"The Love-Birds Boat", Watercolor, 24" X 36"

The Love-Birds Boat, watercolor © April M Rimpo

The Love-Birds Boat

Watercolor, mounted and varnished

24" X 36" painting

26" X 38" Brushed Silver Frame

Available for Purchase

I love watching birds flock to fishing boats when they return to port. I’m sure the pelican’s goal was a late afternoon snack, but from what I can tell the fisherman didn’t cooperate. As soon as he pulled into the dock and tied up the boat, two pelicans perched on the side. Their heads formed the shape of a heart and I couldn’t help but think they had love on their minds. Capturing the glow of the boat in the late afternoon sun emphasized by the cool lavender shaded side led me to create this painting in an orange, violet, and green palette. Pushing the colors of the brown pelicans to orange-brown helped them stand out against the multi-colored water, creating a romantic mood for the painting concept.

I used one of my favorite color schemes of orange-red, green, and violet. Emphasizing the violets brought the dreamy feel to this painting that I desired.

Interested in April's artwork or taking one of her classes? Consider becoming a Studio Friend by signing up for her twice-monthly email. April segments her newsletter so you can select topics you'd like to hear about when you sign up. For those who Select the General Interest topic you will receive emails about twice-monthly. If you are only interested in classes, then the emails will be much less frequent discussing upcoming classes and how to register. Thank you for your support of April M Rimpo Art. Oh, and please be sure to click on the link in a second email to verify your interest in joining my newsletter. Without the verification you will be left in a limbo state where you will not receive my emails and I can't complete the verification on your behalf. If you receive a response that you are already subscribed, email me to confirm and I can send you a different link to update your profile and get the verification email resent to you.

Contact April and see more of her art on her website

Note: You may be taken to an error page asking if you want to proceed to my https://..... .php site. This is my secure site created using a php format. It is safe to proceed.

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.

"They're Everywhere" 30" X 24" Fluid Acrylic by April M. Rimpo

They're Everywhere by April M Rimpo

They're Everywhere

Fluid Acrylic

30" X 24" image

Available through my website 

Two of my favorite things combine in They're Everywhere: the colors of pigeons and painting with drips and splatters to create the illusion of a rocky cliff.

I know, so many people think pigeons are pests but I love their iridescent colors. I'm also amazed that no matter where I travel I see pigeons. I've done paintings of pigeons in Italy, Seattle, New Jersey, and now Colorado. 

They're Everywhere was particularly fun because of the way I created the background of this painting. I started by spraying water on the paper letting the water run in all directions, making rivers of water the went across and down the page, weaving a random pattern on the page. I then dropped on color, either with a brush or by using a pipette, and tipped the paper to make the colors blend randomly following the path of the water. I also added some splatters here and there that became the shadowed spots on the cliffs.  After drying I continued painting to refine the cliffs, but many of the random cracks in the rocks and shadows were already established from the first wet-into-wet wash.

I've included a video of me creating this painting; a time lapse over a week of painting. Enjoy!  I'd love to hear your feedback.

Post Updated Sept 8, 2020

Interested in April's artwork or taking one of her classes? Consider becoming a Studio Friend by signing up for her twice-monthly email. April segments her newsletter so you can select topics you'd like to hear about when you sign up. For those who Select the General Interest topic you will receive emails about twice-monthly. If you are only interested in classes, then the emails will be much less frequent discussing upcoming classes and how to register. Thank you for your support of April M Rimpo Art. Oh, and please be sure to click on the link in a second email to verify your interest in joining my newsletter. Without the verification you will be left in a limbo state where you will not receive my emails and I can't complete the verification on your behalf. If you receive a response that you are already subscribed, email me to confirm and I can send you a different link to update your profile and get the verification email resent to you.

Contact April and see more of her art on her website

Note: You may be taken to an error page asking if you want to proceed to my https://..... .php site. This is my secure site created using a php format. It is safe to proceed.

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.

11 days into a 30 day challenge

I found out about this challenge after the first 2 days were compete, so I've got 9 images for the first 11 days. Unlike painting a day challenges where you are supposed to finish a painting per day, in this the goal is simply to do something artistic each day.  No requirement to complete anything.  However, I've used this as an opportunity to complete a variety of small works with only two requiring two days. One had been started before the challenge, but wasn't very far along. I hope you enjoy the variety. I certainly have enjoyed bouncing around on subject matter. 

