Funny faces, piss and vinegar

My dad Stephen Chapman died on March 5th. He was 90 years old.

My dad was made up of words and music

A house full of books and records

Built of films and movie star trivia

A wild nest of knowledge

Jonathan Winters meets Raymond Carver

Speaking in tongues

Homebrew beer caps exploding and hitting underneath the basement stairs

He was a charming character

Driving gloves and no stops

Old Milwaukee and a book in bed in the afternoon

"Sunrise, Sunset" on a turquoise painted piano

Funny voices, laughter and thunder

Funny faces, piss and vinegar

Opinions, passions, and outrage

A complex collection

Wild loud jazz

Enunciation and projection

An abstract painting come to life

He wasn't like the other dads. He was something else

and I love him exactly as that.

I love you, Dad. Thank you for your encouragement and understanding of me as a painter.

___________________________________________

I turned 53 the next day.

You can read next week's post here.

The best part...

As many of my regular blog readers know, I am a member of The Fayetteville Underground, which is a group of four galleries and fifteen working artist's studios. The first Thursday of every month we debut our new exhibitions and have our studios open from 5-8pm. It is a wonderful night of art, community and fun. I love getting to interact with so many people coming into The Underground on this one night each month. I pretty much smile and talk the entire night. We have been having First Thursday since April of 2009, and I must say I feel so much more connected with the community at large because of it. I enjoy recognizing the regulars and becoming friends with many new people each month as well.

Every now and then, there is a conversation or an interaction at one of these events that really sticks with me and fills me with such hope and enthusiasm. My job as an artist is of course about making the art, but then it is about sharing the work with others and receiving feedback; it is about connecting and creating relationships. I am very fortunate to have met so many wonderful people because of my art.

Last night, I met a lovely couple who came into my studio. They are both artists and they were really taken with my work. The wife of the couple seemed almost giddy with excitement to be viewing my work and talking with me about it. I can still see her smile plainly in my mind. I told them about myself and my work and they told me about themselves as well. About how they had spent some time in Arizona where they discovered so much art that they found exciting and how thrilled they were to discover The Underground and especially my work. They seemed truly moved by the whole experience, almost as if the whole world had opened up for them in Arizona and it was continuing to expand as they looked at more and more art. They seemed to really understand my work on an intuitive level and very appreciative of having discovered it. I can't tell you how this feels exactly, but it is a beautiful moment, almost an out of body experience.
Their smiles and words of encouragement and understanding will stay with me forever.

These conversations we have with each other about art, they are so powerful. Sometimes they can be the reason the artist works the next day and continues on this uneasy path. Thank you to all the people who have supported me over the years with your words, connections and sharing. It is a wonderful gift you give me.

Next week, I will be sharing some new work and that is a promise!
Until then, keep fighting and remember every day we paint is a victory.

Bravery and the art of being an artist

2008 is quite close on the horizon now. How is the new year going to unfold artistically for you? Will you simply repeat 2007? Do you prefer to let the year unfold organically, or perhaps you have an over zealous plan that leaves you overwhelmed before the new year has even started? Today, I would simply like to encourage you to be brave in your artistic life in 2008. Before you leave here thinking I am about to dispense some self help nuggets... hear me out.

You are already brave by simply calling yourself an artist. Ask yourself how brave you are currently being in your artistic life? Is there room for improvement? Here are some ideas or questions to get you thinking of ways to be more brave and get your art career rolling in 2008.

First, are you taking any creative risks with your work or are you producing the same ol' thing again and again? Ask yourself if your work still strikes a chord within; if it does, keep doing what is working for you; if it doesn't, ask yourself what changes you could make that would get you excited again. Have you submitted any work to an art journal or magazine, or an online gallery such as Saatchi gallery online, popexperiment, myartspace, or juxtapoz magazine?

Have you done anything bold to promote your art on myspace, facebook, or joined an online art forum? Have you submitted your work to a jurried competition in your area?

Have you visited any new galleries to see if your style of work might fit in the mix, and then asked about the submission process?

When you find yourself in a creative rut, do you try something new, ask for help or trade critiques with another artist you know?

If you are art rich and cash poor, have you tried to trade your work for services or other art?
If your supplies are running low, have you tried budget supplies or asked to see if anyone has any extra materials that they are not using?

Have you approached an artist you admire for any help or mentoring? Have you started working on creating a free art portfolio or web presence? Have you started a blog about your art?

Many of the opportunities that have come up in my career were caused by spontaneous acts of bravery. When you get those wild outlandish, positive "what if" ideas in your head, go for it in 2008. Email that artist, call that gallery, make that trade, enter that show, comment on that blog you lurk on, take that class, quit your job (within reason- please have some plan), ask stupid questions to other professionals and just go for it.

Make 2008 the brave year, the year you really went for it. The year it all came together.
This is a challenge.... Leave me a comment about one thing you have been thinking of pursuing for your art career or artistic life that alluded you in 2007 that you are really going for this year.

We can do this!

Pictured Above:

What Went Before
Megan Chapman
Mixed Media on Canvas 30x24"
2007
available at the ddp gallery