"Time to Breath" 20" X 10" Watercolor by April M Rimpo

Time to Breathe © April M. Rimpo

Time to Breathe

Watercolor

20" X 10" painting

Premiering at HorseSpirit Arts Gallery September 12, 2021

Inspiration occurs from something as simple as a reflection in the water. The teal hull of the boat is what made me stop and notice this scene. We were walking through the outskirts of a beautiful town by the shore to meet some friends when the reflection caught my eye. I stopped in my tracks and started to take photographs from a few different angles. I primarily wanted the capture the sailboat and its reflection but including the surrounds provided a backdrop essential to set the stage. When getting ready to paint the scene I decided to add the light streaking through the clouds to add drama to the sky and provide an interesting cross pattern where the mast and rigging intersected with the light. Capturing the quiet spirit of the place was essential to me. I hope you get lost in the beauty of the place.

Check out my video on this painting. It starts with me describing my design then transitions to a time-lapse video of the painting process.

Interested in April's artwork or taking one of her classes? Consider becoming a Studio Friend by signing up for her weekly 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

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.

"Village Connector" watercolor 12" X 24"

Village Connector, watercolor by April M. Rimpo

Village Connector

Watercolor

12" X 24"

in 12" X 24" black frame 

Available through HorseSpirit Arts Gallery

The inspiration to paint this scene more than two decades ago occurred during a visit to Interlaken, Switzerland.  This view was across the road from the hotel where we stayed. Staying in the second-story room was lucky, providing this view. 

Sometimes it takes years to figure out how to paint a beautiful scene, such as this. I hope Village Connector brings back some wonderful memories for you.

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

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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.

"Protectors" 24" X 12" Watercolor

Protectors Watercolor 24" X 12"
by April M Rimpo

Available on my website

Not far from Buckingham Palace in London, we saw these two on horseback. I assume they were part of the palace guards. It was after the celebration of the Queen's birthday, so it could have been some of those riding in the parade. This was the calm after the parade that contained lots of regalia. It must be the humidity in the air that made all the flowers and trees feel fresh and soft. It was a lovely place.

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.

"The Perfect Ride" 20" X 12"

The Perfect Ride by April M Rimpo

The Perfect Ride

Fluid Acrylic

20" X 12"

Selected for the Pike Peak International Watermedia Exhibition, April's painting, The Perfect Ride, will be on display from June 4 - July 30, 2019 in Colorado Springs. It is one of 100 paintings selected from a field of 360 entries. Many thanks to all who organize this exhibit and to the juror Martha Mans.

You may guess the narrow street made of cobblestones is not in the United States and you would be right. The Perfect Ride captures the textures of life in this small village and the necessity for small motorcycles for traversing the narrow roads. I don't recall seeing a single bicycle during our travels through this town, since I'm sure the ride would be far from smooth. Most people walk everywhere, as you can see by the amount of foot traffic, but the streamlined motorcycles were good for longer travels. If going between towns and you need to carry goods to market, you might find the Chicken Bus more useful.

I love painting motorcycles maybe more than bicycles, that may be hard to believe, but the equipment is more intricate and provides an additional challenge. Combine the motorcycles with cobblestone and the colors of the buildings and you know I had to paint this. Gaining the right skills to know how to accomplish this painting is why it took nearly 10 years from when I first was inspired until the painting was born.

Interested in April's artwork or taking 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 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.

"Arriving Home" and "On the Canal" Celebrating Venice

Celebrating Venice

Arriving Home by April M Rimpo

Arriving Home

Watercolor and Fluid Acrylic

32" X 24" painting in

39" X 31" frame with white mat

Available for Purchase - Learn more here

On the Canal by April M Rimpo

On the Canal

Watercolor

17" X 14" painting in 

25" X 22" wood frame

Available for Purchase  - Learn more here

Click here to Contact April

Please consider joining April's friends and collectors by signing up for her twice-monthly email. You will learn more about April's art inspirations, tips about her painting process, or art business tidbits. April also shares when her art is in exhibits and where. 

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.

Inspirations through Travel : Near and Far

I'm often asked where I get my inspirations for my paintings and whether I ever struggle with what to paint.  Ideas for paintings have never been a problem for me because I am so fascinated by the world around me. Landscapes, Cityscapes, and figures captured during everyday observation help tell the story of a place.  I have learned that I love sharing these stories.  Even if you see a very different story in my painting, that is great too. My story may have been my inspiration, but your story is what really matters. 

