She talks to rainbows

I painted before I patched

Dirty boots

Hello. Here we are again on an actual Friday. 

Thanks for checking out the Friday Studio Blog. I hope you are doing well. I am sitting out in the sun while I write this. Thanks again to everyone who came out to support the artists of the Out of the Blue Drill Hall last week for our exhibition, Outside + In. The show came down last Saturday at 5pm. It was good to spend so much time in the hall for that week - it was like pushing a pause button on my grief. Art has always protected me in that way. 

This week I found myself plunged back into the trenches and didn't feel my best but I still managed to do a few art-related things. First, I did go to the studio on Tuesday and I decided to patch the holes and repaint my painting wall. I also looked at my paint supplies and just handled a few things in the space. I also managed to record my Tuesday Studio Video Visit! I haven't recorded one in a long time, so that was a relief to do and to do it from the studio. 

Here it is if you missed it on social media. 

I have to admit I didn't feel my best in the space at the time. That space sometimes feels like it is filled with the old ghosts of my hopes and dreams and a heavy dose of punishment. Sometimes it feels like I must go to that room to prove I am working. I must go to that room and prove I am busy and deserving of the space. I must go to that room to make myself scarce. I must go there to be contained. To be my wild self but enclosed in a windowless space where I won't bother anyone. I must go to that room to prove my dedication, worth, and my value. I must earn love and appreciation in that room. 

Heavy wee room, eh? Aye. Fuck that noise. 

So I have to exorcise it and that's what I just did. I just smudged it with the truth. Feelings come and go and feelings shared, lose their power. I am exorcising a lot. Some of you will be here for it and others might need to bail out. That's cool. 

On that same Tuesday, I also saw a fleeting exhibition by another studio mate (Ian Gonczarow). I haven't yet met him but now I have seen his work in the hall and that is a good thing - hopefully, I will meet him soon. More community the better. More art in the building, the better too. I had a good chat with an art worker in the building and my studio mate and then went to hers for lunch and I enjoyed a sunny walk home.

Wednesday (4 weeks of missing Theo) was heavy and I did hard things. Thursday, I ran errands and rewarded myself for the hard things I accomplished and was gifted with a bit of anxiety for my efforts. Yoga and meditation were required as was a book in the sun that evening. Today in the sun as I write this, I love feeling warm, surrounded by flowers, and being outside and free. I love the transportive quality of the music I am listening to - it takes me everywhere. 

In other news, I got another copy of The Artists Way and decided it was time to surrender to that process again. If you know, you know... I'm doing my morning pages and the artist's dates will follow. I got myself an A2 drawing board - it will be here soon. 

In the meantime, I am walking, walking, walking... 

"The position of the artist is humble. He (She) is essentially a channel." - Piet Mondrian

That's all I have for you this week on the Friday Studio Blog. If you missed a few posts, please go back and check them out. Thanks so much for your support!

Want to buy me a ko-fi? Click the link! Thanks!

Without an anchor

I am still here, I didn't turn into dust. I am not sure how. I am walking for miles (my go-to coping strategy) talking, seeing friends, sleeping, resting, grieving, recovering, eating, crying, crying, crying. I talk to you as I look back into the empty rooms. I hope you will visit me in my dreams. I want you back. This is pretty fucking hard. Layers upon layers of grief. I can't move your things. 

My friends have been amazing and the flowers are blooming and the trees are leafing out. I talk to the squirrels, pigeons, and birds. I suddenly have so many bird feeders. My wee animal friends help me - stray cats roam in the garden. They are not you, but I hope they bring messages from you. I am surrounded by beauty in sadness, I am surrounded by big hearts and am aware of all the bodhisattvas that walk in our midst. All the caregivers, healers, and helpers. I try to practice compassion, my mind throws me endless curveballs. I am feeling it all and walking through it. Again I say, this is pretty fucking hard. I miss you so much, Theo. 