September 2019 - First 9 days of 28 day Creativity Challenge

• Day 1 (for me) - Day's Journey - Watercolor - 14" X 11" 
• Day 2 -  Beginning of Village by the Sea, started as a demo piece in a Fluid Acrylic workshop - 21" X 15" 
• Day 3 - Village by the Sea, completed - Fluid Acrylic - 21" X 15"
• Day 4 - Beginning of Family Ties - Watercolor - 7" X 5"
• Day 5 - Mounted 3 watercolor paintings in preparation for varnishing
• Day 6 - Sketch of Willow trees and swans - concept drawing for painting
• Day 7 - Finished Family Ties - Watercolor - 7" X 5"
• Day 8 - Flowers of Fall - Watercolor - 24" X 6"
• Day 9 - Heading North - Watercolor - 4" X 4" X 2" block

I think my next painting will be a more typical larger painting that I might submit to an exhibition, if it comes out well enough.  We'll see what happens.

Interested in April's artwork or taking one of her classes? Consider becoming a Studio Friend by signing up for her twice-monthly email. April segments her newsletter so you can select topics you'd like to hear about when you sign up. For those who Select the General Interest topic you will receive emails about twice-monthly. If you are only interested in classes, then the emails will be much less frequent discussing upcoming classes and how to register. Select as many topics as sound of interest. Thank you for your support of April M Rimpo Art.

Contact April and see more of her art on her website

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.

"Two Birds in a Bush" a 8" X 8" fluid acrylic

Two Birds in a Bush by April M Rimpo, 8" X 8" fluid acrylic

I love watching birds in our yard. Golden finch males are always easy to spot since their golden yellow bodies just can't be camouflaged. For many years our Morning Glories manage to survive the winter and by mid-Summer are entwined on a trellis in our front yard.  Their variegated blooms from Lavender-Rose to deep purple always make me smile. Most mornings I look out first thing to see how many blooms are opening that day and hope I'll remember to look again mid-day when they truly are at their glory. 

Forgive me while I  have some fun twisting an old saying; You could have One painting in hand and "Two Birds in a Bush." 

This title came about when I asked my friends on Instagram and Facebook to offer suggestions for a title. I received over twenty responses, many of which will likely become titles of other paintings.  Your creativity was so appreciated.  I laughed when I read "Two Birds in a Bush" harkening back to the expression about cherishing what you have rather than risk losing it by trying to attain something better. That thought actually seems quite in line with my feeling about the moment I captured. For me this painting represents the beauty of nature and something to cherished.

Available at HorseSpirit Arts Gallery
8600 Foundry St Suite 2063, Savage, MD 20763
Phone: (301) 490-2001

Interested in April's artwork or taking one of her classes? Consider becoming a Studio Friend by signing up for her twice-monthly email. April segments her newsletter so you can select topics you'd like to hear about when you sign up. For those who Select the General Interest topic you will receive emails about twice-monthly. If you are only interested in classes, then the emails will be much less frequent discussing upcoming classes and how to register. Select as many topics as sound of interest. Thank you for your support of April M Rimpo Art.

Contact April and see more of her art on her website

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.

Black Swans 14" X 36" watercolor

Black Swan ©  2019 April M Rimpo

It seems like I photograph swans just about every time I see them, but think this is only the second time I've painting them.  The first time I was new to watercolor and they were white swans. This painting hides in our bedroom, since my painting ability has come a long way since it was created and I would never show it to others. As I recall I saw these black swans during a vacation to New Zealand. I'm not 100% sure of that, since I store my art reference photos separately without reference to the location, so it could have been elsewhere. I believe I also saw black swans in London and somewhere in the US, so who knows.

I find the black swan intriguing. As I painted the swan I realized there are a lot of pale colors nestled in and among the black feathers.  First I painted all their pale shades, so at one point they looked like they could be white swans. Later I added the dark feathers. I love how hints of the pastel colors show through. 

