2017 - Giving thanks for a Wonderful Year

2017 has been a year of change: new highs we have never seen in the stock market (Dow topped 21000 in March and continued into the 24000s as the year ended), more people standing up and participating in marches to have their voices heard than we've seen in decades, and unfortunately more violence across our country. During all this turmoil and change, my art year has been incredible. Here are many of my happiest art business moments:

• My paintings and fused glass are represented by HorseSpirit Arts Gallery in Ellicott City, Maryland since last January and I've signed my contract to continue in 2018.
• The Artistic Spirit video series by HorseSpirit Arts Gallery included me and my art in its second episode. People from across the globe participated in the Facebook LIVE session and it reached over 1800 views within one week. What magnificent press! I continue to have a Facebook and Instagram follower from Japan that is the result of this series. Enjoy the video on YouTube.  I've inserted a link at the end of this post. 
• I was accepted into three (3) international watermedia exhibits during February, resulting in Signature Artist status in all three. Signature Artist status is an honor many societies offer after you've been selected to be in their shows after a certain number of times. I now have Signature Artist status in six watermedia organizations.
• My artwork was featured in a solo exhibit in March at Touchstone Gallery in Washington DC. 
• My first of several paintings was sold at HorseSpirit Arts Gallery in February with continued sales throughout the year.  Thanks to Robin Holliday and her wonderful staff for all their hard work.
• My painting, Freight Yard, was included in AcrylicWorks4: Captivating Color, a Northlight best of acrylic book, which was published in April.

• I had a wonderful trip to New Orleans, where my husband and I joined my brother and his girlfriend, for the French Quarter Fest. Lots of great music, fantastic food, and fun; not to mention lots of wonderful new source material for future paintings.
• In April I learned that my painting, Lunch with Champagne, was selected for North Light Books' Splash 19: Illusion of Light. I never thought I would have artwork selected for this Best of Watercolor book. It will be published in 2018.

•  I taught a couple Fun with Fluid Acrylic workshops in 2017; first in June and again in October. I've been thinking about teaching and found out I really enjoy doing so, despite feeling like I carry half of my studio with me to these workshops. I did, however, learn how exhausting it is to teach.
• June brought me news that two of my paintings will be in North Light Books' 2018 Best of Acrylic book, AcrylicWorks5: Bold Values. The selected paintings are Movement and Lanterns.
• The Bakery was selected for the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society's 38th Annual International Juried Exhibition, held in Gettysburg, PA. It was so nice having a show that is only a little over an hour away, allowing me to see it in person and to attend the opening reception, where I received an Honorable Mention award.  In November this same painting received the 3rd Place award in the Bauhaus Prairie Art Gallery Online Exhibit "Landscapes, Seascapes, and Interiors." 



Stalks by April M Rimpo

• In October and November Movement III was on exhibit in the International Society of Experimental Artists' 26th Annual ISEA International Art Exhibition, held on Sanibel Island, Florida. Movement III was also accepted in the International Society of Acrylic Painter's 2nd Online Member Juried Exhibition.
• Stalks was selected by juror, Susan Behrends Frank, Ph.D., Curator, The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC for the Maryland Federation of Art Exhibition Strokes of Genius.

Commissioned Paintings

• Three people commissioned paintings from me this year. There was a DC street scene, a view of San Francisco Bay from another home, and a family at their favorite camping site. All were great projects. This is the first time that  I didn't know any of the people before the commission.  Each allowed me to create a special place in their life. What an honor. (In the image at left I also included a portion of the commission from 2016 for some dear friends of mine who asked me to paint their family truck.)
• I created my first video of me creating a painting.  Since I started with my wet, drippy, netting technique, I had to tip my board a lot during the first part of the video in a way that you cannot see the whole process. I hope you see enough to understand the basic approach.  I've inserted some stills into the video to show the progress and included an image of the finished painting at the end.  You can see the video in my blog on They're Everywhere.
• Three of my fused glass pieces sold this year; two being direct sales. It was a big surprise for me since I have been focusing on my painting and not my fused glass. Perhaps there will be some new fused glass creations in 2018.

2017 was a wonderful year for my art and my personal life. I've just returned from a great visit with my son, his wife, and her parents. It is always a treat to have time with family.

I wish you all a fantastic year in 2018 with great health and happiness!

You can watch the Artistic Spirits YouTube video here 
   https://youtu.be/qQJxcYElnbQ

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