Dedication

 

Thank you. 

Opened

 X.

Created in its wake

We've been here before

mixed media on paper

29.7 x 42 cm (11.69 x 16.54 in)

£125

The sun has been out but it has been bitterly cold. The blue sky and the brightness have been a welcome change. It's even staying light well after 4pm. Spring is around the corner (a long way around the corner, but around the corner just the same).

Memory Serves

mixed media on paper

29.7 x 42 cm (11.69 x 16.54 in)

£125

I took two walks to post three of my works on paper to their new homes in the States and to Glasgow. 

Monday: Post office walk number 1

I enjoyed the sun and even saw my first snowdrops! I gasped out loud when they caught my eye like a long-lost friend, a sort of "what are you doing here!" moment. That pretty much sums me up - I am constantly amazed by the world and nature's beauty. It truly brings me such comfort and joy. Listening to music and walking in nature feed into everything else I do.

Wednesday: Post office walk number 2

It was crisp and cold out, but no snow. I visited an old graveyard on the way home. One of my favourite things to do. I love the old stones covered in lichen. Reading the names, running my hand over the symbols - angels, skulls, and masonic imagery. Always astonished by the dates from so long ago. I walk over the frozen grass looking at the skeleton trees of winter, breathing it all in.

Sequence of webs #3

mixed media on paper

29.7 x 42 cm (11.69 x 16.54 in)

£125

I would like to walk to the post office again soon. Five works on paper remain. I am enjoying featuring specific works during the month. This will continue, it helps me focus and not get too overwhelmed. I have created a lot of work over my lifetime and during these past 9 plus years in Scotland. Not only have I created it, I have managed it - stored it, moved it, packed it, documented it, and kept up with it. Every time I create something, it feels like a billion-step process is created in its wake. I am becoming more discerning that what I create must warrant all the steps and all the expense and energy.

I am also thinking about what I want and need to say, as well as, how to say it in my future work. This all takes time, so it's a good thing it's still winter. While I ponder it all, I will keep featuring specific bodies of work from my studio. Let me know if you have any questions about these works on paper.

Rebuilding. Sketches for a new tomorrow #3

mixed media on paper

29.7 x 42 cm (11.69 x 16.54 in)

£125

Sequence of webs #1

mixed media on paper

29.7 x 42 cm (11.69 x 16.54 in)

£125

In other news, a bit of culture I've enjoyed: 

Films: 

Saltburn 

The Holdovers

Television: 

True Love (6-part series on Channel 4)

Music: 

Pictish Trail 

Books: 

Daily Rituals: Women at Work by Mason Currey 

(just picked this up yesterday - excited to read it)

Thanks for popping by the Studio Blog. I hope you are well, happy, and inspired and if not, tomorrow is another day. Thank you for being here. Keep fighting.

It's all in the details!

a snapshot of the print detail from "Dancing in the Old House"

a snapshot of the print detail from "Dancing in the Old House"

a snapshot of the print detail from "Dancing in the Old House"

a snapshot of the print detail from "Dancing in the Old House"

a snapshot of the print detail from "Dancing in the Old House"

a snapshot of the print detail from "Dancing in the Old House"

a snapshot of the print detail from "Dancing in the Old House"

I am thrilled to share with you the incredible quality of my new prints. This print holds the essence of the original work with vibrant colour and clarity. I couldn't be happier with the outcome, and I can't wait for more folks to take the plunge and live with my art as affordable prints. 

I probably don't promote my print work as often as I should but after getting this one back from the printer I am definitely going to have to rethink that! From archival ink to heavy-weight paper, the print really speaks of quality. I love to support the local social enterprise designed to benefit and support artists that is, Bare Branding. They are wonderful printers. I'm thankful for Andrew and the team over there - they are doing important work! 

"Dancing in the Old House"

I packaged this one up this morning and posted it to Washington State. Where will I be sending the next one? 

Buying prints is a beautiful way to bring art into your life and also a fantastic means of supporting artists. When you purchase prints, you are directly contributing to our livelihood, allowing us to continue creating and sharing our vision with the world. This support can make a significant difference in our lives. 

As with original art, prints can also help us gain new patrons. When you display a print in your home or office, it serves as a showcase and can spark conversations about our work. This can lead to more opportunities for us, including commissions, exhibitions, or even collaborations.

Print buyers are valuable patrons of the arts. These buyers get to enjoy more affordable art as they build their collections while continuing to make a meaningful impact. Don't ever underestimate this! Thank you to all my print collectors past and present (and you future ones too). 

