Looking back: Ghosts of the Past

Explore the Scottish diaspora in the United States through my series of limited edition prints from my "Ghosts of the Past" series available exclusively online in my shop. 

This series of paintings dives into Scotland's history and culture as it relates to the Southern United States. Explore genealogy, poetry, and painting to gain a feeling of this moment in time. 

Whether you're Scottish, American, or neither, these paintings explore the immigrant experience and provide you with a unique insight into the lives and stories of those who made their way either through choice or clearance across the Atlantic to begin again.

"You can't make them say the old familiar words their mouths move in different ways"

This limited edition giclée is printed locally using lightfast, archival quality EPSON UltraChrome HDX pigment inks on 310gsm archival smooth cotton rag paper. This print will be signed and numbered in pencil. The print is A3 sized/11.7×16.5" Edition of 50  

Each print will be packed with a backing board inside a clear plastic sleeve and then placed inside a non-bendable mailer and shipped with care through the Royal Mail.

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"There is too much space here and always of the wrong kind"

This limited edition giclée is printed locally using lightfast, archival quality EPSON UltraChrome HDX pigment inks on 310gsm archival smooth cotton rag paper. This print will be signed and numbered in pencil. The print is A3 sized/11.7×16.5" Edition of 50 

Each print will be packed with a backing board inside a clear plastic sleeve and then placed inside a non-bendable mailer and shipped with care through the Royal Mail.

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"You are of the land you left behind, you built the land that will remain a stranger"

This limited edition giclée is printed locally using lightfast, archival quality EPSON UltraChrome HDX pigment inks on 310gsm archival smooth cotton rag paper. This print will be signed and numbered in pencil. The print is A3 sized/11.7×16.5" Edition of 50    

Each print will be packed with a backing board inside a clear plastic sleeve and then placed inside a non-bendable mailer and shipped with care through the Royal Mail.

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"You see the faces of the forgotten and lost as shadows dance around your children" This limited edition giclée is printed locally using lightfast, archival quality EPSON UltraChrome HDX pigment inks on 310gsm archival smooth cotton rag paper. This print will be signed and numbered in pencil. The print is A3 sized/11.7×16.5" Edition of 50    

Each print will be packed with a backing board inside a clear plastic sleeve and then placed inside a non-bendable mailer and shipped with care through the Royal Mail.

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Ready to walk out the door!

Looking for quality, vibrant art infused with mystery and you want it now? You're in luck! I've got a selection of five limited edition giclée prints that are ready to post! Usually, my prints are printed to order with an approximate one-week turnaround time, but these pieces below are ready to walk out the door!

A fine summer's day - limited edition print size A5

Link to purchase: https://ko-fi.com/s/764cabba7d

Alchemy- limited edition print size A3

Link to purchase: https://ko-fi.com/s/190da26f72

Always wanting more - limited edition print size A3

Link to purchase: https://ko-fi.com/s/da15ae6498

Secrets by the sea - limited edition print size A5

Link to purchase: https://ko-fi.com/s/8cfe680080

You can't make them say the old familiar words - limited edition print size A3

Link to purchase: https://ko-fi.com/s/91e21bb6c7
PLEASE NOTE: The available copy of this print to walk out the door on the day it was ordered has sold! 
You can still place an order for this print but with a longer turnaround time. :) 

It's no secret that artists need to make a living, which is why I offer a selection of limited-edition prints. Not only will you be supporting me, but you'll also be getting a beautiful piece of art to hang in your home. 

Why purchase a print? For one, it's affordable. You don't have to spend thousands of pounds on a piece of art when you can get a high-quality print for a fraction of the price. Plus, prints are a great way to build your collection. By purchasing a print, you're directly contributing to an artist's livelihood and that money stays in the community. It's a win-win for all involved. 

I've been picky about which prints I offer and want to ensure they're of the highest quality. I chose to have them printed locally in Leith at Bare Branding, a self-funded, not-for-profit community interest company that functions in alignment with my values. The colours are vibrant, the details are sharp, and the paper is heavy-weight and archival. The edition size is just 50 for these particular prints, so they are sure to be collectable. 

For the above available prints,  I can pop any one of these (of the four still available) in the post on the same day you order - and send it first class.

