In Search of New Textures

What you likely know about my work is that I often like to include as much visual texture as I think fits with the piece.

Join the Crowd by April M Rimpo

Sometimes I drip or spray water on an area that has started to dry to force some small lighter areas, as I did on the background and in the feathers on Join the Crowd.

Join the Crowd

Watercolor

10" X 14" image

Framed in Brushed Silver Frame

$425

Available at HorseSpirit Arts Gallery

Poinsettia Tree WIP by April M Rimpo

Other times I apply paint and when it is mostly dry I spray it with water to remove the areas that are slightly wet leaving hard, yet organic, edges. You can see this in the leaves in the closeup of Poinsettia Tree, taken fairly early during the creation of this painting.  To see the completed painting click here.

The Apex by April M Rimpo

Drips are another favorite method of mine to create textures, as demonstrated in The Apex.  There is always a purpose when I use a texture since I feel the texture has to enhance the painting, not just be decorative.

Since I always an looking for new, interesting, and maybe faster ways to create textures I decided to take a mixed media class from Nancy Barch. First of all let me say that Nancy is a wonderful teacher, full of great ideas. The variety she uses in her work is fascinating. I knew from others who had taken her workshops how much she had inspired them to try new approaches in their art and I am so glad I took her workshop. 

Since I love the transparency of watercolor and fluid acrylic I was looking for techniques I could adopt and transform, as necessary, to enhance my work without being a major shift in style. 

Below are images of some of the work I produced in this workshop. You can see we used much thicker applications of paint on the first three pieces, but the variety of textures are magnificent.  My challenge over the next few months is to test methods to adopt Nancy's concepts and use them in a slightly more fluid manner to see if I can add more depth and nuance to my paintings.  I'm always striving to add visual interest and believe the new vocabulary of textures from Nancy's workshop will do the trick.

 

Abstract Flowers;  White on White;  7th & Carroll;  Lunar Blue; Destruction

Solo Exhibit: Exploring Cultures through Color at Bernice Kish Gallery - Update

My solo exhibit at the Bernice Kish Gallery at Slayton House in Columbia, Maryland runs from May 14th through June 9th.  Whether you want original art or prints either is available.  Forms for order giclee prints are on hand at the gallery. See my article "Giclee Prints Can Provide New Color for Your Office or Home" ,which was published in The Business Monthly, May 2015, Volume 23, Number 5, learn more about giclee prints.

I've included a few images from installation so you can see a bit of the venue as well. In addition there are close ups shots of several paintings.

Installation Day - Getting the spacing just right

Consider yourself invited; I look forward to seeing family, friends, my collectors, and meeting new people who love the arts. Bernice Kish Gallery is located at Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia, Maryland 21044.

Deciding on the artwork to include in a solo exhibit is more difficult than you might think.  The artwork needs to look like it belongs together either through theme, color transitions, style, or some combination of those elements.  

My subject matter is diverse.  I also vary my style based on the subject matter using what best suits what I want to say about the subject. As a result, I felt I had to limit the styles included in this exhibit so I could present you with a variety of subjects. I hope you enjoy the result. 

... and level

I used a common set of pigments for most of my paintings, but you can achieve a wide variety of colors from the same pigments. As a result the colors vary in the paintings I selected, but they are harmonious since they come from the same set of pigments.

I find deciding on the order of the paintings to be great fun, grouping similar subjects together and using color to transition to the next subject. Six paintings are shown here to give you insight into the flow of the exhibit.

In addition to original paintings, a few giclee prints are included in the exhibit. In fact, a couple prints in the exhibit are the same image as an original also in the exhibit. Order forms will be available so you can order prints of most of the original paintings. If you are interested in a different size than listed on the order form you and use the form to request a quotation for a different size. To see the same image in various print formats click here.

Wondering what else is going on in Howard County? Check out TotallyHoco.com. This site includes a wide variety of events. It allows you to filter events by category or explore options for a particular date. I think you'll find it a useful resource.



  #HoCoArt

Morning in NYC available in various size Giclee Prints on Watercolor Paper or Canvas

Original Painting (Morning in NYC) with various types of Giclee Prints

As you can see in the image above, the giclee print world offers a variety of types of prints. I offer prints of my artwork on watercolor paper and gallery wrapped canvas. Some of the gallery wrapped canvas prints have the image wrap around the edge of the frame and some have a solid colored edge. The image above includes (from left to right), a small (10" tall) print on watercolor, the original watercolor framed with a white mat, a larger giclee print on canvas 24" X 16" with a depth of  1.5", and a small giclee print on canvas 18" X 8 X 0.75" depth. 

In the image at right I took the picture at an angle to help you see the different depths of the canvas.  These are examples of image wrapped edges, which makes it tricky to distinguish the edge from the front. The corner is in the middle on the spire on the left of the painting.

Prints in the sizes shown are available here. 
See the sizes in my print store. If you are interested in a different size, contact April.

The Original painting is available at HorseSpirit Arts Gallery. Contact April if you are interested in this painting.

