More works in progress: A continuation

Somehow we find ourselves on the same continent
©2010 Megan Chapman

This week has had its ups and downs in the studio. I was so gung ho to paint again on Monday after the thrill of last Thursday's validation and sales. I could feel the desire to work in my bones but somehow I couldn't get it to translate to the canvas as easily, but I showed up and worked. I fretted, I wrote and I listened to music and I waited. I worked on three paintings this week. When I got stuck with one I would move to the next or I would write some more and wonder where my ability to paint had gone. It felt a bit like procrastinating when writing a term paper. You know the material and you have written good papers before, but somehow you just aren't sure until the last minute that the paper is going to be written or come together, when finally you start writing and out of the anxiety of the deadline the paper seems to magically emerge.

That is what happened for me this week. Monday and Tuesday I was unsure of my abilities, worried about too much repetition and curious if the inspiration would come. By Wednesday things started falling into place and by yesterday the works in progress started showing me the way, and the words that I need to spur me along popped into my head. Listening to a new collection of songs, with a couple of selections on repeat throughout the day helped to clear the chatter and allowed me to go into the paintings and focus. So, today I would like to share my progress. The first painting posted above, Somehow we find ourselves on the same continent is finished. This next painting posted below, We will sink to the bottom of the ocean together, is very close and I will continue to work on it today.

We will sink to the bottom of the ocean together
work in progress © 2010 Megan Chapman

The third painting below, has a long way to go, but I have a road map in my mind to follow. There will be some horizontal elements added, some more white and whatever it tells me it needs. The words haven't come to me for this one, and once they do, it will be that much easier to follow the path. I don't often show my works in progress, unless I feel they are pretty close to being done. This third one, will probably look very much different the next time you see it, so don't get attached.

work in progress

This has been my week in the studio. Today, I will get back in there and work on these paintings to completion. There is nothing better than working and music music music! I hope things are going well in your studios too. Thanks for stopping by and as always for your encouragement and support.

Onwards...

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My friend Thomas Petillo, a brilliant photographer (who will be showing at the Fayetteville Underground in the Fall) and my musician friends, Hammock have been really devastated by the recent Nashville flood. Their new combined book/CD set just went on sale and it would really help these talented artists out in a very concrete way if you bought a copy. Go here to order yours today! Thank you.

This is May.

Selections from the Vault © 2010 Megan Chapman

These are the first of the new white series to be shown in the Vault Gallery for the month of May at the Fayetteville Underground. They had their debut last night, and I am happy to report the two pieces on the left, Right Words, Wrong Frequency and Where Strangers Dreams Cling have SOLD! This was such a thrill for me, validation of this direction and so many other things. I had a smile on my face all night. Another piece, To Collect Sounds, from my Fire and Noise series sold from my studio as well. It was a wonderful night, with record crowds and very inspiring all around. I am off to another opening reception tonight at the Sugar Gallery to see Crafting Place, this will be the first time my photography will be shown in a gallery, outside the works I did for the secret blocks that involved the resin. So May is starting off with a bang. I look forward to resting and recharging soon, so that I can get back to work on the white series and see where it takes me next.

In other news, the white series was also recently featured in two other art blogs, you may be interested in visiting. It is always an honor to have my work featured, Thanks again Jennifer and Debs!

I hope your May is wild.



and as always keep fighting...

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My friend Thomas Petillo, a brilliant photographer (who will be showing at the Fayetteville Underground in the Fall) and my musician friends, Hammock have been really devastated by the recent Nashville flood. Their new combined book/CD set just went on sale and it would really help these talented artists out in a very concrete way if you bought a copy. Go here to order yours today! Thank you.

This was April

A Manual for living : A ten page guide

detail © 2010 Megan Chapman

April was kind and filled with surprises. I am grateful that I keep a blog to remind me of what I actually manage to accomplish in a month. I think artists are so good at ignoring what we actually do, because many times while we are working we are also sitting, staring, napping, dreaming and zoning out in one manner or another. I believe a lot of magic happens in those down times and lulls, no matter how frustrating it feels when we are going through them. I slept a lot and strangely, and took some personal days away from the studio this month. I attempted to take better care of myself and some days were healthier than others, but at the end of the month I can look back and still feel quite proud of myself.

I completed 4 new paintings in the new white series this month that I am very happy with. I sold ten paintings this month. I had three photographs accepted into a juried exhibition and worked on a grant application. I had many great conversations about art and life with friends near and far. I worked on things concerning the Underground studios; I attended meetings. I kept a type of journal, took photographs, took time away from facebook, listened to a lot of great new music, and enjoyed walking around town and the sweet smell of spring on the wind. In a nut shell, I was very inspired and productive this month, and because of this I am grateful.

Thank you all.

Now, let's see what May holds...

Eleven Paintings: The New White Series

Falling into sound

Something Quiet

Right Words, Wrong Frequency
sold

As you said

Where Stranger's Dreams Cling
sold

Sometimes

The Absence of Fear
sold

Dispensing old memory

I dream of tornadoes...

