Open Studios! Join us!

 

Join us for Open Studios at The Out of the Blue Drill Hall! Several resident artists and makers will have their studios open from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm on Sunday, December 3rd and Sunday the 10th, during the Christmas Market.

I will have loads of small original works for sale to benefit Bikes for Refugees - Scotland SCIO that you can view in the flesh and purchase. I will also have never before seen works created this year that I can't wait to share with you! See you in Studio G23. 

These artists and makers will have their studios open

@megan.chapman.artist
@aoife_in_leith
@mairimacsweendesigns
@catherinegiselleart
@kategeorgedesign
@preciousmetalsworkshop
@cam_life_designs
@felicityinkpen
@remodecollective
@solencollet
@lostmaprecords

Here's a wee sneak peek of my part of the studio in the form of the Tuesday Studio Video Visit.

 

Hope to see you there! Good luck to all my peers. I see you. 

Safe as houses

Safe as houses

30x22"/ 76.2x55.8cm

Mixed media 

640gsm smooth fabriano artistico paper

Megan Chapman 2023

Hello, Dear Readers, Skimmers, Browsers, Lurkers and Clickers - 

This person (above) showed up on Monday. I was feeling the deep need to give some time and attention to something creative and expressive, so this is what came of that. I was surprised by the stir she caused over on my FB Art Page. I am always surprised by the portraits. Maybe we all are. Can you believe it was around this time last year that I had my exhibition, Declarations, Divinations, and Whispers? 

You can see all of those portraits again HERE.

And of course, my special sale continues to help out Bikes for Refugees. There are plenty of affordable original pieces of my art on offer with 40% being donated to help them rebuild after a recent break-in. Thanks to my patrons who have supported me, and Bikes for Refugees so far by shopping my sale. You can also donate to them directly and skip the art. 

Go have another look!

I don't know about you, but I am feeling kind of worn out and blue as the nights are drawing in and news of the world is decidedly grim. I plan to make myself some hot chocolate, curl up under the duvet, and rest. Sending love and care out into the world. I hope you can come up with a soothing plan for yourself. 

Thank you for being here. The world needs you and the gifts you bring. Please believe that. 

The special sale continues

Sleep Laughing
Part of my special sale

It's grey and damp as we approach the end of October. The trees are golden with many leaves on the ground with the wind. I am trying to get this written before the weekly studio meeting. I missed the last two.

My special autumn sale continues. I have added 12 new pieces to the sale since last week. I added more of my small original mounted works on paper at the more affordable price of £40. £16 from each of those sales goes to bikes for refugees.

I have also added more of my framed original works as well at £195, £250, and £295. These works can be purchased on a 3-month instalment plan and that is clearly marked on the sale site. So if you looked at my sale last week, please look again. 

40% of all sales will be donated to Bikes for Refugees. 

I recorded a Tuesday Studio Video Visit this week as well. I have missed recording our visits - I hope you enjoy it. I talk a bit about the sale and the important work that Bicycles for Refugees does. 

What a dance it was
Part of my special sale

That's all I have for you this week. I need to head out the door soon. I hope you are well, happy and inspired wherever you are, and if you are not - tomorrow is a new day. I know it's hard out there. Let's start small with ourselves, then our communities, and then may it expand outward to all beings. Keep fighting. I am thankful for you. 

Until next week, take care. 

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.

Centre of it all

I can't quite believe it is already Friday. Thanks to everyone who read last week's studio blog and especially to those who clicked on all the artist links I shared. The joy of my week seemed to resonate and inspire others and that is always a delightful thing. 

This week was also a good one! On Saturday, I got word from Kate, the incredible gallerist at Solo Gallery in Innerleithen that a painting had sold! I was overjoyed at the news. Kate still has a selection of 5 of my paintings that are available to purchase. You can go see them in person at the gallery in the beautiful Scottish Borders or you can buy them online. Click HERE.

Where we say goodbye
mixed media on canvas
40x40cm
Sold

On Sunday, I visited my dear friend Karl Macrae - He’s Sew Happy at his stall at the Craft & Flea in the Assembly Rooms in the city centre. It was a lovely show for Karl in a beautiful venue. I also enjoyed seeing what all the other artists had on show and for sale. I treated myself to a wee vase by Claremont Ceramics and had a nice chat with Quay Tran about his collaborative pieces (like the one I bought) with a painter that goes by the last name of Champagne. 

This is what happens when someone supports my art. I am able to buy a ticket to go to an art event and then I am able to support another artist as well as support myself - the money stays in the community. Where does the money go when we support a big box store? 