Interested in April's artwork or taking one of her classes? Consider becoming a Studio Friend by signing up for her twice-monthly email. April segments her newsletter so you can select topics you'd like to hear about when you sign up. For those who Select the General Interest topic you will receive emails about twice-monthly. If you are only interested in classes, then the emails will be much less frequent discussing upcoming classes and how to register. Select as many topics as sound of interest. Thank you for your support of April M Rimpo Art.

Contact April and see more of her art on her website

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.

"Who's the Guy with the Hat?" 11" X 14" fluid acrylic by April M Rimpo

"Who's the Guy with the Hat?" by April M. Rimpo

Happiness abounds in this painting of chicks and a duckling who gaze in curiosity at the new arrival. Standing next to the abandoned shell the new chick hasn't shaken off the shell top, but is drawing a crowd that gathers to greet their new dapper friend. The duckling is so excited she can't help but dance.

Available for purchase at HorseSpirit Arts Gallery.  See this and other paintings of birds and animals on April's website.

Interested in April's artwork or taking one of her classes? Consider becoming a Studio Friend by signing up for her twice-monthly email. April segments her newsletter so you can select topics you'd like to hear about when you sign up. For those who Select the General Interest topic you will receive emails about twice-monthly. If you are only interested in classes, then the emails will be much less frequent discussing upcoming classes and how to register. Select as many topics as sound of interest. Thank you for your support of April M Rimpo Art.

Contact April and see more of her art on her website

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.

Fluid Acrylic and Watercolor Workshops held in October

Sharing Fish Tales by April M Rimpo - SOLD

When I teach I like to vary the lessons to keep my classes interesting. Sharing Fish Tales was a new lesson in my last Fun with Fluid Acrylics workshop held at the Columbia Art Center.  This was my practice painting before the class so I knew how to go about teaching each step of the process.  It's important to me to have a well planned class to be sure we can cover all the material. I am delighted that I just sold this painting, which brought back great memories from the purchaser's childhood. I do love when my work touches someone this way. 

This 2-Day workshop was packed with three lessons that build upon each other.  In other words, skills learned in the first lesson were used in the second, then techniques from the second were reused in different ways in the third lesson.

I always bring along examples of my work where I have used the techniques in similar ways but with different subject matter to allow everyone to see some options of where they might go with what they are learning.

A few samples of the paintings generated by the students.

I also taught a couple Nighttime Landscapes in Watercolor classes this fall. Like the Fun with Fluid Acrylics class I had done research before the class to try to optimize the chances of success of the student's paintings.  In this case the research was related to what pigments would work best for nighttime landscapes. I identified some blue orange complements that looked like they would work to create dramatic night skies in a blog post by Jane Blundell. If you follow that link you will see Jane Blundell was not investigating night skies but her color studies allowed me to identify a few blends that would get dark enough when blended properly.  When I received the tubes of painting I tried mixes of each complement to see which gave me the rich darks I wanted and allowed me to create some nice muted browns and greens for the landscape.  I ended up with 4 pigments to use for the paintings which I recommended to the students. I also let them bring their own pigments if they didn't want to buy and recommended single pigment paints since they are less prone to getting "muddy" - a term artists use when the paints mix to dull colors that are no longer luminous.

I was thrilled by the results from both of these classes. The students brought their own references for the nighttime class with Baltimore Watercolor Society; I love the variety of sites. Here are a few images of their work for you to enjoy.

Nighttime Landscapes - Student work

Closer View of Student Work

Interested in April's classes? Consider becoming a Studio Friend by signing up for her twice-monthly email. April segments her newsletter so you can select topics you'd like to hear about when you sign up. For those who include a selection of General Interest you will receive emails about twice-monthly. If you are only interested in classes, then the emails will be much less frequent discussing upcoming classes and how to register.  Thank you for your interest.

Contact April and see more of her art on her website

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.

Singular Sensations at CAC: Art for $200 or less

This year is Columbia Art Center's 20th Singular Sensations Holiday Art exhibition. All work is priced at $200 or less, perfect for gift giving. Opening Reception on Dec 7th, 6 - 8 PM.  The exhibit runs through Dec 14th.

I selected three glass pieces and three paintings for the event.  The paintings all have deep wood cradles that can sit on any surface and can be displayed stacked upon each other.  They are perfect for small spot, on book shelves, end tables...  You get the idea.

