Thursday 8 December 2016
Tuesday 9 February 2016
"Wandering Girl" at Visual Arts Scotland (VAS)
Here is my little painting "Wandering Girl" on display at the current Visual Arts Scotland (VAS) Exhibition, on till 20th February at the Upper Galleries, Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) building, on Princes Street, Edinburgh. The painting sold on Preview night - very exciting!
Wednesday 3 February 2016
PAINT: Musings on "messiness"
I've just started reading "What Painting Is" by James Elkins and (for some reason) was drawn immediately to the Chapter entitled "The studio as a kind of psychosis". Started to smile out loud when I read this bit as it is SO TRUE:
"Sooner or later every one of a painter's possessions will get stained. First to go are the studio clothes and the old sneakers that get the full shower of paint every day. Next are the painter's favourite books, the ones that have to be consulted in the studio. Then come the better clothes, one after another as they are worn just once in the studio and end up with the inevitable stain. The last object to be stained is often the living room couch, the one place where it is possible to relax in comfort and forget the studio. When the couch is stained, the painter has become a different creature from ordinary people, and there is no turning back."
Well, so far my two winter coats, my two best handbags, several pairs of "good jeans", a brand new white T shirt (particularly sad!), my nice pink woolly hat, my mobile phone, my ishuffle, and my new leather purse (Christmas present from my Mum) have all gone this way. So far the living room couch has escaped (although I have not been examining it lately in close-up detail...). I thought it was just me being particularly messy/careless, but it seems it is an recognised condition for painters, so that's something at least!
Mr Elkins goes on:
"No one who has not experienced that condition can understand the odd feeling which accompanies it. when every possession is marked with paint, it is like giving up civilian clothes for jail house issue ."
I SO empathise with that last point. Every time I turn up at the school gates wearing my "painting jeans" I feel like all the other Mums must think I'm some kind of trampy Mum (and not in the good way), who can't be bothered to keep herself clean, eeks. But every time I bow to that self-imposed pressure and put on my "good jeans" guess what happens........paint. And there they go.
"Sooner or later every one of a painter's possessions will get stained. First to go are the studio clothes and the old sneakers that get the full shower of paint every day. Next are the painter's favourite books, the ones that have to be consulted in the studio. Then come the better clothes, one after another as they are worn just once in the studio and end up with the inevitable stain. The last object to be stained is often the living room couch, the one place where it is possible to relax in comfort and forget the studio. When the couch is stained, the painter has become a different creature from ordinary people, and there is no turning back."
Well, so far my two winter coats, my two best handbags, several pairs of "good jeans", a brand new white T shirt (particularly sad!), my nice pink woolly hat, my mobile phone, my ishuffle, and my new leather purse (Christmas present from my Mum) have all gone this way. So far the living room couch has escaped (although I have not been examining it lately in close-up detail...). I thought it was just me being particularly messy/careless, but it seems it is an recognised condition for painters, so that's something at least! Mr Elkins goes on:
"No one who has not experienced that condition can understand the odd feeling which accompanies it. when every possession is marked with paint, it is like giving up civilian clothes for jail house issue ."
I SO empathise with that last point. Every time I turn up at the school gates wearing my "painting jeans" I feel like all the other Mums must think I'm some kind of trampy Mum (and not in the good way), who can't be bothered to keep herself clean, eeks. But every time I bow to that self-imposed pressure and put on my "good jeans" guess what happens........paint. And there they go.
Wednesday 20 January 2016
Forest Walk painting - Golspie Waterfall boardwalk
Last summer I went up to Brora in Sutherland (in the Scottish Highlands) with my family for a few days. Spectacular coastal scenery - loved it there. Even more fortuitous, we lucked out with the weather and were able to do lots of outdoorsy stuff, including a woodland walk at the village of Golspie, to view their lovely waterfall. To get to the waterfall you have to follow a little boardwalk path through some woods and it was a really spellbinding atmosphere. There was no-one else there that day and it felt like its own little world.
I wanted to try and capture the feeling of the place in paint. I started with this little study, 30 x 30cm, water-based oil on board.
