site

Dissonance

Mixed Media on Canvas

15 x 21 cm

(5.91 x 8.27 in)

£60.30

Click here to see this piece on the sale site

Conversation at 3 a.m.

Mixed Media on Canvas

15 x 21 cm

(5.91 x 8.27 in)

£60.30

Click here to see this piece on the sale site

Our stories align
Giclée print on heavyweight archival matte paper
41.91 x 29.69 cm
(16.5 x 11.69 in)
£44.22
Click here to see this piece on the sale site

Places to become lost

Giclée print on heavyweight archival matte paper

29.69 x 29.69 cm

(11.69 x 11.69 in)

£40.00

Click here to see this piece on the sale site

Adrift

Mixed media on deep edged wood panel

30 x 30 cm

(11.81 x 11.81 in)

£160.80

Click here to see this piece on the sale site

Patch and repair

Mixed media on deep edged wood panel

30 x 30 cm

(11.81 x 11.81 in)

£160.80

Click here to see this piece on the sale site

Thanks again to my Arkansas patrons and the good folks in Georgia and Louisiana who have purchased works from my special sale. It really warms my heart to hear from you - even just notes of support or a quick hello in reaction to my sale posts on social media and through email.

You all really are a tough act to follow and you must know that when people ask where I am from, I proudly say Arkansas. Your spirit is in my heart and shines through in everything I do.

Let me know if you have any questions - use my contact form on my website (meganchapman.com or hit purchase on the site - no fear it just sends me a message at first).

Visit the sale here: https://www.artworkarchive.com/rooms/megan-chapman/79a12b

Thank you again for your continued support of my work, past, present, and future.

In other news, I have been recovering from the weekend spent at the palace for Inception. I wish you all could have been there. Thanks to the locals who came out in support of the artists. It is always an experience...

Soon, new paintings and drawings will be born from a place of mystery and hope. A rebirth is imminent.

Form your own mutual aid societies (maybe it only takes 2 people)
Make your own syndicates, apply for grants or aid and spread the wealth
Give things away but don't work for free
Talk to vulnerable people in the street
Be prepared to get it wrong
Give your radical thoughts voice
Join your union

Inception this weekend at Dalkeith Palace!

Paintings from my " A Delicate Balance" series at the Dalkeith Palace

Another work from my series "A Delicate Balance" in situ for Inception at the Dalkeith Palace

I love the juxtaposition of modern art lining the walls of this gorgeous stately manor. I am pleased to be back at Inception for a second time at the Dalkeith Palace and this time with my fellow Abstractionistas! We have a gorgeous room on the main floor just before the grand stairs and we are excited to share our works with you. 

There is so much art to see, experience, enjoy, and purchase in such a beautiful setting. 

Come see the Abstractionistas:

Megan Chapman
Susan Elizabeth Wilson
Judith Shaylor Art

Susan Wilson's work on the left wall and Judith Shaylor's on the right

Judith Shaylor's work

Don’t miss this exhibition, folks! See you at Inception, Friday - Sunday, May 6-8. Get your tickets here: https://www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/.../inception-art-show

Please note: If you are coming to say hello to me specifically, on Friday, I will step away from my art from 11-12:30 for a union meeting via Zoom that I can't miss. But I will be on the premises and available for the duration of the exhibition all three days otherwise. I would love to see you.

Congratulations to the organisers and all our fellow participating artists! I am really looking forward to all the spirited and intimate conversations about art over this long weekend. Please do come and say hello!

In other news:

If you missed it here's the Tuesday Studio Video Visit: Here

And here's the Arkansas local's sale information: Here

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!

Studio Sale! Come and get it!