As you can see the color match to the original is extremely accurate. Because the original is under Plexiglas there is a little bit of reflection in the top picture making the original look lighter. I have found that when I purchase a print on watercolor paper at the same size as the original painting that I have to sign the print on the bottom, below the image, right away to avoid confusing which is the original.

When considering a print of an original painting you can decide on the size and type of print that would best suit your space. Because I get high resolution digital scans of my paintings, you can enlarge the image up to three times without degradation.  This amount of enlargement should allow you to fill a very large space.  Prints on watercolor paper would need to be framed under glass with a mat that separates the print from touching the glass.  Frames on the canvas prints are optional.

To read more about Giclee Prints read April's Article "Giclee Prints Can Provide New Color for Your Office or Home" in The Business Monthly

Click here to Contact April

Interested in learning more about April's art inspirations, tips about her painting process, or art business tidbits? Want to know when her art is in exhibits? Consider joining her friends and collectors by signing up for her twice-monthly email.

Copyright April M Rimpo All Rights Reserved. You may share my work with attribution and a link to this source site, but all other uses are prohibited.

Featured Artist: Zing by Cecelia

I first met Cecelia Battle 15+ years ago in a watercolor class. I had just started painting in watercolor and Cecelia was clearly much further along in her development of watercolors using fantastic color combinations and inserting her own style and vision in her work. As we all do, Cecelia has ventured in new directions with her art since then and now focuses on fantastic jewelry. The wonderful use of color I saw in Cecelia’s watercolors is evident in her jewelry. I asked Cecelia to share some of her thoughts and inspirations in her new line Zing by Cecelia.

I am inspired by vibrant colors & nature, & I enjoy the design journey that merges a combination of the organic & geometric, with the scientific process. I love the strong, rugged look of copper, sterling & brass, along with some feminine sparkle & color. By blending gem stones, colored glass, crystals, & a variety of unique beads, I create a fanciful, sophisticated look, with a touch of whimsy. I find that making jewelry is a challenging & exciting form of creativity, & a way to use design in a 3 dimensional format, that translates to fashion & wearable art.

Spring Passion Earrings

You use a variety of materials and techniques in your jewelry.  Which are the most fun and the most challenging?

Peaceful Yorkshire Dales - pastel

For me, the most challenging aspect of my work is marketing & pricing my goods. The most fun is seeing a design come to fruition & making people happy when they wear my pieces, or find a special place in their home for a painting of mine. My watercolor & pastel paintings give me a chance to experiment with vivid color combinations & fluid lines that become inspiration for my jewelry designs.

I know you have a glass kiln; do you make many of the components included in your jewelry?

I use my kiln to create fused glass beauties, to add color & transparency to some of my pieces. When I fire up my torch or kiln, it is always exciting & a bit nerve wracking, knowing that I can melt a piece, or successfully complete it for a treasure. I also have a passion for collecting handmade glass beads & sparkling gem stones from around the world.

You recently completed a workshop in some additional jewelry making techniques. What pieces of your art were inspired by this course?

Mary's Garden Party

I recently took two weekend-long ring making workshops, even traveling to North Carolina to work with a well-known jewelry designer, an idol of mine. These courses motivated me to branch out & create more complex designs using my jeweler's saw & torch. I am especially excited to create unique rings & necklaces, with faceted gem stones in bezel settings. This latest class led to my most favorite piece - a necklace, commissioned by a friend for a special birthday. This necklace has organic elements, combined with colorful silk ribbon, sterling silver & brass, a ruby in fuchsite & a Herkimer diamond nestled in a sterling cage. It can be worn five different ways, which makes it fanciful, fun & sophisticated. I named it Mary’s Garden Party.

Where can people see your work, both online and in galleries?

Don't Worry, Spin Happy Ring

Currently, my work can be purchased at Horse Spirit Arts Gallery in Ellicott City, MD, The Muse in Frederick, MD, & Mixx Boutique in Cumberland MD. You can also visit my work on my website; www.zingbycecelia.com . Thank you for your interest in my creations.

Get your Zing on!

As you can see from the images of Cecelia’s work she definitely achieves her goal of fanciful, fun jewelry. If you’d like to meet Cecelia you have an opportunity to do so on Sunday, May 17, 2015 from 1 – 3PM during a reception at Horse Spirit Gallery where her work will be featured.  Here you can purchase Cecelia’s jewelry and cards featuring her paintings.

"Booties & Books", a 8"X8" fluid acrylic

"Women gain social influence through their roles as mothers, transmitters of culture, and parents for the next generation."   Patricia Hill Collins

Booties & Books by April M Rimpo

Booties and Books

Fluid Acrylic

8" X 8" Varnished, Antique Gold Frame

SOLD at HorseSpirit Arts Gallery

Booties and Books is all about ties between mothers and children. It shows booties and children's books from multiple generations. Gathered over time the books were shared and cherished.

Happy May Day and wishing everyone a wonderful Mother's Day.