In other news, I learned of another loss. My friend, patron, supporter of the arts, punk rocker, photographer and all-around good guy, Peter Goodbody passed away at the end of March and with everything else going on I only just found out. 

If you bought a print or t-shirt with one of my faces on it, Peter Goodbody is the reason why. He suggested that I make them and so I followed through. I will always be grateful for his patronage, friendship, and support. He was a brilliant supporter of musicians and artists across the board. 

Peter interviewed me for his music and art website, P3DRO. I was honoured to be asked but even more thrilled with how brilliant the interview was - he asked great questions and I enjoyed being able to weave my love of music and art together. The interview felt like a special gift. I will always be thankful for Peter and all his help and support over the years. Rest in Power, my friend. You will be missed. 

Here is the interview again for those who missed it the first time or who would like to read it again. 

https://p3dro.net/2021/03/01/megan-chapman-this-is-our-family-tree-made-of-charcoal-dust/

Peter Goodbody modelling one of my shirts.

Thank you, Peter. 

My warrior, my champion is gone

I don't want to write this post, but I do want to honour my best boy, best friend, companion and love, champion, warrior, protector, familiar, dear heart - my sweet Theo. 

We worked so hard for as long as we could, but we had to say goodbye on Wednesday, April 26th 2023. 

My heart and house feel so empty. 

I will never forget you, Theo. Thank you for all the love, joy, and comfort you gave me and for everything you taught me. Thank you for being with me as I learned so much about my new country and myself. Every day I got to come home to you was a good day no matter what was going on in my life or in the world. 

Words will never express how much you meant to me or our bond. I would do it all over again and I wish I could. 

Hug your dear animal family, they aren't here long enough. 

Many thanks to Connor and Beatrice at Braid Vets and everyone else who crossed paths with Theo during his care there. I will always be grateful.

In this world

In this world
mixed media on canvas 30x26"
Megan Chapman 2006
private collection

Waking up to find the sunshine and my cat alive is a gift. The sunshine means he can sit in a pool of light and get warm - one of his favourite things that makes his fading life worth living.

The sun helps me with my anticipatory grief and the sadness of caring for my fading friend. If I were a witch as I surely would have been back in Scotland's dark days, Theo is my familiar. 

Since the last post, there was another vet visit. And this time opioids were prescribed and a 10-day course of antibiotics was administered in a single shot. So many times since then, I thought he was going but he thought differently. So here we are in the sunshine of today. 

Today

Today

Today

I know today is all we have.

It's been intense, awful and sad but today the sun is out and we are here. 

In between the hypervigilance, tears, naps, and friends and family checking on me - I am starting to think about art again little by little - the future. 

I am thankful for the blue skies, flowers, and the spring birds darting back and forth, my brilliant cat Theo, and you.

Obstacle 2

Return to me 
mixed media on canvas 30x26"
Megan Chapman 2006
private collection

Hello, there studio blog readers, 

Thank you to everyone who read last week's post. I appreciate hearing from you across my social media channels. Always good to get feedback, hear if something resonates, or just to see a friendly hello, a name and a face. 

Today I am up at dawn monitoring the breathing of my cat, feeling how small he has become and how soft and delicate. I turn the light on in the darkness to see how his eyes look and I plot my next course of action. He needs to eat - today is the day I open the forbidden small tin of food - to mix some in with his prescription that he only licks these days. He needs subcutaneous fluids too. And after the sub-Qs, he will get a bit of an equally forbidden lick-e-lix treat. We have played by all the rules for so long, we have done our very best, and now we are tired - we need a few rewards. 

Before warming the fluids and brandishing the needle, I tidy up the kitchen and let him linger by his water bowl unsuspecting. As he sits "turkey style" staring into nothing and everything, I look out the window watching the world wake up. I put things in order, walking quietly for some reason and yet moving with decisive action. It reminds me of the past. 

