Today we’d like to introduce you to Katelyn Chapman
Hi Katelyn, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
For as long as I can remember I’ve expressed myself creatively with art primarily with drawing and painting. I knew from an early age that I wanted to pursue my passion even if it meant my path forward would look different from everyone else’s. Despite constantly raised doubts, I stuck to my guns and pursued a degree in fine art. I earned my BFA from Clemson University in 2014 and a MFA in Drawing and Painting from the University of Georgia in 2018. With my MFA I was able to pursue teaching in higher education where I taught at two different colleges after graduate school. After all the hard work I put into my job as a professor, I decided to step away from academia at the end of 2023 to focus on my art career full-time. This transition to becoming a full-time artist felt like a terrifying leap of faith at the time, but so many opportunities fell into place this year which have only affirmed and encouraged me to keep trusting my instinct and continue moving forward on my artist’s journey.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would liken the road to becoming an artist nothing short of navigating the infrastructure of South Carolina’s roadways. If you know, you know….You’re constantly dodging potholes, slamming on breaks for lousy drivers or whitetail deer, taking a detour for some interstate construction that was supposed to be completed a year ago…it isn’t now and I don’t think it ever will be a smooth road. I was always told you need elephant skin if you want to be an artist and I’ve no doubt learned the truth in that statement.
There is a lot of gatekeeping in the art world. I am constantly in competition with other artists whether I want to be or not and there are paywalls in play for most opportunities. It can be challenging and exhausting to consistently put yourself out there, just so your work will be recognized. But if you want to make a living off your artwork, it’s a non-negotiable part of the process. With the exception of some invitational exhibitions, most of the opportunities I’ve been blessed to receive, like grants, residencies, magazine publications, shows, etc….have come because I’ve gone through extensive application processes to be considered for them. Standard application fees for most of these opportunities are $30-$50 a pop and I’d say for every acceptance notification, I also receive about six rejections. I have to budget and limit myself to usually two applications max per month if they involve the average fee which limits how I and other artists are able to put our work out there. Getting used to the rejection emails over countless proposals I’ve submitted and even the ones that receive no response at all, has gotten a lot easier over the years, but I still have to handle some tough blows every now and then.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an oil painter working in the realist tradition. I primarily paint scenes of America’s rural South based on personal experiences and those of my own family and friends in the Midlands of South Carolina. My paintings focus largely on the still life as collections in both wild and domestic spaces and tell authentic stories of rural working class life in moments of simultaneous struggle and triumph. I am most proud of the way I lead with my heart and the stories I get to tell through the process. As an artist, I get to be an agent of change through the dialogue I foster in my artwork. Being able to create space that establishes common ground for people is really rewarding to witness especially during such divisive times. I think my ability to do this, in the midst of heated and polarized politics, sets me apart from others. I am able to step back and analyze situations from more than one side to help portray subjects as authentically as possible.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I have been incorporating strength training into my weekly routine for the last three years now and competed in a mock weightlifting meet at my gym last year. Lifting regularly and lifting heavy has helped to ease tension and correct poor posture that comes with painting for extended periods of time and overusing certain muscles in the process.
Pricing:
- Limited Edition Prints: (Runs of 20) range from $125-$300 depending on the print
- Original Paintings: contact galleries for pricing
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.katelynschapman.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kschap/
Image Credits
Kolton Miller
Katelyn Chapman
