"Follow Your Dreams" 16" X 7" Fluid Acrylic

“New Orleans is the only place I know of where you ask a little kid what he wants to be and instead of saying, I want to be a policeman, or I want to be a fireman, he says, I want to be a musician.” – Alan Jaffe, Jazz Musician and Founder of Preservation Hall

Follow Your Dreams
by April M Rimpo

Follow Your Dreams

16" X 7" 

Fluid Acrylic

SOLD

I think the quote from Alan Jaffe says it all about this painting.  This young man was high school age, playing in the streets of New Orleans during the French Quarter Jazz Fest. 

We saw street musicians from barely ten years old up to very accomplished masters, who added to the "official" music of Jazz Fest. The area in Jackson Square, just outside one of the official stadiums of the Fest, seemed like a favorite spot. Three kids, ranging from 10 - early teens sat down next to us one day, placed their plastic buckets upside down in front of them, and drummed away for the public.  They were really good.  I didn't photograph them, but will never forget them. 

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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 and a link to this source site, but all other uses are prohibited.

Semi-Abstract Paintings at Touchstone Gallery in February

Semi-Abstract paintings by April M Rimpo

The February exhibit at Touchstone Gallery in Gallery A is 

"At the Heart of the Matter"  

February 5 - 28, 2016

Getting to the heart of the matter is what Touchstone member artists focus on as they explore photography, collage, drawing, painting, sculpture, and hand pulled prints. Whether the subject is love, color, unusual figural poses, life issues or personal content, viewers will recognize the core of each artist's work in this expansive exhibit.
Opening reception: Friday, February 5 from 6 - 8:30 PM

My contribution to the exhibit is these semi-abstract paintings inspired by music. They are fluid acrylic with collage created on watercolor paper and then mounted on 1.5" deep wood cradled panels. The top left painting included fused glass components. Because of the deep cradles they display these paintings on a table top, book self, or any flat surface.  They can also be stacked on each other for a fun display.

These start as random abstract paintings. As I add other colors images of people appeared to me and I continue to enhance the painting until they become obvious. Collage elements were added to enhance the images. I enjoy this process since the paintings evolve without a great deal of planning. 

Top Left: Dancers, 6" X 6" X 1.5", $85

Top Right: Music, 6" X 6" X 1.5", $85

Bottom: Dancers II, 9" X 12" X 1.5", $250

Available through Touchstone Gallery.
901 NEW YORK AVENUE NW, WASHINGTON DC 20001 202-347-2787
 INFO@TOUCHSTONEGALLERY.COM
OPEN: WEDNESDAY- FRIDAY 11-6, SATURDAY-SUNDAY 12-5

Copyright April M 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.

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.

#HoCoArt
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"Music of Life" 7" X 17" Watercolor and Acrylic Mounted on 1.5" deep Cradled Cherry Wood Panel:

Music of Life 
by April M Rimpo

"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."  Plato

"If music be the food of love,
play on."
William Shakespeare 

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."  Berthold Auerbach

I love music. I learned a little piano and even less guitar when I was young and enjoyed playing music in a neighborhood group with my brother. After that I shifted to singing for pleasure, in high school chorus, and in another band with my husband years ago. I almost always listen to music when painting and think it helps me get immersed in the process.

In "Music of Life" the music ebbs and flows around the figures. As I painted different ideas came to me on how to portray musical waves using lines and swirls of color. 

Side View of Solid Cherry
Wood Panel with Maple Keys

It was fun to incorporate collage elements from sheet music, as I've done in some other paintings. The collage was used to create instruments held by two of the figures and to decorate their clothing. The third figure, who is dancing to the music, also has some wisps of sheet music in her dress. 

I'm really excited about the gorgeous deep cradled panel I used for this painting. It was commissioned from a local woodcrafter, Ewan Tulis, who has a studio in Ellicott City, Maryland. He built it using solid Cherry wood with corner keys in Maple. You can see the panel in the side shot shown here. Visit his website to see his portfolio.

I decided since my son and his fiance love music that this painting is just the right extra gift for their wedding. They received it yesterday and I can't wait to see it hanging in their home the next time we see them.