It reminds me of hearing the calling at 3am and rolling out of bed to float up the stairs to my attic studio to put on my headphones and get lost in music and paint. Dancing upstairs with Alizarin Crimson, Orange Oxide, Gold, and Phalo Blue...  

"I'm gonna pull you in close

I'm gonna wrap you up tight

I'm gonna play with the braids that you came here with tonight..."

(I am back there now - dancing in the attic to Interpol - walking and working in dream time, painting for you and you and you and I am still in my 30s and it seems like all the doors are still open). 

And then the track changes and I am back sitting here at the table. My sick cat is resting, tears are close to my eyes and I am 51 living in Edinburgh, Scotland. I have closed a lot of the doors and I have had more than a few closed on me...

And I am sitting with all this space and I envision doing something out of the ordinary - you know like painting or drawing... How did this happen? 

See you later...

The Crossing
mixed media on canvas 20x20"
Megan Chapman 2004
private collection

My birthday was on Monday, March 6th. I turned 51. I am writing this post well after the fact. I remember it was a bright sunny day - one of the first days that it felt like spring was actually going to come at last. I wore a bright daffodil yellow coloured cardigan. 

I started the day by knowingly visiting someone very special to me for the last time. It was a beautiful and easy conversation and everything was said that needed to be. I marvelled at their strength, boldness, unwavering kindness, and the comforting nature that they put out into the world on that day and all days, even though they hadn't been dealt the best of hands. 

I said "I love you, see you later..." as I walked out the door. We both knew I would not. 

In a seemingly split reality, across town, a couple of dear friends were waiting for me for a birthday lunch. I cried at the dining room table when I arrived and shared the power and wonder I had just witnessed. We then enjoyed our bowls of homemade chilli around the table. I was grateful for the kindness and a place to land. 

Theo took a turn and the rest of the week was a blur.

Consider this the hint of the century

Oh, life... (cue the R.E.M song) 

There was no Tuesday Studio Video Visit this week and this might barely count as a blog (no, it counts). 

On Sunday I went for a walk towards Cramond with my pal James, on Sunday night Edinburgh (and much of the UK) was treated to the Northern Lights and in the city with all the light pollution that is a big deal. Here's a picture I took from the wee beach across the road. It was reassuring to know these dancing colours were out there in the sky over the north sea. 

I don't remember much about Monday and on Tuesday, Theo spent the whole day at the vet on IV fluids. I didn't talk to Jennifer as we usually do that day but I did talk to another creative dynamo about a possible environmentally friendly collaboration/commission project. More on that hopefully in the near future. 

On Wednesday, I shared some older works from my Artwork Archive (pictured above) on social media, trying to do a bit of creative record-keeping. I wrote:

"Do you live with some of these pieces? PLEASE LET ME KNOW - there is a wee comment icon at the top of each painting that will easily send me a message. *I'd like to take it a step further, if you can remember how you acquired the painting that would be grand.* And if you don't live with these paintings - enjoy looking back at these various series of my work from long ago. PS. If you used to live with the painting and sold it - passed it on etc. I would love to know that too. Here is the link if you would enjoy looking back at some of my older works and of course if you happen to live with one or more of these pieces or if you used to, please let me know." Click this link to view: https://www.artworkarchive.com/rooms/megan-chapman/ea4e5a

I think it was also on Wednesday that I moved my schedule around to accommodate the second part of the Scottish Artists Union Rep training that will start up again next Thursday. As you may recall last year I took part in Union Rep training and really enjoyed it and I look forward to completing the training so I can be of service to my fellow union members and art workers in the community. 

Thursday came and went and today I enjoyed a long chat with my dear friend and fellow artist Adelaide Shalhope. We have been enjoying talking about art for about 3 years now. I always feel better after talking to Adelaide. Always uplifted and inspired - we have expansive talks - leaving few stones unturned. Check out her work - I absolutely love it. 

There is a lot going on in the background of my life just now and I am holding many emotions. Spring is here, with new beginnings and flowers and also forks in the road. Sending love to all beings navigating this life.