Miniature Vase by Claremont & Champagne
pencil for scale

On Tuesday I had another lovely chat with my friend and fellow artist Jennifer Libby Fay and then later for the Tuesday Studio Video Visit, I made a little promo video for my work.

Also on Tuesday, I shared my February playlist with my ko-fi supporters from the past 30 days and created my wall of fame. I am so thankful to these folks who support me regularly. Consider joining them! 

Each month I make an unlisted playlist of 13 songs as a thank you
to anyone who supports me during the month.
I started making my supporter's playlists in October of 2021. Get yours today. 

These fine folks have either supported me regularly by making a one-off contribution or bought something from my shop during the month of January. Thank you!! 

On Wednesday, I enjoyed the third two-hour session of "Art, Work and Power," presented by the Scottish Artists Union. Another great course, leaving me with lots to think about and always more to learn. Again, I ask - have you joined your union? 

On Thursday, I went to go visit Karl - again!? He is visiting from the west just now so I am trying to make the most of his time here. It was great to talk about art and life over huge mugs of tea in Leith. Always does the soul good to talk it all out. Thursday night called for another thought-provoking union teaching, the fourth two-hour session of "Art, Work and Power," presented by the Scottish Artists Union. We have the final 2-hour session of the course on Saturday. It's been great to spend time learning and thinking again about the bigger picture with my peers in the union.

And here we are, It's Friday! The sun is out and I have daffodils blooming on my shelf. Spring is getting closer every day.

I want to say something about our first minister Nicola Sturgeon and her resignation this week. I cried. I just put my head down on a table and sobbed. Since I am originally from the states, Nicola has been my Madam President. I moved here six days after the referendum vote in September 2014. She became the first minister that November. She has been the leader I have followed and learned to trust and respect. When I was an immigrant without citizenship, she made me feel like I had a place here and that I could call Scotland home and mean it. I could even call myself a Scot. For the duration of the pandemic, I was grateful for her voice of reason and care. I looked to her for guidance, and if she told me to stay home, I did. She is barely 2 years older than me - the age of my peer group. This made her even more of a hero to me. I found her honest, relatable and sincere. She talked about menopause, called herself a feminist while speaking at the podium, and was assertive and sharp - she didn't suffer fools. She is an ally as she stands up for women and the marginalised. I have deep respect and admiration for Nicola Sturgeon and all she has achieved for Scotland. I will be sad to see her go. I am proud that I became a citizen and lived these last 8-plus years in a country guided under her leadership, and I am not even an SNP member. I can't wait to see what she does next and hope that Scotland can find a good enough leader to fill her shoes.

I took this photo of Nicola in 2019 at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall, where my studio is based. Here she is at the centre of it all, smiling. Thank you, Nicola. 

Until next week, take care and keep fighting. The world needs you, your voice, and your passion. 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. 

Exhibition news! Ko-fi support and more!

Exhibition news:

The Abstractionistas in collaboration with GOSSIP Collective and Forth Valley B.A Students

DuSt
Saturday 9 October 2021 - Sunday 10 October 2021
Open from 11-4 pm
Bannockburn House
Stirling
FK7 8EY

Megan Chapman, Judith Shaylor, and Susan Wilson are the Abstractionistas. These women bring a depth of experience in the arts and a firm dedication to abstract expression, each one striking a different chord with their use of colour, line, space, and drama. The goal of the collective is to create more opportunities to share the enduring importance, power and pull of abstraction with viewers across Scotland.

The Abstractionistas are delighted to join forces with the GOSSIP Collective and the Forth Valley B.A. Students for this exciting two-day exhibition in the historic Bannockburn House.

Abstractionistas:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Abstractionistas
IG: https://www.instagram.com/abstractionistas

GOSSIP Collective:
FB https://www.facebook.com/GossipArtCollective
IG: https://www.instagram.com/gossipartcollective

Bannockburn House:
FB:https://www.facebook.com/BannockburnHouse
IG:https://www.instagram.com/bannockburnhouse

I hope you will join us if you are able.

Casting spells on paper: One pigeon wing to tether a ghost's heart

In other news, I have continued on with my mark-making exercises to help me get out of my rut and return to remembering my foundations. After working on several small paper pieces/exercises, I moved on this week to six A2 sized papers and spent a bit longer with my marks and actually got to a place I liked. It was a good feeling. I shared those works over on my ko-fi page for my supporters as soon as I had them documented.

As I mentioned over there, I enjoyed the introduction of my favourite inky pen to the mix along with Conte crayon, charcoal, oil pastel and white paint and some words (I have shared one of the six drawings above).