Recently I became aware of Jen Reviews' blog that includes the 100 Best Things to Do in Maryland.  Reading the list I thought the places I've visited might be an interesting example of the variety of places that compel me to paint. Don't miss the link to Jen Reviews' link near the end of this post.

Egrets' Haven by April M Rimpo
7" X 5" Acrylic on Aquabord

Some have been as far away as New Zealand, Guatemala, France, Norway, and others right here in Maryland, where I live.  My little painting on Aquabord, titled Egrets' Haven was inspired by a visit to, Assateague State Park, which is quite close to Ocean City, Maryland.

You've likely hear of Assateague because of the wild horses that live there. I was lucky to get photographs of the horses while there and am sure that one of these days they will appear in a painting.

Tall Ship Gloria by April M Rimpo

Even this painting of the Colombian tall ship, Gloria, was inspired here in Maryland at the Baltimore Inner Harbor, during Sailibration, an event held annually to commemorate the War of 1812. More than 40 tall ships visit the Inner Harbor to participate in the celebration. In the lower left of this painting, near the bow of the ship, you get a sense of the crowds that come to visit these beautiful ships each year.

Tall Ship

Watercolor

23" X 10"

in a 29" X 16" frame with a white mat

Contact April Regarding Purchase

B & O Caboose by April M Rimpo

Historic Ellicott City, sometimes called simply Old Ellicott City, is a quaint town that preserves its history down to the color of paint used on the buildings in town. This painting is a view down Main Street showing the clock by the Train Station Museum, where a B & O caboose is on display. The real caboose no longer rides the rails, but it seemed only fitting to transport it back in history.

B & O Caboose

Original Sold, but
Prints Available at
HorseSpirit Arts Gallery, 8090 Main Street, Ellicott City, Maryland

Spring by the River by April M Rimpo

A little over 20 miles from Ellicott City is the Brighton Dam Azalea Garden in Brookeville, MD 20833. Nestled on a hill adjacent to a reservoir is this garden that comes to life each Spring, just in time for Mother's Day. I visit it every few years to capture the gorgeous blooms in a wide variety of color. 

Spring by the River

Fluid Acrylic

24" X 36"

Original Sold

Prints Available - Contact April

A Clutter of Kayaks by April M Rimpo

Traveling toward Annapolis, the capital of Maryland, you come across many waterways and small parks where you can sit and relax or meet up with friends to kayak on the river.

A Clutter of Kayaks

Fluid Acrylic

20" X 36"

Contact April to Purchase

Summer Breezes by April M Rimpo

Summer Breezes is inspired by the Annapolis City Dock, which is located near the Annapolis capitol building and not far from the Naval Academy.  As the name implies, this is a nice place to sit on a bench to relax and take in the sights.

Summer Breezes

Fluid Acrylic

11" X 14"

Available at HorseSpirit Arts Gallery

I hope you enjoyed this small tour, through my eyes and art, of just a few of the places you can visit in Maryland.  

If you are interested in learning about more places to visit, take a look at this Jen Reviews article, 100 Best Things to Do in Maryland.  I've only been to a few of these locations, but agree they deserve to be included.  This list now has me intrigued to explore other regions of Maryland to check out more places to see and enjoy; and just maybe paint. 

Click here to Contact April

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.

"Free Living" 20"X16" Fluid Acrylic

“A part of New Orleans’ beauty is that she is a place where many people, stifled elsewhere, feel safe to be themselves:
 just safe to be."   

Quo Vadis Gex Breaux, New Orleans What Can’t Be Lost, 2010

Free Living by April M Rimpo

Free Living

Fluid Acrylic

20" X 16" with brushed silver frame

$875

Available at Touchstone Gallery

Free Living is a bit of the parade held in the French Quarter for the opening of Jazz Fest 2017. I've always been intrigued by pointillist paintings from the time of the Impressionists, although I never expected to create one.  Painting thousands of dots didn't seem like something I'd ever want to do. 

Well I didn't paint thousands of dots but I did use masking liquid to create all these dots.  My process was to mask some dots before painting, do a light wash, mask some more dots, paint some more, mask some more, paint a bunch of darks to see where I stood, remove the masking, then paint many more layers to push the other people in the parade into the background while painting my focal point woman to completion.

I love the final look and now appreciate even more what the pointillists did. I still can't imagine painting an entire painting with dots, but can say they were really onto an amazing something. The energy in this painting is really captivating for me and I hope for you too.

Click here to Contact April

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.