Visit my online shop to pick up your own print! I have 36 different images to choose from ranging in size and budget ranging £20-£55. https://ko-fi.com/meganchapman/shop just click "prints" to view that section of my shop. Thank you!!

Until next week, keep fighting! 

Special thanks to collectors of my original works along with my prints and to my regular Ko-Fi crew. You all make my heart sing and keep my lights on! 

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.

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.

I still believe

Well, hello there!

I can't believe it's Friday already but here we are. I just made myself a cup of coffee (it's still a thrill to be back with my old friend). I have an inspirational song playing on repeat at full blast on my headphones and I am ready to sit down and let you know what the hell is going on. 

Check out Mx freaky up there with their oversized crown. After last week's larger canvas filled with multiple faces, I decided this week I wanted to continue to work on canvas rather than paper. Stretched canvas - this is significant (probably only to me). These faces are also significant and I have been pretending that they are not because I think I still don't know them too well and "this is not the work I usually produce." However, it is a series I have been working on since 2017 - in bits and pieces and fits and starts. So perhaps I know these faces better than I realise and perhaps you all know them better than you think as well. 

I am often perplexed by the reaction of folks to my "accidental portraits" (might be time to change the name of the series). However, in my own living room, I have more than 15 faces staring back at me (including animals and buddhas) in various mediums from own my art collection. We all like a face - even one we don't know and one we don't understand. What I understand about these faces, is that I have fun when I paint them. I like that they are often not any particular race or gender, and some of them might be considered disabled or hold a different standard of beauty with their smeared eyes and mouths. Some might be considered fully formed but wrapped up in emotion, trauma, power, or curiosity. It's not for me to figure out how they are understood or experienced. It is my job to show up so that they can show up.

As an abstract painter for what feels like forever I get a little surprised at the reaction to these beings that I have FUN painting. Yes, I do. Y'all are supposed to only like the hard shit- the stuff where I have toiled and suffered - the stuff I have sacrificed everything for. The stuff I am "good" at. Don't try to reason with me - I am trying to share the conversation as it stands in my head. I am working to see it differently now and I am getting there. You might like the more accessible stories in these faces - and I might like them too. There is nothing worse than speaking in a language that people can't understand or doing a song and dance that no one can hear or see  - and sometimes being an abstract painter in Scotland feels like that. So roll on faces... 

This portrait above (Woman of the storms) is very loosely inspired by one of my favourite paintings. Part of me doesn't want to show it to you as I don't want you to have an association, expectation, or judgment. However, I would rather share the beauty of the painting that I love with you than get caught up in any of that ego bullshit. So here you go, isn't she lovely? She reminds me of my mother for some reason. I think my mother must love this painting too. I think a print of this might have been collaged onto a piece of our furniture growing up. How could I have turned into anything other than an artist... 

Portrait of a Lady

Rogier van der Weyden 

1460

oil, panel

34 x 25.5 cm

I enjoyed putting the pair of them together on the painting wall. I might have partially hidden behind the door of the sink room and looked at them through the gap in wonder. Tears may have come to my eyes. Happy Bob Ross tears. Another good week in the studio was brought to us by music, Oreos, coffee, and my stubborn dedication and curiosity. 

If you missed the Tuesday Studio Video Visit, you can see it here. The woman of the storms didn't exist yet so I speak of the crowned one.

In other news, the photo below is of my dear friend and fellow artist, John Simpkins (find him on Facebook at The art of John Simpkins). John creates sublime and wonderful works of art. Here he is pictured in front of one of his latest paintings at his studio in Oregon wearing one of my shirts! Take a minute to learn more about his fabulous work. https://www.johnsimpkins.com. 

Buy yourself a "Polly" t-shirt like John or perhaps another design from my shop https://gutlessapparel.teemill.com. Thanks to everyone who has bought a t-shirt or a tote! Keep sending me your photos! 

And last but not least, in the excitement and sheer delight category - a painting of mine (see below, "On the wind") just SOLD from the fabulous Solo Gallery in Innerleithen in the gorgeous Scottish Borders! Kate, the gallerist, contacted me yesterday to share the good news! I am thrilled! I started showing my work at the Solo gallery the month before the pandemic so you can only imagine how that coloured the experience. I am so happy that this sweet abstract has found a good home with another fellow artist who also shows at Solo Gallery! Thanks again to Kate at the gallery and thanks to Eleanor for choosing my work for her collection! Check out Eleanor Cunningham's work and of course Solo Gallery.

On the wind

Mixed Media on Canvas, 20cm x 20cm framed,

SOLD

Solo Gallery, Innerleithen, Scotland

That's all I have for you this week, thanks so much for your support and for reading my words and enjoying my art.

