"Sitting Pretty" 8" X 8" fluid acrylic - Variations

Sitting Pretty (c) April M Rimpo

One of the sunflowers we had planted last year must have seeded itself because two new plants popped up this year in the same large pot. A few weeks ago the first plant had hit its prime, the seeds were full and it dipped its flower head like it was bowing to Mother Nature. 

While eating lunch and watching the birds in our backyard a little finch got the brilliant idea to partake of the sunflower seeds.  I always have my camera ready so I took pictures of the finch in a variety of positions:

• Sitting on top, as in "Sitting Pretty"
• Bending over the edge and nibbling from the bottom

Sitting Pretty

Fluid Acrylic

8" X 8" X 1.5" gallery wrapped image*

$350

Available for Purchase Here 

I'm sure more finch paintings will follow.
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Copyright April M Rimpo 2015 All Rights Reserved. You may share my work with attribution, but all other uses are prohibited.

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"Undercover" a 4"X4" stackable-art painting

Undercover by April M Rimpo

Undercover

Fluid Acrylic on Watercolor Paper varnished and mounted on

4" X 4" X 2" deep Cradled Wood Panel

$55 includes shipping within the United States

SOLD through April's Spreesy Store

Much of yesterday's snow has melted and the streets are clear. All the birds and animals are out and about. I'm sure nests are being built, spring cleaning of sorts for our feathered friends. The more timid animal life is peeking out and checking the air with ever twitching noses.  This little bunny, partially under the cover of the woods, hasn't quite decided whether to venture further or not.

"Deer with Fawn" a 4" X 4" stackable-art painting

Deer with Fawn by April M Rimpo

Deer with Fawn

Fluid Acrylic on Watercolor Paper varnished and mounted on

4" X 4" X 2" deep Cradled Wood Panel

$50

Available at Columbia Art Center Gallery Store
6100 Foreland Garth, Columbia, MD
410-730-0075

6:45 PM EDT today is the Vernal Equinox when it becomes officially Spring. It actually felt like Spring a few days ago. The warm temperatures had a few people out with no jacket and I even saw a few of the more rugged sort wearing shorts. I chose the light sweater, which I found unnecessary as the day progressed.  All was well.  It seemed light the birds in our yard were chirping a happy song, the leaf buds on the trees seemed just a tiny bit larger. A pair of hawks that live in our trees appeared to be beginning the nesting process.  I even saw a vulture (not my favorite bird nor a lovely image of Spring) doing a fancy dance with his wings held out for another vulture trying very hard to attract her attention.   I thought at last, Spring is here.  It seemed like doing this little painting of a deer with her fawn was perfect to celebrate. Fawns are normally born in Maryland toward the end of Spring in May or June, but for me the fawns are one of the symbols of Spring.

So despite the fact that the weather decided to give us one more winter day, starting us out with more snow, I am still going to celebrate Spring. Although we do have about 1" of snow coating the trees it is beginning to turn to rain and I am still hopeful that by 6:45 PM EDT they trees will again be bare.  

Happy Spring, everyone!

"Historic Train Station" a 16" x 20" fluid acrylic

Historic Train Station by April M. Rimpo

Historic Train Station

16" X 20" Fluid Acrylic on Watercolor Paper

Mounted on a 2" Deep-Cradle Wood Panel

$775

Original Available in April's Spreesy Store

Prints available through HorseSpirit Arts Gallery

I've been wanting to paint this train station, now museum, for a while. However I've struggled with how to make it look interesting since the building and cobblestone were all similar in color. The front "courtyard" is a large expanse that seemed empty in my photographs.

My first design concept was to transform the scene back to the late 1800s when the station was still in operation. This resulted in the addition of the horse drawn carriages in the distance and the woman in 1880s clothing, but it still needed more color and something to fill that courtyard area.

Recently I decided I could add some potted flowers to the foreground, which not only adds some needed white, but also adds some brighter yellows and a place to repeat and emphasize the reds from the roof and distant building. I placed the flowers so they introduced an interesting curved shape, breaking up the large expanse in front of the building.

I'm so glad I took my time thinking about the design of this painting. I believe the result is far better than my original plan. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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.

"Spring by the River" a 24" X 36" fluid acrylic

Spring by the River by April M Rimpo

Spring by the River

24" X 36"

Fluid Acrylic on Paper

Mounted on 2" Deep-cradled, Wood Panel  

Original SOLD

12" X 18" giclee print on watercolor paper - coming soon

To purchase archival prints on watercolor paper or on canvas contact April

Most years the Azaleas are in full bloom by Mother's Day in Maryland. I know that is two months from now, but I am ready. The Azaleas stand proud in my new painting Spring by the River. The white Azaleas are shaded with pale pastel shades of blue, violet, and pink, while the red blossoms vary from orange to hot pink and magenta. I have a bit of a weakness for the white blooms with pink centers.

