"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.

"Fishing Day"

Fishing Day by April M Rimpo

I grew up with a father who loved to fish. He didn't get to do it terribly often, but when he did he was the happiest I ever saw him. He either went out on a boat he owned with one of my uncles or went to a quiet spot, without the chaos shown here on this fishing pier. My mother's father was also a huge fisherman. He loved to fish on the Jersey shore, just standing on the shore in his waders. I heard so many times about his love of fishing and saw so many pictures of him that I feel like I saw him out there, but in reality I don't think I ever actually saw my grandfather at the shore. It's interesting how family stories become real images to us. His sons followed in his footsteps in their love of fishing as did one of my uncles sons, who still fish nearly daily, one still in waders in New Jersey, the other now in Florida.

Although my family didn't fish off of fishing piers, I find the interaction and camaraderie on this pier mesmerizing, where fishing is almost a team sport.

Fishing Day was selected for the Watercolor Art Society of Houston's exhibition in 2019 and for the Illinois Watercolor Societies 37th National Exhibition 2021.

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.

"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

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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.

Video with Patti Ross performing her poem based on "Together"

"Catching Sunday Breakfast" ekphrastic poem by Patti Ross to April M Rimpo's painting, "Together"

When Elaine and I joined forces for our exhibition "Portraits of Life: The Art of Storytelling" Elaine immediately suggested we continue her initiative of "Every Painting is a Song" as part of our exhibition. I wanted to expand on that idea to include "Every Painting is a Story." Having been in exhibits at the Columbia Art Center where either the artist created a painting to a poem or the poets wrote paintings to the visual art, I suggested we not only collaborate with musicians, but with poets as well.  

As a number of poets and musicians agreed to participate in our collaboration we realized we needed two collaboration events: one Collaboration with the Written Word and one Collaboration with Musicians. This blog post features Patti Ross. 

Patti Ross currently works for the Maryland Writer's Association, after many years of working in the IT industry. She started out with a journalist degree from American University and has now returned to these roots. She is now a Spoken Word artist, performing as "little pi" at local performances around our community. Her poem to my painting, "Together, " is in the voice of "little pi." 

Together by April M Rimpo © 2016

Enjoy my video which includes an introduction to our night of Poetic Collaboration, Patti's thoughts on the paintings, and her poetry reading. Patti's memories from growing up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland are tied to this painting.

Please share your thoughts on the painting and Patti Ross' painting in the comments below.

Copyright of Text and Images of April M Rimpo Art held by April M Rimpo All images and content remain the property of the Artist. All Rights Reserved. You may share these videos with attribution and a link to this source site, but all other uses are prohibited.No reproductions or prints are authorized. All rights reserved.

Poem "Catching Sunday Breakfast" by Patti Ross © 2019 

Music: Schubert - Piano Trio in B flat (2nd movement) by Apollo Symphony Orchestra used under a Standard license agreement between SHUTTERSTOCK MUSIC CANADA ULC, doing business as PremiumBeat.com ("PremiumBeat") and April M Rimpo, the licensee.

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

You can also stay up to date with April M Rimpo art through Instagram @aprilrimpo -  Please join me.

"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.

"Dockside" 5" X 31" fluid acrylic

Dockside by April M Rimpo

Dockside

Fluid Acrylic

8.5" X 34.5" with wood frame

Available for Purchase - Learn More Here

There are certain types of scenes that become part of who we are. Places that are calm and serene and memories of special times. This is one of those for me. The location doesn't seem to matter. For me this scene brings back memories from my childhood when we visited an aunt and uncle who had a place in Rhode Island near a dock. It also brings back memories of trips to the coast of Maine, Annapolis, Maryland, Santa Cruz, and Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound. 

It's not that all of these places look exactly the same, but they all have docks and piers and a calming, relaxing effect on me. The sailboats bring back memories of sailing with a cousin in very small sailboat barely big enough for two. 

Do you have great memories of places on the water? I'd love to hear them. 

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.

"Together" 20" X 16" fluid acrylic

Together by April M Rimpo

Together

Fluid Acrylic

20" X 16" image

in 26" x 23" brushed silver frame

Available for Purchase Now

There were lots of people out on the fishing wharf, but this man and his son were the ones to catch my eye. They had found a quiet spot where they were essentially fishing alone. It looked like this little boy was anxious to join in with his Dad. The water in the Gulf of Mexico was rough that day, due to the wind, but the temperatures were warm and the breeze felt good.  I find I can nearly transport myself back in time when I paint, the memories are that clear. I hope this scene brings back your own memories of a day by the water. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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.

#hocoarts #hocoartist #fishing #wharf #galveston #gufofmexico

Series: Down by the Sea

The Beach, 22" X 10.5" watercolor

by April M. Rimpo

It seems like unconsciously I work in series without really planning to do so.  In looking back at my work I find ships, sailboats, water scenes keep popping up. The latest The Beach is shown at right. This painting received a Second Place award. In this painting the sailboat is secondary to the people musseling on the beach, yet the pathways in the sand and water do bring you back around to the lovely sailboat making me want to sail away.

The Beach

watercolor

22 " X 10.5" image

28 " X 16" brushed silver frame
$650 within the United States *

Available for Purchase Here 

Sailboats are the central focus in several of my paintings over the years.  Race on the Cove was sold from a solo exhibit at the Dorchester Art Center in Cambridge, Maryland back in 2002.

Race on the Cove, watercolor by April M. Rimpo

Even oils that predated my switch to watercolor in 1997 depicted people on the beach, as shown in Kennebunkport below.

Kennebunkport, oil by April M. Rimpo

So what draws me to beach and water scenes?  I think it is the serenity I find by the ocean.  This struck me most dramatically when I visited the Pacific coast in Oregon as a college student.  Unlike the beaches I  experienced on the Atlantic coast as a child, there are very few people; there is nothing but the sound of crashing waves and maybe the frolic of an otter.

The power of nature is very real and poignant; when there I feel totally at peace.  I can sit on the cliffs by myself and just stare for hours.  There are no troubles of the world, there is nothing that I feel I have to do except sit and enjoy.

Clearly in Race on the Cove there is a lot of activity on the water, but as I remember that day there was no throng of people crowding a beach and distracting me from the race.  Again, quiet was the predominant sensation.  Of course, the color of the sails add that splash that I love, so this became another one of those precious moments I cherish. 

I have a few quotations at the bottom of my blog.  One is by John Burk that perfectly characterizes how I feel about many of my paintings.

 "Time spent in a painting is very much like going there again on vacation.  And when the painting is done, I have seen every detail and nuance so thoroughly, that a glance at the completed work is sufficient for a short visit."

Perhaps that is why I paint so many of these types of landscapes.  I know you won't revisit my experience when you look at these paintings, but I hope they do bring back to you some wonderful time you spent by the ocean or on a lake.  I'd love to hear your stories.  They will add a new dimension to my art that I could never enjoy otherwise.

For other water and boat scenes take a look at these other blog posts.  

• Port of Call - NYC
• Tall Ship Gloria
• The Dugouts
• Flores  SOLD
• Wash Day
• At One with Their Gondolas 
• A Day at the Fountain

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.