Featured Art - Tapestry at the Mall series

Tapestry at the Mall series by April M Rimpo

Prints from April's
Tapestry at the Mall series

14" X 10" on watercolor paper

Available here in April's Store

I've completed 5 paintings from my Tapestry at the Mall series, but expect to do more in the future. I tend to start a series and then pick it up again once I am ready to resume the theme. All of these are paintings are done with fluid acrylic on watercolor paper that is stretched to create gallery wrapped images. Since the painting wraps around the edge they are perfect for hanging without a frame. Five of them are 18" X 12" pieces and one is 20" X 16". I was inspired to create these as I sat at the mall watching the people go by. It was fun to imagine their stories and to capture my feelings and thoughts about them. 

The one shown in the upper left is titled "Fashion" since the woman is so dressed up and wearing colors that just sing to me. 

The upper middle painting is titled "Family Day" in which I could only wonder if the young girl had just come from a dance recital and they are at the mall to celebrate. 

The upper right piece is titled "Happiness" since these two appeared to be best of friends enjoying a day together sharing stories and laughter.

"Elegance" is the painting in the lower left. Here these woman carry themselves with such elegance and beauty that I had to paint them. This original has found a new home, but prints are available.

Lower middle is "Reading and Learning" where the father appears focused on his mobile phone while his daughter looks into each shop they pass taking it all in.

"Aren't you Coming" is the larger piece which is like a stop action view as this little boy first realizes his mother is not following him, then stops and peers back several times before starting to run back to her. 

Part of April's Tapestry at the Mall Series
on display at RE/MAX Advantage

Above you can see three of them as canvas prints hanging at RE/MAX Advantage. These giclee prints are printed on canvas using archival materials designed to not fade or yellow for over 25 years.  The prints are 36" X 24" compared to the originals where are 18" X 12". The printer I use has a very high resolution camera for scanning allowing me to print, without degradation, up to 3 to 4 times the size of the original painting. 

If you would like to see the painting, you can stop by RE/MAX Advantage Realty, 729 East Pratt Street, Suite 100, Baltimore MD 21202, and say you are there to see April Rimpo's artwork. All purchases are made through April, so contact me if you have questions or would like to meet at RE/MAX.

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.

Rimpo 2016 All Rights Reserved. You may share my work with attribution and a link to this source site, but all other uses are prohibited.

"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:

• Fashion
• Family Day
• Elegance
• Reading and Learning
• Aren't You Coming?

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.

#HoCoArt

"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:

• Fashion
• Family Day
• Elegance
• Reading and Learning
• Happiness

#HoCoArt #ShopSmall #SmallBizSat

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.

"Family Day" 18"X12" fluid acrylic

Family Day by April M Rimpo

Family Day

Fluid Acrylic

18" X 12" varnished, gallery wrapped paper

$520

Options:

Original 18 X 12 $520.00 USD

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:

• Fashion
• Elegance
• Reading and Learning
• Happiness

#HoCoArt #ShopSmall #SmallBizSat

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.

"Elegance" 18" X 12" fluid acrylic

Elegance by April M Rimpo

Elegance

Fluid Acrylic 

18" X 12" image

Gallery Wrapped and Varnished

$520 - Original SOLD

Giclee Print on Watercolor Paper Available
14"X10" image in
Standard 16" X 20" Mat

Print size

14inX10in with mat $95.00 USD

When I saw these women all I could think was that they left me with the feeling of Elegance. They were not dressed in elegant apparel; I think it was their posture and how they carried themselves that gave me this impression. I loved how the tall woman wore her hair up, accentuating her height. There was no attempt to deemphasize her height, even though she clearly was much taller than her companion. I'd estimate she was 6' tall.

I am not extremely tall by today's standards, but when I was in 5th grade I was already nearly my full height, at about 5' 8". The boys had not hit their growing spurt and most of the girls in my class were much shorter, probably 5'5" or less. Fortunately, my best friend was about the same height as I because we were teased incessantly about our height. We had each other to commiserate with. Being only 11 years old I know I was devastated and no doubt did not stand tall and proud like this woman.

To maintain consistency with the other paintings in the "Tapestry at the Mall" series, I retained some of the orange and turquoise color scheme, but added many more grays and browns to keep the attention clearly focused on the women. I also reduced the amount of patterns in the background so as to not distract from this pair.

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

• Fashion
• Family Day
• Reading and Learning
• Happiness

#HoCoArt #ShopSmall #SmallBizSat

Other paintings of people in action or participating in every day events:

• Making Tortillas
• Woman with a Wrapped Hat
• The Vendor
• Flower Vendor
• Fruit Vendors
• Moving Up
• Movement I and II
• Morning Commute
• Pigeons in His Genes

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.

"Fashion" 18" X 12" acrylic

Fashion

Fluid Acrylic 

18" X 12" image

Gallery Wrapped and Varnished

$520

Options:

Original 18 X 12 $520.00 USD

Fashion is the beginning of a series. I never know when I'll get an inspiration for a painting or a series of paintings. I've just started a new series call "Tapestry at the Mall." This is the result of gallery sitting at a cooperative gallery I belong to that is located in a Mall. It was a slow day in the gallery, but a very busy day in the Mall. People were walking by constantly, but few ventured in. I had a few visitors toward the beginning of my shift, but it seemed everyone at the mall was quite busy shopping at the bulk food, clothing, and "you name it" store that is near the gallery. 

After spending quite some time watching people walk by, smiling and trying to entice someone to come in, I started to notice it was really fascinating see the interactions between the people. Some were clearly best friends having a great day together.  Others were families with young children who were often getting a ride on their Dad's shoulders. The children who appeared to be in the 4 or 5 year old bracket were fascinated with their surroundings, staring in every shop, while their parent was busy using their smart phone. 

I was also mesmerized by the clothing people were wearing.  I should mention I was at the mall on a Tuesday between 4 and 8 PM and started paying attention to the people around 6 PM, so some people had clearly come from work without stopping at home first. As a result some were very dressed up, others were wearing their traditional apparel from their native land, the young male-teens were casual but carried things like skate boards. A few passed the gallery eating ice cream, while others looked at them enviously.  In case you hadn't already guessed, I was quite entertained and enjoyed wondering about their stories. So here you go, the first of the "Tapestry at the Mall" series, titled Fashion.  Enjoy!

I'd love to hear what you think about this series concept.


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.