April M. Rimpo Art: August 2015

Thursday, August 27, 2015

"Happiness" 18" X 12" fluid acrylic

Happiness by April M Rimpo

Happiness

Fluid Acrylic

18" X 12"

$540

Available For Purchase HERE

This painting in the "Tapestry at the Mall" series is a celebration of the Happiness that can come with friendship. These women were chatting and laughing as they walked through the mall. I remember they made me smile as they passed. I do believe joy can be contagious if we pay attention to others' moods.

This is the first painting where I included some scribing in the background. It is intermixed with textural patterns so you will see it only if you are drawn in and spend some time looking at the details.

To emphasize the sense of happiness and good times I chose a primarily warm color scheme and used a large yellow circle in the background behind the women's heads. Other colored circles were added to balance the large one.

I'd love to hear about your reaction to this painting. Please provide a comment below.

Other paintings in the "Tapestry at the Mall" Series:

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, but all other uses are prohibited.

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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

"Reading and Learning" 18" X 12" acrylic

Reading And Learning by April M Rimpo

Reading and Learning is another contribution to my "Tapestry at the Mall" series. I had been looking at some paintings by Kadinsky and discovered some I had not seen before that were based on circular shapes. I really enjoyed these paintings and decided to take the circles into a new direction and use them as the backdrop for this painting. I felt they added a playful lift, which I wanted to have with this adorable little girl. She was totally absorbed as she walked through the mall with a man who I assume is her father. She appeared to be “taking it all in”, which inspired the title for this piece.

Reading and Learning

Fluid Acrylic on Paper

18" X 12" gallery wrapped painting
$520

Available through HorseSpirit Arts Gallery
410.461.3505
info@horsespiritartsgallery.com

Other paintings in the "Tapestry at the Mall" Series:

Friday, August 21, 2015

Hen with Chicks 8"X8" gallery wrapped acrylic

Hen with Chicks by April M. Rimpo

Hen with Chicks

8"X8" acylic on paper

Varnished and Gallery Wrapped

$160

Another inspiration from the county fair.

Other Chicken paintings:

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

"Aren't You Coming?" 20" X 16" fluid acrylic

Aren't You Coming? by April M Rimpo

Aren't You Coming?

Fluid Acrylic on Paper

20" X 16" varnished, gallery wrapped

$775

Available through Xanadu Online Studios

Aren't You Coming? depicts a boy's reaction when he realizes his mom isn't right behind him as he runs ahead of her through the mall. First he glances back to check on her after a mall security guard suggests he look at his mom. He keeps going, then pauses and looks back to check on her again. After moving ahead a few more steps he decides she isn't coming, turns and runs back. You could see what was probably rolling through his mind, wanting the independence running ahead, but a bit young to venture too far alone. Too many unknown things might lie ahead.

While watching this boy my thoughts immediately went to my son and the independence boys test earlier than most little girls, at least the ones I have known. I believe I was pretty "clingy" at this age, my independence coming later. Even when 10 or 11 I stayed with my mother when we went to the mall to shop. It wasn't until my late teens when I bravely boarded a plane and flew across the country to go to college, with no concern that I would be on the west coast while my family lived on the east coast. We do grow and evolve at our own pace.

In this "Tastestry at the Mall" painting, I retained the color scheme and some of the elements common to many of the paintings: the striped awning, patterns in the background under the awning, and the rails in the center of the mall where you can look down at a lower level. To emphasize how young this boy is I included in the background images of toy blocks along with squiggles intended to appear like a child's drawing with crayons.

Other paintings in the "Tapestry at the Mall" Series:

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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, but all other uses are prohibited.

Monday, August 10, 2015

Fundraiser for "Enchanted Forest" at Clark's Elioak Farm

Triceratops by April M Rimpo

Several local artists will be supporting the

Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Enchanted Forest

at Clark's Elioak Farm.

August 15 - 16

Enchanted Forest features a petting farm sprinkled with sculptures inspired by children's fairy tales. Examples include The Old Woman's Shoe from "The Woman Who Lived In A Show." The sculptures came from the Enchanted Forest Theme Park, once located in Ellicott City (more about the park and restoration below).

The day I went to Clark's Elioak Farm to decide on my subject matter it was packed. It was mid-week and I was amazed full the parking lot was on a day that I thought might be quiet. It appeared there was also a birthday party going on. What a great place for little children!

I chose to paint the triceratops sculpture. They are not quite this purple in the painting, but I had trouble getting the color right in my photograph. You'll have to come to the festivities to see it.

The owners of Clark's Elioak Farm will select a few paintings for auction and the balance will be for sale Thursday through Sunday. Clark's Elioak Farm will handle sales through the Farm Store. 20% of sales will be deducted for the Enchanted Forest restoration efforts.

I'll see you at the reception!

Backstory on the Clarks' preservation of the figures from the historic Enchanted Forest Park:

Read a Baltimore Sun April 23rd article about the original park and restoration here.
Baltimore Business Journal's June 5th story "How Martha Clark preserved the Enchanted Forest"
Visit their Facebook Page on the Celebration for pictures of some of the sculptures

Thursday, August 6, 2015

"Family Day" 18"X12" fluid acrylic

Family Day by April M Rimpo

Family Day

Fluid Acrylic

18" X 12" varnished, gallery wrapped paper

$520

This series has been a lot of fun for me and I hope you are enjoying it too. This may have been one of the few families in the mall that were not loaded down with packages. Since the little girl was in such a pretty dress I couldn't help but wonder if they were on their way to a party or a dance recital. Perhaps they had already been and this outing was a celebration of the little girl's achievements.

What stories do you see in the glimpse of this family?
Other paintings in the "Tapestry at the Mall" Series:

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Tuesday, August 4, 2015

"Local Color" Exhibit at Artists' Gallery of Columbia

My painting, Making Tortillas, was selected for the exhibit "Local Color" to be held at

Artists' Gallery of Columbia

August 3 - 28.

I'm happy that this is my second year in this exhibit, where Artists' Gallery of Columbia opens their doors to non-members.

Come join artists, friends, and collectors at the reception on

Friday, August 7th from 6 - 8 PM.

Award recipients will be announced and reception refreshments will be available.

I visited the gallery yesterday to see the work included in the exhibit and to take a few preview pictures before the reception. I hope these wet your appetite and that you take the time to checkout the full exhibit.

I'll definitely be at the reception so I can take a closer look at the great artwork.

Congratulations to the 29 artists whose work was selected and many thanks to the selection committee and hanging committee for creating such a beautiful show.

Click here to read about Making Tortillas.

NAMES OF SELECTED ARTISTS

Barbara Bednarzik

Joyce Bell

Peter Van Berkum

Mike Brown

Ellen Corddry

Teresa Cowley

John Duke

Ye Feng

Ann Horner

Karen Marie Isailovic

Richard Kunski

Stephanie Lyon

Etsuko Matsuo

Desh Mittal

Debra Moffitt

Karen Norman

Pauline Rakis

April M. Rimpo

David Roe

Diane Shipley

Sarah Snowden

Carolyn Stearns

Barbara Talbott

Karen C. Tylec

Sylvia Valentino

Richard Paul Weiblinger

Linda M. Wicksell

Eileen Williams

Deanna Williford

#HoCoArts

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Copyright April M Rimpo