Darkness comes in stages

Mixed Media on Canvas

30 x 122 x 4 cm

(11.81 x 48.03 x 1.57 in)

Sold

Megan Chapman

Hiding in plain sight

Mixed Media on Canvas

41 x 51 x 4 cm

(16.14 x 20.08 x 1.57 in)

£325.00

Megan Chapman

Time spent as someone else

Mixed Media on Canvas

41 x 51 x 4 cm

(16.14 x 20.08 x 1.57 in)

£325.00

Megan Chapman

Stolen moments

Mixed Media on Canvas

41 x 51 x 4 cm

(16.14 x 20.08 x 1.57 in)

£325.00

Megan Chapman

All the ways you taught me

Mixed Media on Canvas

76 x 51 x 4 cm

(29.92 x 20.08 x 1.57 in)

£550.00

Megan Chapman

I follow the new

Mixed Media on Canvas

51 x 76 x 4 cm

(20.08 x 29.92 x 1.57 in)

£550.00

Megan Chapman

It's time for my 2nd annual "Come and get it" Studio Sale!

I am offering a selection of my larger canvas works at a deep discount (50% off). The only catch is that you must come to my studio in Leith or send someone over to pick them up on your behalf.

I happily offer 3 monthly instalment plans for all of these works. This is a great way for you to budget for art and own one of my larger pieces for your collection. Just message me to set this up - when you hit the "purchase" button it will give you a field to message me - it will not instantly sell you the piece - so click that button with confidence).

All of these paintings are on deep edge canvas with the edges painted either black or grey for a finished look and are ready to hang on your wall. Thank you for supporting my work. Please feel free to share. Email me with any questions. (megancha@gmail.com)
- Megan

Click here to visit the studio sale site. 

Bio:
Megan Chapman is an internationally collected abstract painter living in Edinburgh, Scotland. She shares her art and process in her Tuesday Studio Video Visits and her Friday Studio Blog. Building community around art is an essential and joyful part of her process. “Give me a charcoal line and I will show you my heart’s story. Pair that line with paint and I will show you my life.”

meganchapman.com

Visit this week's Tuesday Studio Video Visit here. Thanks for stopping by and for your support. Please share my studio sale link with any of your Edinburgh area friends. Until next week, be well and keep fighting! 

Inception opens TODAY!

Inception opens today Friday, September 10th from 10-6pm and will be open again on Saturday, September 11th and Sunday, September 12th from 10-5pm at the incredible Dalkeith Palace. If you haven't bought your tickets yet you still have time to snap some up and make a weekend of it!

I installed my work on Monday and the five paintings fit the space perfectly and the colours harmonised. It was a magical moment. You'll have to come and see it for yourself.

Join us for ‘Inception’ at Dalkeith Palace at the Dalkeith Country Park.

Participating artists:
Frances Bell
Kelly Anne Cairns
Megan Chapman
Christine Clark
Walter Dalkeith
Domenica de Ferranti
Katy Eccles
Ripley
William Foyle
Jonathan Freemantle
Taisir Gibreel
Claire Gillie Thompson
Frippy Jameson
Nancy Macdonald
Hatti Pattisson
Craig Rae Ferguson
Elaine Speirs
Christiana Spens
Gill Walton
Julia Trotter

I’ll have these five works on two walls on the first floor upstairs in what was once the palace nursery and I’ll have five smaller framed pieces available in the pop-up shop on the main floor. Looking forward to meeting all the artists and greeting the patrons! 

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

Lots more exciting news next week! Stay tuned! See you this weekend!

We are the Abstractionistas!

Esther Donaldson
estherdonaldson.com

Megan Chapman
meganchapman.com

Judith Shaylor
judithshaylor.com

Susan Wilson
susanelizabethwilson.com

Join us next week at our inaugural exhibition, Advancing The Abstract in Gallery 2 at the Edinburgh Palette, St. Margaret's House, Edinburgh. Reserve your free tickets now. The exhibition is from July 9-25. Gallery hours 12-5 daily. Reception July 10 from 2-6pm. Click for tickets. We'd love to see you there. 

The pendulum swings back

The sun was out today so I got outside to let it fill my face. I am solar powered now. I've caught up on my blog so if you have missed the last few, here they are for you again. 

Friday, January 15, 2021
Open the flood gates

Friday, January 8, 2021
Obviously not me

Friday, January 1, 2021
The practice of being human

Friday, December 25, 2020
2020. Year in review.