The notes we will never sing

A pocket full of live wires

Here is the white series at this point in time (there will be more). I posted the newest additions first. These are posted in roughly the order they were painted, working backwards in time. These are just studio snap shots, the work will be documented properly at a later date. I am pleased with how these are turning out. It has been a very expansive feeling to move away from my usual colors, and see where this series takes me. I am enjoying looking back to my past work to tease out this seemingly new direction. I probably could write a lot about what these are all about and how I've made them, but I would like you to be with them mostly. Thanks for stopping in.

For those interested, the top painting, Falling into Sound, was created while listening to the song Celestica by the Crystal Castles at full blast and on repeat.

And yes, I was dancing...

all paintings © 2010 Megan Chapman

The world opened up and said yes

As you said © Megan Chapman 2010

This week was interesting to say the least. April has never been a good month for me historically, but I decided that this April would be different and so far it has not disappointed. This April, I committed to taking better care of myself (again) and to work a little harder than usual. I guess in self help lingo, you could say I set an intention for the month, and by doing this, I seemed to have been rewarded almost immediately. The world opened up and said yes, or perhaps I went to the crossroads and made a deal with the devil. If you have been reading my blipfoto journal you know what happened to me this past Saturday afternoon, but if not I think it bears repeating and celebrating. I sold NINE of my paintings to a first time collector! This was the most wonderful thing not only for me, but I think, also for the collector. I could see how excited she was, and how her confidence built with each choice she made. I loved working with her closely while she amassed her collection. It was one of those days many artists dream of, just a magical experience all around. I just couldn't believe it. I am humbled, grateful, and thrilled to no end. It was also wonderful to share my happiness with my friends on blip, facebook, and my studio mates. Now I am sharing it with you. I am so lucky to have so many wonderful friends near and far who are genuinely happy for me. Thank you.

In other news, yesterday afternoon I happily received an email notification that three of my photographs had been accepted into a juried exhibition entitled Crafting Place: Interpretations of Natural and Constructed Environments from the Kitchen to the Forest. The Juror was Kenneth Trapp former curator-in charge of the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The exhibition is to be held May 6th through June 5th in Bentonville, Arkansas at the Sugar gallery. I am excited to share three of my photographs from my Picher, Oklahoma series. I am also proud of myself for entering photographs in the exhibition, as I really consider myself a painter and not a photographer. I guess I am an artist after all.

As far as the studio goes, I popped in and out all week, and I looked at my paintings, but nothing really happened. Currently, I have one on the go on the easel that if I wasn't still so excited about my Saturday sales, I could probably focus on and wrap up fairly quickly. The piece posted above is the latest in the white series, it is quiet and serene, perhaps a space to breathe. At first I wasn't sure if it was done, but now I think it is.

If I had to sum up this week it was full of good fortune, healthy eating and drinking, walking, talking, napping and smiling, with a dash of music music music and as always art.

Until next week, keep fighting.

Resolution

Right Words, Wrong Frequency ©2010 Megan Chapman

I thought this painting had come to some resolution by last Wednesday, but I was wrong. It was too plain, too spacious, too something that I couldn't put my finger on. So, on Monday I got back into it, and by Wednesday it declared itself done. Yesterday, I varnished it. I am pleased and relieved. It was a strange piece, it is not like me to focus on one work and as intensely as I did for a month and a half, but I am glad I did. I wish my photograph was better, but for now this gives you a pretty good idea of the piece. I think I also completed another small piece that I had started on Monday, but I am not sure and I don't want to steal any thunder from my month long monster just yet. So far there are 10 pieces (1-2 are still in progress) in the new white series. I was planning on holding them back and compiling them until I have a solo show in November, but that seems so far away. People are getting excited about them now, and I would like to share them as well. I may put a few in the back vault gallery at the Underground next month.

So here is a preview of all of the currently finished works together. There will be more works in this series to come. Music in the slide show by Sigur Rós the track is called Takk...

Untitled from Megan Chapman on Vimeo.

Until next week.

This is April

while you sleep © 2010 Megan Chapman

Well, the painting that had been driving me mad all month, finally came to some sort of resolution by Wednesday evening. No, you still can't see it. I was just too scattered this month to really paint the way I would like, and it really got to me, but I did other things of value. I have to remind myself of this. I did other artistic things. I interacted in the world as an artist (do I have any other choice). This month there was too much talking and too many voices for me to focus but that is okay. I produced a ton of work the month prior, because I was so inspired and that type of production is not sustainable no matter how much I would like it to be. Anyway, does it sound like I am trying to convince myself of something...

In other news, last night the Fayetteville Underground, (where my studio is) celebrated their one year anniversary with some amazing exhibitions and a huge turn out. I am so proud to be affiliated with this organization. The shows just keep getting better and better and it is so inspiring to be connected to so many wonderful artists. I feel a real sense of community with my peers, and that is a great feeling. We all work extremely hard to make the Underground what it is. The visiting artists are no different, they always make us look good. It is amazing to think of all we have accomplished over the past year. I just have to say again how inspired I am by the work I get to see on a regular basis. To learn more about the Underground and the exhibitions we have currently click here.

Here is a photograph of my 4 paintings currently showing in the back vault gallery at the underground this month.



I think there are other things I would like to say and report, but I can't find the words right now. Thank you for reading this if you have and supporting me as an artist. I like knowing you are there.

Until next week, you know what to do.