As I wrote to a supporter, I am trying to get into the habit of always posting on Ko-fi first rather than on my social channels and sharing more behind the scenes work rather than always finished products. It's a bit of a hard switch as of course there are more eyes on the work over on Facebook and Instagram but at the same time, I would like to create a more intimate relationship with my supporters. The hard part is also getting people used to coming over to ko-fi to see things and to perhaps support me financially. We will see what develops.

Speaking of ko-fi, I am having a shop wide sale until midnight October 3rd. I wanted to celebrate the anniversary of my 7 years of living in Scotland along with my 1 year anniversary of becoming a citizen! To take advantage of the sale all you need to do is click this code everything in my shop is 10% off. https://ko-fi.com/meganchapman/link/SCOTLAND

Thanks to the two patrons that have snapped up two of my "ghosts of the past" limited edition prints from my shop sale! These selections are inspired by the Scottish diaspora (as seen below).

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

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

And of course, I am still creating my Tuesday Studio Video Visits, please visit my YouTube to catch up on those, if you have been missing them.

That's all I have for you this week. I hope you are well, happy, and inspired and at the same time, it's okay if you are not. I get it - just keep fighting. Point your face towards the sky and take good care of yourself. We need you and your gifts.

Thanks for spending some time with me and my work.

Studio sale and small works bargains!

I follow the new
Acrylic on canvas
51x76x4cm / 20x30x1.5"
© 2017 Megan Chapman
Was £1,100 now £550
SALE = FOR LOCAL COLLECTION ONLY

There was thundersnow in the early hours and it has made national news. I have fed the birds and made banana nut bread and have on my festive cosy socks. I am going to drink too much tea today - be right back I need another cup. I am listening to goth/postpunk/darkwave music from Turkey and it all feels a bit funny to me. I am in a good mood and feel like a child stuck at school on a potential snow day and I can't focus on anything. 

But let me try... first off, I am having a sale of some of my older works that are in my studio. As you know I am not working in my studio yet, but I am maintaining it for storage just now. I have loads of large works on canvas from several series and they are available in a Wix shop online but that shop is closing at the end of the month. I no longer want to support Wix and found the site to not be very intuitive, so due to this, I thought it might be a great time to have a clear out of some of these pieces. I am offering them up at 50% off but the catch is that you have to come to my studio to collect them. You save money and I don't have to pack and ship them. And don't worry about coming into the studio - I will gladly hand them over to you outside, at a distance, and masked. Safety first and always!

I will also accept payment plans on these sale pieces. You do not have to purchase these through the site. We can easily make arrangements to do a bank transfer instead so just message me on the contact form with your questions. Go here for the 50% off sale for collection only:

https://meganchapmanart.wixsite.com/painting/shop 

And no, they are not all square, go to the site to see them full screen. If you are regional or national and still want the sale deal, I am sure we can work something out - just message me. I am delighted and very thankful that a patron who had her eye on a piece of my work for a while was able to snap it up in my sale at the start of the week. 

I also added some more small works to my ko-fi shop. Remember when I used to put small works on Etsy? Think of my Ko-Fi shop as my new Etsy - it is as easy to use and made for artists by artists. There is a handy tab that can show you the 18 pieces (prints and originals) that I have available for £50 or less with free shipping in the UK. Go here to see those: 

https://ko-fi.com/meganchapman/shop

In other news, I am delighted that my work was selected for the ButterBiggens Prize for the month of November! My recent work will be featured along with an interview posted soon on the ButterBiggens site. I will let you know when it goes live. 

Thank you so much for being here and for supporting my work. I truly couldn't do it without you. Stay safe and warm. The world needs you and your vision. 

Time works differently now

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

After completing the thirteen new works in my latest series, I am delighted to share that one of them sold straight away to a patron in my hometown of Fayetteville, Arkansas. My hometown has stuck by me through thick and thin and near and far. I am grateful to have this base of support. Some of you might not have realised that Arkansas has a cultured coterie of abstract art buyers but it does and lovely warm people to boot! Consider yourself in the know, darling. 

In other news after that body of work was created - the lull came back, the dreaded ebb. Perhaps it's more of an overwhelm as I have so many paper pieces I need to varnish/fix and space is at a premium as I am still not working in my studio. 

I wonder when I ever will work regularly in my studio again. I wonder if I even need a studio. Is it sustainable in this new reality? I wonder how we are all going to survive. You know the big questions, as the title states time works differently now and our brains are all heavy with thought. 