And remember, as the popular internet meme says, "support living artists, the dead ones don't need it."  There are many prints and smaller works to choose from in my shop: https://ko-fi.com/meganchapman/shop

PS. Missed my Tuesday Studio Video Visits? I've got you! Here's my first visit back to the studio in 2023! YAY! Please subscribe to my channel, like my videos, and hit the notification button. 

Thanks again for being here with me. Until next week, keep fighting. 

Thanks to this month's patrons and supporters over on Ko-fi: Pat, Tamsin, Jennifer, Bekky, Muriel, Clare, Jen and Sheila. You all are stars!

How to support artists right now

This print was purchased this week from my online shop - my first sale of the year!
Thanks, patron!

Art is often described as transformative. It has the ability to take us to new places, inspire us, and to challenge us. But what does it mean to truly support an artist? 

In a world that can often feel disheartening and bleak, art offers a source of hope. And for artists themselves, their art can be a form of self-care – a way to process and make sense of their own thoughts and experiences. For some, it is a form of catharsis – a way to release emotions that may be difficult to express in words. Unfortunately, not all artists have the same opportunities to thrive. Many struggle to make a living from their art and often go without the financial, emotional, or practical support they need to continue creating. 

This is where the role of supporters or patrons comes in. Anyone can be a supporter of artists, whether it’s through spreading the word about their work, attending their exhibitions, or simply offering words of encouragement. 

There are many ways you can get involved. Here are just a few ideas:

Share artists’ work on social media 

Attend art exhibitions and performances 

Buy artworks or commission pieces 

Donate to crowdfunding campaigns 

Support artists on Ko-fi or other Patreon-type platforms

Sign up for an artist’s mailing list 

Write reviews or articles about artists and their work 

Volunteer your time or skills to help with artist's events or promotional activities

Simply offer words of encouragement and appreciation

Whatever way you choose to support artists, know that it makes a real difference.

If you're looking for one-of-a-kind paintings and prints, take another look at my online shop. My work is inspired by music, memories, and all the little moments of alchemy that make life special. Each piece I create is meant to be treasured and to bring some mystery or joy to your life. Take a look around my shop and find something that speaks to you. Perhaps you'll find the perfect piece to brighten up your home or office.

Thanks for joining me this week for the Friday Studio Blog and for walking beside me on this path. I am very fortunate to have your support. 

Like what I share? Support me on Ko-fi. 

Honey, have I got prints for you!

This week I am excited to present my new limited edition prints! Bringing you more colourful abstracts, bold and minimal selections from the distillation series (as seen on HBO's True Detective), and even work from my Scottish diaspora series are now available! I am focused on creating more ways for you to enjoy and support my work while keeping it affordable, these signed prints range in price from £15-40 and include free shipping in the UK. International shipping available too! Visit my shop and click the prints tab to see them all! https://ko-fi.com/meganchapman/shop

And remember these are printed to order in Scotland by another woman-owned small art business, so you can feel extra good about your purchase as you support not one but two artists! Thank you for stopping by and for supporting my work. Have a great weekend! The world needs you and the gifts you bring. Keep fighting!

Auction, Art, Action

I am catching up after a bit of a pause and delay, so if you missed the past two blog posts they are here and here.

A good reason to post a blog this week is to promote an important auction I am participating in. The benefit auction has been organised by a friend and fellow artist from my school days back in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the brilliant jeweler Flannery Grace Good who is now based in Kansas City. The auction is supporting two charities, the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (The premier civil rights law organization in America). The winning bidder will get to choose which charity they will donate to directly, with 100% of the funds going to the charity. 

For this event, I donated an artist's proof of my (soon to be released) limited edition giclee print of my Accidental Portrait #17 (Fuck) on heavyweight archival matte paper (220gsm/81lb) signed in pencil. A3 sized/11.7×16.5" The bidding started at $65. The auction started Thursday, June 11 at 8pm CST and ends Sunday, June 14 at 8pm CST. So there is still plenty of time to have a look at not only my work (which as of this writing is currently going for $150) but also all the other wonderful items offered by artists all around the world. 

The auction is happening over on Flannery's Instagram page with instructions on how to bid in her feed. Please go check it out and support these vital organisations. Well done to Flannery for organising this, no small task at all. I am honoured to be able to participate. Let's try to raise as much money as we can. Thank you. 

My offering. I am very pleased with the colour and quality of the reproduction.
Stay tuned for more information about my upcoming print release!