A fellow artist in our area has a show opening this weekend and I know she has paintings that include scenes from a local Azalea garden. We have not had an awful lot of snow this year, probably a little less than normal, but the cold has everyone I know extremely ready for winter to end. Well I do know a few friends who wish they lived in Maine, you know who you are, and are probably walking around in the 0 - 20 degree Fahrenheit days without a jacket.  

I have Spring fever, as you have noticed in my last several blog posts, so enjoy Spring through my paintings until it finally finds it way to our doorsteps.

"Enjoying Tongue Row" a 20" X 16" fluid acrylic

Enjoying Tongue Row by April M Rimpo

Enjoying Tongue Row

Fluid Acrylic

Mounted on 20" X 16" X 2" deep

cradled wood panel
$775

Not far from my home is an old mill town called Ellicott City. The town was established by the Ellicott family, thus the name.  Tongue Row is a section of stone granite houses originally rented to mill workers by the owner Ann Tongue. Now these houses are a set of boutiques including a cafe and a silversmith.

A Farmer's Market is held by Tongue Row once a month seasonally. In addition to fresh produce, musicians serenade the event, and artisans sell their wares.

It's a lovely spot to stop and relax on the benches. 

 

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Paintings for Easter and Spring

The weather here in Maryland has been colder than normal this Winter. I think that has caused me to wish for an early Spring. In the last week I've interspersed these small paintings between working on a couple of larger pieces. They make me feel better, until I step outside.  In fact I just came in from 1.5 hours of shoveling snow, so finishing up this blog post seemed urgent to get me back thinking Spring.

Have fun stacking the paintings mounted on 2" deep wood panels. 

Duck with her Ducklings by April M Rimpo
8" X 8" Fluid Acrylic on Varnished, Gallery-Wrapped Paper

Duck and her Ducklings

Fluid Acrylic on Varnished, Gallery Wrapped Paper

$85 within the United States

Available through
April's Spreesy Store

Happy Chick by April M Rimpo
6" X 6" Fluid Acrylic on Watercolor Paper
Mounted on 1.5" deep Aquabord

Happy Chick

Fluid Acrylic on Varnished, Watercolor Paper, Mounted on 6" X 6" X 1.5" deep Aquabord

$80 SOLD

Bah, Lamb, Ewe a 14" X 11" watercolor and acrylic
by April M Rimpo
mounted on 2" Deep Cradled Wood Panel

Bah, Lamb, Ewe

Fluid Acrylic on Varnished, Watercolor Paper, Mounted on 14" X 11" X 2" deep Cradled Wood Panel

SOLD at Still Life Gallery
8173 Main St, Ellicott City, Maryland

Bunny and Chick, 5" X 7" acrylic by April M Rimpo
mounted on 2" Deep Cradled Wood Panel

Bunny and Chick

Fluid Acrylic on Varnished, Watercolor Paper, Mounted on 5" X 7" X 2"  deep Cradled Wood Panel

$80

Available through
April's Spreesy Store

Keeping Watch, 14" X 18" watercolor

Keeping Watch by April M Rimpo

Keeping Watch

Watercolor

14" X 18" image

Mounted on 2" Deep Cradle Wood Panel 

$600

Options:

Keeping Watch - original $600.00 USD

There is no better sign of Spring than a duck with her ducklings. This mom is trying to keep track of her 5 ducklings, but one keeps moving slightly out of view.  There is always one independent one.

I had this painting framed under glass, which is the traditional approach to framing watercolors.  The glass protects the watercolor from the environment and the UV protection in the glass also reducing the effect of light on paints. As you know for the last year I have been gallery wrapping my watercolor and fluid acrylic paintings, then varnishing them with a UV protection varnish. This allows them to be displayed without frame and glass.  This particular painting didn't have enough paper beyond the edge of the image to allow me to gallery wrap, so I needed a different answer.

An art friend has been using Cheap Joe's Prime Cradle Painting Panels to mount her watercolor paintings. These panels come in two depths (3/4" and 2"). I opted to use the 2" Extra Deep version. I asked her for a summary of the process for mounting, watched a couple videos online to see the process in action, and decided to give it a try. I experimented on a very small painting first which came out beautifully, then decided to transition Keeping Watch. It really came out beautifully.

Profile of the 2" Deep Cradle

At right is an image showing the side of the extra deep cradle.  They come in a light blond color artist grade Tung wood. When I was researching the mounting process I also found some artists stained the wood, which I chose to do. So what you seen in this image is a Pecan color stain that I chose. After staining I waxed the panel with furniture wax and buffered it to provide a protective surface to the wood. 

And here's what William Shakespeare has to say about Spring

O, how this spring of love resembleth the uncertain glory of an April day!  The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act I, sc. 3

In the sprint time, the only pretty ring time, when birds do sing... sweet lovers love the spring.  As You Like It, Act V, sc. 3