 

Deco Rooster

Acrylic mounted on
2" Deep Wood Cradle

Morning Song

Acrylic on Aquabord with
2" Deep Wood Cradle

Egrets' Haven

Acrylic on Aquabord with
2" Deep Wood Cradle

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 2017 All Rights Reserved. You may share my work with attribution, but all other uses are prohibited.  

"Out for a Cruise" 16"X20" Fluid Acrylic

Out for a Cruise by April M Rimpo

Out for a Cruise

Fluid Acrylic

16" X 20" gallery wrapped painting*

$775

Contact April if you are interested in purchasing this painting.

This painting was inspired by my photograph of a lake in Buckingham Palace Gardens. I was drawn by the elegance and serenity of the setting, but since I chose a color scheme that was much more vibrant the mood of the painting is quite different from my original inspiration.  The black swan became the heart of this painting, standing out against the bright landscape. My use of bright colors and the intentional focus on the swan shifted the title from one about serenity to Out for a Cruise.

I generally work on cold press paper, which has some texture to the surface, but since I wanted hard edged ripples of the water, I selected hot press paper. It has a very smooth surface, which also makes it quite different to work on compared to cold press.  It takes a few layers of paint before I begin to be at ease with hot press paper, but in the end it was the right choice.

* The painting wraps around the edge so no framing is required.

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.

#hocoarts #hocoartist #swan #lake #reflectionsinwater #fluidacrylic #aprilrimpo #amrart

Represented by HorseSpirit Arts Gallery

Student Brushes by April M Rimpo

Artist at Work by April M Rimpo

I am happy to announce HorseSpirit Arts Gallery is now representing my artwork. They have samples of both my watermedia paintings and my fused glass. HorseSpirit Arts Gallery is located at 8090 Main Street, Ellicott City, Maryland. They are among the first business to reopen since the flood last July. The gallery has been refurbished and is gorgeous.

I am one of 46 artists represented by this gallery.  When you visit the gallery you will find ceramics, fiber and wearable art, glass, jewelry, mixed media, paintings, photography, sculpture, specialty cards, and woodworking. It's a fabulous place to find a perfect gift of art.

Gallaxy I by April M Rimpo

I've included samples of some of my artwork available through the gallery. I hope you find time to visit. 

Latest event at HorseSpirit Arts Gallery:

• Meet the Artists on Sunday, January 22 from 1 to 4 PM

You can reach the gallery at:

 Phone: 410-461- 4505

 Website: http://horsespiritartsgallery.com/ 

Join the Crowd by April M Rimpo

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.

Late Afternoon Swim 6" X 9" watercolor

Late Afternoon Swim

watercolor

6" X 9" image

12" X 15" wood frame

$150 includes shipping within the United States

Paintings are a wonderful way to travel back in time. I first photographed these ducks when I was at college in my late teens.  The pond was across the street from the college in a lovely Azalea Garden, where the Azaleas grew far larger than they ever grew where my family lived. I even remember it was near the beginning of the school year and I was exploring the area around campus. 

Not that I hadn't seen many ducks throughout my life, but the combination of the beauty and serenity of the garden has always made this image special for me. Naturally I felt the need to paint the scene many years later and travel back to that wonderful day wandering about the garden.

To see another painting of ducks, this time inspired when visiting a garden in New Zealand take a look at Keeping Watch.

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

"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.
#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 2015 All Rights Reserved. You may share my work with attribution, but all other uses are prohibited.

#HoCoArt
#aprilmrimpoart

"Deco Rooster" 10"X8" acrylic

Deco Rooster by April M Rimpo

Deco Rooster

Fluid Acrylic

10" X 8"

$190

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

Giclee Prints also available

9.75" X 7.5" print on watercolor paper

fits 14" X 11" standard size mat

$95*

Purchase giclee prints on watercolor paper in my Spreesy Shop. 

I also have a collection of merchandise with the Deco Rooster. You'll find a journal, apron, mugs, a teapot, coasters, glass cutting board, throw pillow, and tote bags. Prices range from $4.99 to $29.99

I never start a painting without a plan, until now.  No intended color scheme, just a drawing of the rooster? Well it happened. Let me know what you think of the result.