In other news, I have been doing a bit of drawing and a bit of research for a new body of work or at least some preliminary sketches towards something new... only time will tell if it fully materialises. 

In continuing actions, besides signing more petitions and having more conversations, reading, researching, and listening, I participated again in the UK wide call to action to protest wherever you were, doorstep, street, garden, or a socially distanced group protest to take the knee and or stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. I took the knee and stood outside on the road with my hand-painted sign Wednesday night at 6pm and was approached by a bewildered and slightly confrontational "all lives matter" white man. We talked for a while and then he seemed to understand and peacefully walked away. I thanked him for coming to talk to me.

Go check out the auction. Next week, we will talk about the print release among other things. Keep fighting and talking. Thank you.

New! Limited Edition Prints are here!

They're here! My new limited edition prints have been released to the world! You can purchase them exclusively through my Etsy shop, Artmaven! 

The Story:

The Distillation Process

- conversations born of charcoal dust, my hand, and heart.

My latest project, "The Distillation Process," is a series of 180 paintings on paper created in January of this year. I wanted to give myself the challenge of creating six paintings each day, using only white and yellow ochre paint and charcoal, over the course of a month. These minimalist pieces focus on movement and gesture, spontaneously capturing my visual language as it is repeated and expanded. The process was a lesson in commitment, structure, and intuition. Confessional and dark at times, yet also quick and bright, the distillation process lead me down a new and vigorous path.

I have carefully selected 19 works from the original 180, that I feel represent the heart of the completed series. The following selections are now available as a series of signed, limited edition prints.

A huge part of the original process was very physical, immediate, and included the use of non-archival newsprint paper, and as such, the originals do not exist to be shown or sold. I will keep the originals in my personal archives and these limited edition prints will be the only representation of the process and the pieces that resulted.

Buying these limited edition prints supports mental health charity work:

10% from each sale from my distillation process limited edition print series will be donated to the Scottish Association for Mental Health. As beautiful as this world can be, there is darkness too, and sometimes we all need help. I want to contribute to people getting the help and services they need so they can experience more beautiful days. You can learn more about the charity and the good work they are doing here in Scotland as well as find helpful resources for yourself or a loved one.

Fine Art Print Details:

These prints are of my original abstract paintings created in my studio in Leith, a vibrant arts community in Edinburgh, Scotland. Each print is hand numbered, titled, dated and signed on the front.

These reproductions are professionally printed in Edinburgh with pigment inks on acid-free and archival 190gsm, 100% cotton rag paper. Archival prints should last 70-100 years so you can buy with confidence and enjoy your art for many years to come.

Available in Paper Size A3: 

42x29.7cm / 16.5x11.69 inches are priced at £65 and 29.7x29.7cm square / 11.69x11.69 inches are priced £45 and are limited to an edition of 25

Each print will be packed with a sturdy backing board inside a clear plastic sleeve and then placed inside a non-bendable mailer and shipped through the Royal Mail either track and sign or special delivery (depending on which size is purchased) in the UK or International track and sign depending on your location.

Thanks so much for your support of my work. Until next week, you know what to do (keep fighting and go buy some art!)

New limited edition prints: Soon!

My armor, my solace, my connection
© 2017 Megan Chapman
signed limited edition print
paper size A3 42x29.7cm/11.7x16.5"

I was pleased to share the final selections from the Distillation Process with you all last week here and across social media. Thank you for your support and excitement over my latest body of work. It means so much to me, I am quite excited about releasing this series in limited edition prints. 

I visited with the brilliant designer, printer, and now shopkeeper, Jenni Douglas yesterday as we made our final decisions on the best paper for the reproductions. Jenni showed me an artist proof of one of my favourite pieces from the series and I was delighted with the quality and richness of the print. The colour and detail are superb and the finish of the archival cotton matte paper is perfect. I happily gave her the go ahead to print the other pieces on this same paper and I should be able to release them into the world next week.

Until then, I have a few details from my artist proof of the piece, My armor, my solace, my connection, to share with you today. At A3 size (42x29.7cm/11.7x16.5") these prints are a beautiful and strong presence.

Wonderful detail and richness

A good size, I can't wait to have my proof framed

A moment of sun hits the print, illuminating the details

Rich in colour and texture with a border for easy framing

Have a look back at last week's post to see the complete series and start thinking about which piece or pieces might be right for your collection. Until next week, keep fighting. The world needs you.