Oh, and I was told to let you know that if you are in the UK it is free shipping weekend on T-shirts and Totes from my shop! This means that customers can get free UK shipping on all orders in my shop from 9am on Friday to midnight on Sunday. Get yours now!

https://gutlessapparel.teemill.com/

PS. Monday is my birthday. Feel like buying me a coffee in celebration? Go here :) Thanks!

A dash of magic and spring vibes

Singing to the flowers at night

Mixed Media on Paper

50.8 x 40.64cm/20x16"

£270.00

Megan Chapman

It's Friday already!? Yes, it is. 

My cat Theo isn't doing too well just now which is heavy on my mind and heart. Tonight I observe him and call the vet in the morning if need be and if I don't need to (fingers crossed) I have an appointment on Tuesday morning to learn how to start giving him subcutaneous fluids. Sigh. What a wee champion Theo continues to be. 

Let's see what else happened this week in art and life.

On Saturday, I focused on putting my most recent body of portraits all together in one place where patrons can enjoy and easily purchase them. These are the same pieces that made up my Divinations, Declarations, and Whispers exhibition that was held online in December. Now you can find them on my Artwork Archive site. I will be experimenting with having more of my work available in the near future on this platform. I really like the ease of use and point of sale and contact capabilities. If you missed the portraits on my social media accounts, you can check them out here: https://www.artworkarchive.com/profile/megan-chapman

On Saturday night I enjoyed the final 2-hour session of "Art, Work and Power," presented by the Scottish Artists Union. I get so much out of the union courses - always inspiring, empowering, and thought-provoking. I am looking forward to the next courses. 

On Monday, I updated my Instagram and Twitter handles to my actual name. So if you follow me on Instagram it is no longer at "ethermaven" but is now: https://www.instagram.com/megan.chapman.artist Similarly, if you follow me on Twitter at "ethermaven" it is now https://twitter.com/meganchapmanart I have also updated my profile pictures across the board to something a bit more up-to-date as well.

Seems a bit more professional to show up under my actual name and hopefully, it will be better for business as well. It's always a hassle to update those things as you don't realise how many times you share and promote those handles across social media, websites, and such. It felt good to finally take care of it.

On Tuesday, I visited the vet with Theo for blood tests and fluids, had my weekly chat with Jennifer, and then later I made the Tuesday Studio Video Visit. Another wee promo video. I am experimenting with slightly more professional videos and also just taking a wee break from talking on camera. Honestly, I need and want to focus on selling some of the work I have readily available before creating loads more just now for space and financial reasons. So if you missed it, here it is again. Fun fact - I created the discordant and "ethereal" sounds in the backing track as well (Nae worries - I will stick to my day job!) But, hey I am having a SALE in my shop on this specific body of work and if you use code "BUYART" at check out you get 10% off until midnight Sunday. These are mounted and ready to pop in any standard 8x10" frame.

Go here: https://ko-fi.com/meganchapman/shop and then click on the "mounted painting on canvas" tab to see the available sale works.

On Wednesday, I met up with my pals Aoife and Meg for lunch in a place in Leith I had never been - eating out in restaurants is still pretty new for me since the pandemic. I think I have sat down to eat in maybe 3 since it all kicked off and 2 times were in the last couple of weeks. It was great to spend time with my friends in a new place and enjoy the food, laughs, and atmosphere. Then I walked back down the walk into the belly of Leith for a wee wander around a favourite old cemetery I had forgotten about. I took a few snaps and enjoyed the area. It was a good day and again I felt gratitude for the community I am a part of and the friendships I have built here. It was a beautiful day with a dash of magic and spring vibes.

The Shore, Leith

Thursday sort of came and went, and here we are, Friday. I will watch and observe Theo tonight and hope for the best. Thanks for swinging by the Friday Studio Blog and checking out all my other stuff. I really appreciate your support and interest. I will produce new work again soon - Theo is a priority for me just now. Sending love and gratitude to all beings. Until next week, keep fighting.