The painting above is the last new piece in the current series. Right now I am sharing studio snapshots- I will take better photos soon. You can see my limited palette is in full effect. I am working on some beautiful paper, Fabriano Artistico hot pressed heavyweight watercolour paper with deckled edges. I found a pile of it leftover from an old project. It's a good size (56x76cm).

I have been working on another piece but I strangely overworked it and had to give it a shower. Now, I think the paper might be too distressed from the experience. Time will tell. I share this because this is part of the process. The alchemy isn't always available and that's okay. 

The presidential inauguration this week was magnificent and gave me a lot of hope. The pendulum swings back again. We now know what we almost lost. There is a life lesson here.

Never give up. Keep fighting. THE PENDULUM SWINGS BACK!

More work and news soon. Thanks for your support and enthusiasm for my work. 

Take care out there.

Megan 

The story continues...

If you stopped by here last week you will recall that I shared the first eight paintings of a new series. This week, I am sharing five more new works in that same series. I am especially excited by these works, my palms were actually sweating as I was organising the photos of the painting. I might have even hollered! This is a rare and special feeling and I aim to hold on to it for a while. Without further ado here are the newest paintings from my latest series, "This is how we tell the story..."

Could I tell you anything more
mixed media on 200gsm acid-free paper
42x59.4cm/16.5x23.4"
©2020 Megan Chapman
£475

Under the surface
mixed media on 200gsm acid-free paper
42x59.4cm/16.5x23.4"
©2020 Megan Chapman
£475

Strong medicine (keep it close)
mixed media on 200gsm acid-free paper
42x59.4cm/16.5x23.4"
©2020 Megan Chapman
Sold

The maps have changed
mixed media on 200gsm acid-free paper
42x59.4cm/16.5x23.4"
©2020 Megan Chapman
£475

False dynasties
mixed media on 200gsm acid-free paper
42x59.4cm/16.5x23.4"
©2020 Megan Chapman
£475

132nd Paisley Art Institute Exhibition opens this Saturday!

The 132nd Paisley Art Institute exhibition opens this Saturday, July 25th at 4pm! Please join us for what is sure to be an exciting and varied exhibition. I’m delighted to have these two pieces selected for the Paisley Art Institute exhibition so grab a drink and some nibbles and celebrate art from the comfort of your home! 

Click the link to attend! https://paisleyartinstitute.org/exhibitions/pai-132-online/ 

See you there! 

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

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

Mark making, podcasts, videos and more!

Happy May Day!

Here we are, we've made it to another Friday. I hope you are staying well. It just occurred to me that I didn't promote last week's blog post so if you missed it, you can read it here.

This week has been somewhat productive but also a bit pensive and introspective - more on that later.

I did make some work this week.

Something so awful in the beauty (temporary space)
mixed media 41x51cm/20x16" on heavyweight 250gsm paper. It has a fine-grain linen-textured surface that has been double-primed and is acid-free.
£270

Your sad parade (subject to change)
mixed media 41x51cm/20x16" on heavyweight 250gsm paper. It has a fine-grain linen-textured surface that has been double-primed and is acid-free.
£270

I also worked on a couple of other pieces and an accidental portrait. I recorded my Tuesday Studio Video Visit with a verbal walkthrough of some of the most recent works on paper.

I also recorded a new podcast to walk you through the seven works I have available through Solo Gallery in Innerleithen in the gorgeous Scottish Borders. You can view them all in a previous blog post here https://bit.ly/2Sdpxrr or just listen to the podcast here https://bit.ly/2KEzASk. You can now view and purchase them directly from the gallery from their new gorgeous website.

To the introspective part. This morning I woke up and thought about the just over five and a half years I have lived in Edinburgh and what all I have accomplished with my art during that time. You can read all of that here. It's a quick 4-minute read and it helped me put some things in perspective. Thank you for supporting my work, checking in here, and enjoying the other content I provide. Your support keeps me on the path.

Thank you.