I had sketched the Bantam rooster on an 11"X11" piece of watercolor paper in preparation of demos during Art Walk, but didn't get to it that day.  So I sat down in my studio knowing rooster and size of the painting.  Since this type of rooster is black and white, I wanted a bold background. I thought, well his comb and wattle are red, as is the eye ring and ear lobe, so I want red in some areas of the background. I selected one of the textures I like and was about to put down some red when I thought I should used some yellow first.  Red always pops a bit more with yellow behind.  Yellow and red were added to the paper in geometric shapes.  I extended the yellow behind where the roosters comb and wattle would be located and ended up with an L-shape of yellow. It seemed right to start with the wattle, comb, and eye so I did those before I finished developing the background.  They helped to establish the focal point and give me something to compare when deciding on the darkness of colors used elsewhere.

Next I thought I should add some black and gray to the background to help make the bright colors pop.  I selected areas where I thought the black would accentuate lighter areas of the rooster and applied those first. Gray was used to surround some of the black, establishing middle value to dark areas that would not distract you from looking at the rooster. The patterns of color in the background started to look like deco so I ended up adding more to accentuate that appearance.

Next I added some light washes on the rooster's body, to give some shape. Once dry, I added just enough dark edges to the feathers to identify the rooster as a Bantam without fussing about every feather.  I wanted him to pop out of the page.  I felt that too many detailed feathers would just add confusion over where to look - the feathers or the rooster's head.

You may have noticed I started with an 11"X11" sheet of paper thinking this would be a 10"X10" painting when done.  Even that changed!  In the end I decided to mount the painting on an 8X10" deep cradled panel, which looks great.  I enjoyed responding to one section of the painting to decide what to do next, but doing this on one of my larger paintings would have probably left me struggling with indecision.  

#HoCoArt #ShopSmall #SmallBizSat 

* Shipping cost included within the United States for the original painting and the giclee print.  

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 2015 All Rights Reserved. You may share my work with attribution and a link to this source site, but all other uses are prohibited.

Interacting with the Public - An Artist's View

Having completed a day of conducting demos of "Patterns in your Paintings" to the public, it seemed like a good idea to share what I learned. This is the first time I've taught in a public space. I was setup in Still Life Gallery during Ellicott City Arts Coalition's Art Walk. 

My plan included:

Showing Off ©April M Rimpo

• Techniques I wanted to show, 
• Paintings at various stages of completion on a variety of substrates (e.g., paper, Aquabord), 
• Drawings prepared, 
• Texturing materials, 
• Paint (tube acrylic and fluid acrylic) packed, 
• iPad setup with the browser open to my favorite color scheme website

I had eight completed paintings on display, some that included patterns and some that did not. It was important to stress that if patterns won't enhance a painting, then don't use them.

Feather Leg  ©April M Rimpo

 So I was ready.... but worried about what people might ask and whether I would really be ready.

Well I'm happy to report it went really well.  It took me a while to get comfortable striking up a conversation as  people came through the gallery.  But they were friendly and asked great questions. Some were fascinated with the sense of depth in my paintings and enjoyed discovering the patterns hidden within some of them.

Morning Doves ©April M Rimpo

My favorite exchange was with a little girl who offered color choices for the painting I was working on. She was delightful to talk to and had really great ideas of what colors work together.  I couldn't disagree with any of her suggestions.  She went on her way with her parents before the painting was complete, but I think she would be pleased with the result.  Her father whispered to me that she has already told him she plans to be an artist and I told him she had a good sense of color.  See Morning Doves which includes her color choices.

"Copyright April M Rimpo 2015 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
#ellicottcityart
#aprilmrimpoart

C Street Fest on September 19th in Laurel Maryland #CstSept19 #localartist

I and three other members of the Laurel Art Guild will be included in the artists participating in the C Street Fest and Block Party!  Come sharing the festivities from 11AM to 3PM on Saturday, September 19th.  We'll be outside C Street Gallery.

We'll have original paintings, giclee prints, cards, bookmarks all created from original artwork.  I'll have several new cards for every day use and for the winter holidays.  Come join the fun.

New Cards based on April M Rimpo's original art

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.

#livemusic

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:

• King of the Roost
• Sitting Rooster

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