I have been walking this month for Samaritans, doing a 50-mile charity challenge, but I will end up surpassing the challenge total. I have enjoyed getting outside in the available light as the weather gets more grey and dark by the minute. I look for the bright colours in the trees and the sun when I can find it. Some believe the walks influenced the 13 paintings. I have been told they feel hopeful and energetic. I am not sure what is pushing these works. I need to think about that. In art school, they said, "we don't care what you do and make as long as you can talk about it, as long as there is a reason." I need to get quiet and start thinking about my reasons again. The meaning, what am I trying to say, explore, express besides my intense love of colour, line, and pure abstraction? 

Perhaps we will figure this all out this winter. Stay tuned...

I know I have fallen behind/stopped making my Tuesday Studio Video Visits. I think because they would've all be filmed in my living room now and not my studio. There could be other reasons too. Perhaps we will figure this out this winter as well and start them up again. 

I'm thankful for all the patrons that have supported me during the pandemic when so much is so hard for so many. I won't forget it. I am going to be adding more exclusive content to my ko-fi page, a friendly way to support artists. Right now if you support my work for £3 or more you get a downloadable wallpaper and a patrons-only gallery with some downloadable images and well as behind the scenes looks and access to forgotten interviews. Consider supporting me over there, I promise to make that the place to be along with my social media sites. Thank you.

https://ko-fi.com/meganchapman

Thanks for your patience, please take good care of yourself. 

Link salad and a STUDIO SALE!

Let's have a cultural catch-up: I am listening to Wire's Ex-Lion Tamer on my headphones as I type. I have been listening to their album Pink Flag along with Entertainment! by Gang of Four a lot lately for some reason. It's amazing that the music of my youth still sounds so fresh, so vital, and that it still has the ability to spur me along. To borrow from this energy is a wonderful thing. 

I have been reading Armistead Maupin's memoir, Logical Family. I am scared to dive into it completely because I want to make it last. We are watching the Tales of City series again for what seems like the billionth time. The characters are as familiar as dear friends and the program comforts me. 

In more serious cultural pursuits, we just watched the documentary, Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold, a profound and moving film by her nephew Griffin Dunne. Put it on your list.

I've also been of course painting and making "mistakes." You can hear more about that in my Tuesday Studio Visit Video. 

In other news, the Out of the Blue Drill Hall, where my studio is located, won't be holding open studios this holiday season. I love this event and the sales that result from it are of course very helpful to me. Rather than fret about it, I have decided to have my own digital open studio/sale for the next two weeks over on my Etsy shop, Artmaven.

It is quite probable that my wee shop will go on hiatus in December. I have scoured the studio shelves looking for bargains for you all. There are discounts already applied in many sections throughout my shop and lowered and free shipping on many items too. Please use this coupon code ART4ALL to get an additional 10% off everything in the shop, until December 1st. Thanks for supporting my work. Until next week, you know what to do. 

And the winner is...

We have a winner in last week's paper painting give away! Congratulations goes to Bookgirl! Please contact me and let me know where to send your paper painting. I am grateful to everyone who read and or commented last week. You really gave me a boost of interest in this blog as well as filling me with inspiring ideas of things you would like to read about in the future. Thanks for all your positive comments.

My studio is overflowing with all my work I recently brought back from the newly closed gallery in Little Rock. I updated my website to reflect the closing and to show where all my work is represented now. You can visit my available paintings here. At some point I took the podcast section down on the site and I do plan to put it back up in the near future along with some new podcasts. For those of you new to my work and interested in my process or learning more about the nuts and bolts of what inspires me to create my paintings, there is an interview on my website that I did a while ago that gives a lot of good basic information about me and my art that you might enjoy.

Since my studio is over flowing with inventory currently, I decided to have a sale for the next month on a small selection of my larger works.I created a slide show that features 9 paintings from an older body of work from 2006-2007. Almost all of the these are my largest sized works (40x30") that usually retail for $1,200 but now they are on sale through the DDP gallery for only $975. There is also one medium sized work in the mix (30x24") that usually retails for $725 but is now only $650.The ddp gallery takes credit cards and makes payment plans! I hope you can benefit from this sale that will last until August 20th. Contact Dede Peters of the DDP gallery for more information or let me know if you have any additional questions about these paintings or this special sale.
http://www.ddpgallery.com/
479.442-0001

This week has been a bit slow, just getting back into the swing of things by looking at all my work, taking stock, trying to find places for it all and figuring out where to go next. Next week I plan to really focus on 100 Flashes of Memory. Hopefully having some good solid results by the end of the week. Thank you again to everyone who has ever read, commented on, encouraged and inspired these posts and my work as an artist. Your time is valuable and that you choose to spend some of it with me, reading my words is very special to me.

Keep fighting- onwards and upwards.

I just want to leave you with a few music videos of songs that have been on heavy rotation in my world lately.







Photograph posted above
"Wednesday"
© 2009 Megan Chapman
all rights reserved