Special thanks go out to my Ko-fi crew for their financial support and emotional backing in the past 30 days. Thank you: Tamsin, Jennifer, Pat, Jen, John, Mas, Bekky. Join the club and support me here!

Also thanks to the artists and mentees who have trusted me with their art and process. Looking for a mentor? Sign up here!

Until next week, keep fighting and keep showing up!

Exciting New Developments!

Oh, I have so much to say - how can I say it all? I feel like a video would be easier but it's good practice to keep writing, even though no one reads blogs anymore... (Hello, anyone there? comment below for an old-fashioned giveaway...)

Let's start with PRINTS!

I have just added 15 new prints to my shop and added many of my classic pieces back into the mix as well. Currently, my Ko-fi shop will be my print shop. So, if you are looking for a gift or a bit of home or office decor, make my shop your first stop. 

I offer a range of signed limited and open edition prints in a range of sizes. There are 37 different prints to choose from ranging in price from £20-55. These archival giclee prints are all printed locally in a not-for-profit community interest company in Leith. I love that I can have my work reproduced affordably in the community in alignment with my values.

Here's a video walk-through of my Ko-fi Shop and all of my print offerings! https://ko-fi.com/meganchapman/shop

Next up: New T-Shirts and Totes!

This was a request a while back and I am finally getting around to it! You can now have your art and wear it too! These bold designs were just asking to be put on t-shirts and totes. As you can see in the last video they are also available as prints too. I am delighted to have these images as part of Gutless Apparel on teemill. I love that these are sustainable, organic, and made in the UK with worldwide shipping. Show us how you really feel... enjoy this video walk-through! Thanks so much for supporting an independent business. https://gutlessapparel.teemill.com/

But wait there's more! I went to the studio twice this week and worked on a series of accidental portraits. These are my first new works in a year! This is cause for celebration... Here are some quick and dirty studio snapshots. 

So, it's been quite a week. Now, it's time to figure out what comes next... 

Wherever you are, I hope you are well. Thanks so much for your support and interest in my work. What a road we are walking eh? Take care. - M

Oh and if you are still with me - leave me a comment on this blog post and be entered to win a wee abstract (and slightly wonky artist's proof) print as pictured below! The randomly selected winner will be announced next week on the blog and social media! 

Could I tell you anything more?

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

What can I tell you now?

I am grateful for the flowers and the honest conversations. 

I am grateful for bowls of soup served on the tables of friends.

I am grateful for the "Just checking in..." and "Hows you?" lighting up my phone. 

I am grateful for the sounds of nature: birdsong, wind, and waves. 

I am grateful for dreams, new ideas, and laughter. 

I am grateful for the tall grass as it dances. 

Oh, what a beautiful world. 

Thank you sun, moon, stars, and music. 

Thank you art, film, and culture. 

Alchemy, magic, and mystery. 

Thank you.

Things are getting clear

Thanks to all my Arkansas and Southern United States supporters. I am delighted that 5 originals and 4 limited edition prints sold during my special 2-week online sale. 

These are the pieces that sold. 

A most perfect obstacle
signed limited edition print
11.7x16.5"
© 2017 Megan Chapman
1/25
Sold

What should have been said
signed limited edition print
11.7x16.5"
© 2017 Megan Chapman
1/25
Sold

Just under the surface
signed limited edition print
11.7x16.5"
© 2017 Megan Chapman
1/25
Sold

Deluge
signed limited edition print
11.7x11.7"
© 2017 Megan Chapman
1/25
Sold

Tomorrow's mysteries
Mixed media on canvas
5.75x5.75"
© 2017 Megan Chapman
Sold

To unwind the darkness
mixed media on canvas
6x8.5"
© 2016 Megan Chapman
Sold

To return
12x12" mixed media on panel
© 2014 Megan Chapman
Sold

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

Adrift
12x12" mixed media on panel
© 2014 Megan Chapman
Sold

Thank you so much! You all made my month and raised funds for AbleTalks and the important work they do! Special thanks to Jeanne Parham and Barbara Jaquish, and a huge extra thanks to Maggie Ivy for helping me with this sale. 

If you missed my Tuesday Studio Video Visit you can catch it below. I had a bit of fun and painted just for the joy and expression of it and had a few laughs. Perhaps you would like to do the same. 

Next week I will have new stories to tell. I hope you will join me. I love communicating with you about my art, life, and process. Thank you for being part of the experience. Things are getting clear and will be changing and I am excited. Stay tuned... 

And until next week, keep fighting.