Dream and be too much

I am pretty much already in "holiday mode" or really it could be called taking care of a sick cat mode. I have missed a few studio video visits due to this and honestly, I don't have a lot to say in this blog. Thanks for your patience. Theo seems to have turned a corner and is almost back to his pre (recent) hospitalisation vibe. There is no denying his kidney condition has progressed but he is doing amazingly well and is stable again and I am so relieved and grateful. 

The weather has turned cold, dark, and snowy - so that also encourages a bit of hibernation. So, I am taking the hint (now that I can relax a bit from Theo's recent tribulations). 

You know where all my art is - go look at it or even buy it if you are able. 

But more importantly, listen to music and dance. Take a nap. Do some breathing exercises. Have a cup of hot chocolate, get yourself a gift, give someone your opinions about something you didn't realise you had opinions about, keep yourself guessing, and laugh with a friend. 

Dream and be too much. Yes, please be too much... 

Like these legends. Until next week, keep fighting - you are beautiful. 

Little Edie Beale and Andy Warhol

Last chance to view: Divinations, Declarations and Whispers

Whew! This week! This past month really. Whew, deep breath in, deep breath out... My sweet cat Theo has been unwell and has been under veterinarian care since Tuesday morning. He is due to come home from the hospital later today. The chronic kidney disease is progressing and that's the reality. I can't wait to get him back home from the hospital later today. 

All my thoughts have been on him so I haven't been promoting the fact that today is the last day of my exhibition "Divinations, Declarations and Whispers" online at Starling & Campbell. I also missed posting my Tuesday Studio Video Visit for the past two weeks. Go have a rummage around my YouTube channel and please subscribe if you haven't. 

Theo comes first - I am sure you understand. 

However, if you haven't yet visited the exhibition, or if you want to go back so you can float around the gallery from face to face and really dive in and see them as you would in person, then please visit the exhibition today. They are all waiting for you there. I am delighted that so many of you were able to visit the exhibition in this way. I will try to have more exhibitions in this way, perhaps quarterly along with some salon-style virtual studio sale events. 

Visit the exhibition today: bit.ly/starlingcampbell

Also I enjoyed creating a special line of t-shirts and totes to mark the ocassion of the exhibition - thank you to everyone who has purchased one - it really helps to support me, my art, and my wonderful cat. Buy T-shirts and Totes: https://gutlessapparel.teemill.com

And of course, my wee shop is still stocked with my prints, smaller orginal works on paper and canvas, and even framed small works. I know I have been pushing the sales lately and my blog has been less about the thoughts around creating the work. The thoughts will come again soon - when I start making new work in the new year. 

Thanks for your patience and thanks for your views, likes, shares, subscribes and purchases and your kind encouraging words. It all adds up and keeps me working. I am grateful for the opportunity. 

Like the art I create and share? Leave me a tip!

Special thanks and appreciation to my Ko-fi Supporters. 

These wonderful folks have supported me over on Ko-fi in the last 30 days: 

Jennifer Libby Fay, Tamsin Haggis, Pat Bremner, Jen Arbuckle, and Muriel Prince.

I will be posting my December Playlist for my supporters soon!! xx

Thanks to all of my patrons near and far, past, present, and future. 

And here's what it's all about... Oor wee Theo. 

Theo is the best curator and friend

Cup full of can

Big painting stored for now - makes the door to the sink area feel almost festive

Well hello there! It's the first Friday in November. Can you believe it? 

My studio schedule for the past couple of weeks since the big painting has been a wee bit spotty. My cat Theo has needed some veterinary attention and he comes first (he's mostly fine) but I have been wanting to spend time with him as we begin medication for his condition. Anyway, this isn't a cat blog so I will get back to the painting aspect of life... 