I've been working on a larger version for several weeks now and here it is in it's current state, which I think is finished (I'll leave it to the side for a while and then go back in a month or so and see if I think it needs any further adjustments).
The final painting is 1m x 1m, acrylic (underlayers) and water-based oil (upper layers), on canvas.
I wanted to try and capture the feeling of the place in paint. I started with this little study, 30 x 30cm, water-based oil on board.
I've been working on a larger version for several weeks now and here it is in it's current state, which I think is finished (I'll leave it to the side for a while and then go back in a month or so and see if I think it needs any further adjustments).
Bridge Walk
The final painting is 1m x 1m, acrylic (underlayers) and water-based oil (upper layers), on canvas.
Monday 11 January 2016
Lots of new paintings!
Well, I've been pretty busy at art college in the last few months, making lots of new paintings. I have this week finished putting together my own website to showcase my work more easily. Please have a look at www.sheilachapmanart.com.
Also this painting, "Wandering Girl", has been pre-selected for the upcoming Visual Arts Scotland open exhibition Converge 2016 #VAS2016 which is exciting.
Also this painting, "Wandering Girl", has been pre-selected for the upcoming Visual Arts Scotland open exhibition Converge 2016 #VAS2016 which is exciting.
Wednesday 26 August 2015
Girl in a Mangrove Forest
Going back to Edinburgh Art College in a couple of weeks, for my final year (eeks!). Will be doing the degree show next year, which is exciting. Been thinking about ideas for new paintings, sticking with the theme of "figures in the landscape"for now. Further to my travels to the Florida Everglades earlier in the year, I am still feeling inspired by the mangrove forest we kayaked through and the feeling of being in right among such an amazing natural phenomenon.
I did the below watercolour painting for my current show "Paperwork 2" , in the Edinburgh Fringe. (It's now sold, yeah!), but am thinking about some larger acrylic paintings inspired by the mangroves.
Been working on a little drawing this week, of my youngest daughter when we were in a mangrove forest next to a small beach. I like this theme - it's kind of a metaphor for the challenge of navigating through life. Here's how it took shape - starting with a sheet of watercolour paper on which I dropped and sprayed some shades of green watercolour. I then drew on top with a black fineliner and also some black ink applied with a small stick and a brush.
I did the below watercolour painting for my current show "Paperwork 2" , in the Edinburgh Fringe. (It's now sold, yeah!), but am thinking about some larger acrylic paintings inspired by the mangroves.
"Coming through the Mangroves"
(watercolour, acrylic ink & gouache)
Been working on a little drawing this week, of my youngest daughter when we were in a mangrove forest next to a small beach. I like this theme - it's kind of a metaphor for the challenge of navigating through life. Here's how it took shape - starting with a sheet of watercolour paper on which I dropped and sprayed some shades of green watercolour. I then drew on top with a black fineliner and also some black ink applied with a small stick and a brush.
Finally finished it off with some white ink applied with a drawing nib, and some white gouache (and blue watercolour pencil) on the T-shirt, to make it sing out.
"Girl in a Mangrove Forest"
(watercolour, pencil, ink, gouache)
I can see possibilities for a larger painting. Watch this space...
(UPDATE 2016 - I made a large body of work in late 2015 stemming from this little study: please have a look on my website at www.sheilachapmanart.com to see final paintings!)
Wednesday 19 August 2015
Hanging the "Paperwork 2" show, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2015
Today I've been busy hanging the latest Fringe Art Exhibition I'm taking part in, with three artists colleagues Marion Barron, Ruth Thomas & Trevor Davies. This is our third show in the annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Hanging is pretty hard work - physical, a lot of measuring/mental arithmetic, and trying not to fall out with each other over which piece should go where! Once we get a good final arrangement which shows off everyone's work in the best light, it is quite satisfying though. Here's hope the viewing public like it!
Ruth & Trevor sorting out some fixings
Marion, adjusting with spirit level
(My trampoline drawing "Jump" visible on right)
Marion in the back room, arranging a mosaic style hang on one wall
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