"Galactic Light" an 8" x 8" fluid acrylic on gallery wrapped paper

Galactic Light by April M Rimpo

Galactic Light

Fluid Acrylic

8" X 8" gallery wrapped paper, varnished

SOLD

This painting started as an abstract I created by applying some tiny splashes a masking fluid on the paper. Once dry I sprayed the paper with water so form interesting nooks and crannies of water but leaving a some areas dry so there would be some white of the paper remaining. The next step was to apply a couple of very watered down paints using pipettes. I sprayed the paint to make it spread and tipped the paper to let it run and blend.  Once dry I removed the mask to reveal all the tiny dots of white left behind. 

My first thought was how much it reminded me of a very dark sky where you can see parts of the Milky Way. If you've ever been lucky enough to be in a dark sky area you will first be mesmerized by the sky; I find it nearly impossible to stop staring into space. But once you "come back to earth" you will notice how your surrounding glow from the incredible light coming from the unpolluted sky.

I decided to add the tall cliff with lit trees at the top to represent the glow. My goal was to increase the majesty of the sky by using the scale of the cliff to the trees to give the illusion that the cliffs were huge.

If this peeks your interest about dark skies you can read more about them at the International Dark Skies website.

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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.

"Relaxing on Top", 20" X 30" fluid acrylic on paper mounted

Relaxing on Top by April M Rimpo

Relaxation, ahhhhhhhhh. 

How do you define relaxation?

What is the image in your minds eye when you think of a favorite spot to relax?

What is it like? Quiet? Are you alone? Are you having a chat with a favorite friend? 

Is the location cool or warm? Is it remote without access to our high paced, electronics world? Or do you think watching a favorite movie to be that perfect place to relax?

I suspect that perfect spot for relaxation is different for everyone.

When visiting a National Park in the Southwest, I was intrigued to see this rock climber sitting on top of this spire, looking down on the world where visitors walked by below, while he appeared to be in quiet solitude in his remoteness.

I was on a higher path and with my telephoto lens was able to capture him, first when climbing the spire and later when he sat on top.  The primary sound was the cooing of doves and pigeons who had made their homes in crevices and nooks in the rock face. Most of the tourists were so mesmerized by the beautiful red rock formations that they too were generally silent or spoke softly to each other, like noise would somehow break the solemnity of their surrounds.

I am a city girl who grew up in a medium sized city on the eastern coast of America. I'm rather uncoordinated and would never consider climbing a spire, that must have risen 200 feet or more off the ground, to find a solemn spot to relax. However I can understand how someone could find that the perfect spot.

I guess I am a watcher of people and the many differences among us.  I find people fascinating and love to capture them in what appears to be a place of pleasure so I can share their joy with the world.  

This man found a quiet, yet hidden place, in this terrain. I intentionally made him blend in with his surroundings, with only his blue clothing and blue climbers rope to help you discover and focus on him. Although I used light and dark contrast to give shape to the rock forms along the cliff facing him on the other side of the spire, I muted the edges of the painting to portray the quiet of the environment and to help hold you inside. 

Some tenacious plants that clung to the cliff were included to help communicate the ruggedness of the environment where strength is need to survive. I felt this man too was another symbol of strength, even though he was in a relaxed pose, or maybe because he was in a relaxed pose. He portrays such confidence in his ability to climb and traverse the sheer rock faces.

Please share your thoughts on your favorite place to relax.

Relaxing on Top
Fluid Acrylic
20" X 30" varnished, mounted on 2.5" deep wood cradle
$1550

Prints Available

"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 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.

"Moving Up" 24" X 14" gallery wrapped fluid acrylic on paper

Moving Up by April M Rimpo

Moving Up

Fluid Acrylic on varnished gallery wrapped paper

24" X 14"

$925

Available for Purchase Here

Moving Up was created by pouring fluid acrylic paint on watercolor paper. This image was designed to be gallery wrapped, where the image of the cliffs wraps around the edges. As a result no frame should be used with this painting.  The artwork becomes part of your room as it projects 1.75" off the surface of the wall. 

I built up the depth of color of the cliff and the rock climber's form through progressively darker layers of poured acrylic.  I thin out the fluid acrylic to be much like a thin wash of watercolor so I can gradually build transparent layers. Masking fluid is applied to block out areas that I want to retain from each pouring. 

Detail of Cliff

I especially like areas where the difference in value (The lightness or darkness of tones or colors. White is the lightest value: black is the darkest.) is minuscule between layers allowing me to create very subtle and interesting patterns, like in this closeup detail of the cliff. 

At the bottom of the post I've added three photographs of the painting I took during its evolution so you can see how the painting changes from an abstract, to a shadow of the figure, to a more developed figure and cliff.  Three layers of mask and paint were applied when the third photograph was taken. An additional three or four layers were needed to finish the painting and add some finishing touches.

I'm very proud of the fact that Moving Up was accepted by juror Linda Doll in the
23rd Annual ISEA (International Society of Experimental Art) International Art Exhibition. You can see it from September 13th to October 12th, 2014 at the National Watercolor Society Gallery in San Pedro, CA. 

It was also included in North Light Publications Best of Acrylic book, AcrylicWorks3: Celebrating Textures.

  

  
You can see another painting of rock climber in my post The Apex.  That painting was created using fluid acrylic and watercolor, but the paint was not poured.