I haven't painted anything in the studio since last week's "removable face" and that's a-ok. I have been exploring some other creative outlets. I have made a hair fascinator, a crown out of vintage lace, some homemade clay dough, a miniature paper cup, and some wee things from commercial air-dry clay. I have been practising my ukulele too. All will be revealed or it won't - I'm just having some fun. I especially enjoyed the wee teacup. I think it is actually magical. It taught me a lot - but that's my business. 

My wee cup full of "can"

I recorded my Tuesday Studio Video Visit and showed how I decided to temporarily store my big painting (as pictured above). If you missed the video on the socials you can see it again here.

I put the finishing touches on this month's 13-song playlist for my ko-fi supporters. Anyone who has supported me in the last 30 days for as little as £3 gets access. I really appreciate my regular and one-off supporters. Not only do you help with studio expenses and art materials but also with my daily life. Thanks! TIP HERE

Don't forget I offer limited and open edition prints in my shop. SHOP PRINTS
Also eco-friendly t-shirts and totes. SHOP SHIRTS AND TOTES

What can I do for you? What can I offer you? What do you need to feel better? What can I create for you? I'd surely try to help if I only knew. 

Until next week, keep fighting - don't let the bastards get you down and if you are in America - VOTE like the underdogs of the world depend on it. 

La La love 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... 

Without people, you're nothing (and a cat helps too)

Theo

I am writing this on a Wednesday morning, but it will be backdated for last Friday for consistency's sake. Last week was an awful emotional rollercoaster and all my attention was turned towards my beloved cat Theo. For me, Theo is a constant state of love and joy and we got some bad news last week which included a 48-hour animal hospital stay. However, this Monday we had some much better news and I can breathe again. I am filled with a renewed belief in perseverance, science, amazing vet care as well as the power of love and dedication. Some real truths have been shown to me this week and I am thankful. 

Side note, if you are ever told your cat is in renal failure or what most folks now kindly call chronic kidney disease or suspect your cat is gravely sick, first, get the best care for your cat as soon as possible and then learn more about the illness and what can be done. This clearinghouse of information online was extremely helpful and gave me the hope I needed to not give up and to be a better caregiver and advocate for Theo. Click here to learn more about chronic kidney disease in cats and what can be done (but only in conjunction with vet care!).

The anchor holds

Mixed media on canvas
80x80x4cm 

© 2019 Megan Chapman

I carry the light

Mixed media on canvas
80x80x4cm
© 2019 Megan Chapman

Okay, on to a few bits of art news. This is the last week of the Paisley Art Institute’s 132nd Annual Online. I was thrilled to have the above two pieces accepted into this storied exhibition which was held online this year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. If you have not yet done so, grab a cup of tea and browse the virtual gallery walls from the comfort of your own home. My work is on the first wall of the "headspace" room. Click here to go right there but do take some time to enjoy the other rooms of art. The exhibition ends on September 6th. 

In other art news, back in July, I was commissioned to film a studio tour for Leith Late. That short video along with additional videos by many other talented artists and makers around Edinburgh has now been released in the form of a culture map that you can visit online. I encourage you to take some time to visit the map and learn more about the various studios and the artists that use them throughout the city as well as the virtual mural tour. I was so pleased to be selected to participate. 

You can enjoy and learn more about all the latest #Leith100 events - including the new online resource #LeithLateVirtualTours comprising of virtual Open Studios from around Edinburgh and Leith Mural Tours at https://www.leithlate.co.uk/virtualtours

LeithLate Virtual Tours : Megan Chapman from LeithLate on Vimeo.

That is all I have for you this week. Sending love and light out to everyone reading, I know we have all been going through a hell of a time collectively. I hope the arts bring you some comfort. Please keep fighting and know you are not alone. We need you and what you bring. Thank you.

Special thanks to my community that has really supported me during this time. To quote Joe Strummer as I have many times before, "Without people, you're nothing." I am so thankful for my people (and sweet Theo). x