My Feature Online Show - Telling Stories - May/June 2020

Telling Stories - Feature Show by HorseSpirit Arts Gallery of art by April M Rimpo

May 17 - June 12, 2020

Click Here to see a Preview of my Online Show - under 3 minutes

Click Here for a Detailed Look at Each Painting (12.5 Minutes)

This feature show transitioned from HorseSpirit Art Gallery's physical gallery at Historic Savage Mills to an Online Show at the link provided above.  April reveals several new paintings in this show. You'll see some new themes in April's work but all with a story to share. She'd love to hear what story you see in her work as that enriches the work for all.

In April's art she uses Color and Light to Tell Stories of Life.  Some are stories that capture history, show reveal the effects of time, others are a quiet spot where you can get lost in a calm and dreamy world. She has also included some small work of clouds that return April to her childhood when she would lie in the grass with a friend and they'd tell each other what they saw in the clouds.  

These is a small series that portrays seasons of the year. Rather than just capture the iconic symbols of each season April included birds that she sees at the bird feeders her husband set up in the backyard of their home. In these paintings the birds are all placed on the same mailboxes but their setting changes in each, transporting you from garden, to lake, to farm country, and a snowing drift. 

Most of the work is watercolor that has been mounted, varnished, and either framed or gallery wrapped around stretcher bars.  A few of the pieces are fluid acrylics that are also painted on watercolor paper.  Six of the pieces were painting on Aquabord, a trademarked clay surface available from Ampersand Supplies. These too are varnished providing a very modern display with no glazing.  Two of the watercolors use traditional framing under Plexiglas and a white mat. 

If the 3 minute video peaks your interest, please consider joining Online sessions on the HorseSpirt Arts Gallery's Facebook Page

• Opening: May 17 2 PM EDT - Tune in to see Robin Holliday interview April
• Facebook Live Artist Talk: Friday, May 29 at 7 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

April will also present a Facebook Live demonstration -  painting Magnificent Skies 

• May 23, 2 - 4 PM EDT

Also feel free to comment on this post with any questions you may have about the art shown in the video.

Questions can also be directed to HorseSpirit Arts Gallery at:

301.490.2001        info@horsespiritartsgallery.com 

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.

Contact April and see more of her art on her website

Music License:

Schubert - Piano Trio In B Flat (2nd Movement) performed by Apollo Symphony Orchestra 
License Agreement with SHUTTERSTOCK MUSIC CANADA ULC, doing business as PremiumBeat.com

Artwork 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.

Installation - Check

Another activity for my solo exhibit is complete, Installation.  Yesterday my husband and I installed 27 of my paintings in Gallery B at Touchstone Gallery. So great to have it done and the reception coming up on Friday, Mar 3, 2017. I created a lot of new paintings for this exhibit and it is always a joy to see the reaction to new work.  Here are some images from the installation.  If you come to the reception, please be sure to say hello.

My husband showing off my new wall sign

Measure Twice, Hang Once

Add caption

Installation Complete

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.

"Medieval Reflections" 6" X 6" fluid acrylic

Medieval Reflections by April M Rimpo

Medieval Reflections

6" X 6" Fluid Acrylic

Mounted on 1.5" wood cradle

SOLD through 

HorseSpirit Arts Gallery
info@horsespiritartsgallery.com 

410-461-3505 

Bruges, Beautiful Bruges!

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.

Contemporary Landscapes Solo Exhibit

Opening Reception of April's solo exhibit, Contemporary Landscapes

Having an solo art exhibit is always a great experience, but when the exhibit is held at such a beautiful venue as the Columbia Art Center in the Long Reach Village Center in Columbia, Maryland the exhibit is elevated to another level. Everyone who attended the reception who had never been to the Art Center before commented on this beautiful venue. 

When the venue is this wonderful it allows the artwork to really sing. The comments and questions I received about my art told me my goal to transport people into the scenes and make them feel like they were there was working. Many of the paintings are gallery wrapped*, where the painting continues around the edge and it is presented without a frame. To quote a friend of mine, this approach "makes the paintings feel more like a part of the room than a part of the wall." I think this allows you to experience the art more intimately, which is why I love this presentation style.

Traffic Jam was sold during the Opening Reception

Three days after the Opening Reception, the Art Center held an event with Stephen Acker, former Senior Music Program Advisor for the National Gallery of Art, who spoke about the art of Modigliani and the music of Ravel. This program was a partnership between the Columbia Art Center and the Candlelight Concert Society, who are sponsoring a concert with the Modigliani Quartet on November 20th at the Smith Theatre, Horowitz Center. The quartet will be performing pieces by Mozart, Brahms, and Ravel. If you want to learn more about this concert or buy tickets go to the Candlelight Concert Society's website.

A second reception was held after the Revealing Ravel and Modigliani program, where the audience was able to not only interact with Stephen Acker, but also talk to me about my artwork. Many thanks to the Columbia Art Center for this great opportunity to hear this program and to meet these music and art lovers.

Here are a couple more images taken after installation so you can see a little more of the artwork. To see the whole exhibit, visit the Columbia Art Center. Contemporary Landscapes is on display through December 4th. Hours, address and directions can be found here. 

*Gallery wrapped paper
Since I work on watercolor paper and wrap it around stretcher bars, the artists in the crowd were full of questions about my process as well.  Once gallery wrapped I varnished the pieces to protect the paper from the elements.

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.

Art on Exhibit at RE/MAX Advantage in Baltimore

April's Artwork Installed in RE/MAX Advantage Realty

Recently a friend recommended my work to the owners of RE/MAX Advantage Realty in Baltimore. After seeing their modern facility near the Baltimore Harbor I thought my art would be a great fit and I was happy to hear they agreed. Effective today I'm the third artist to have a solo exhibit in their facility. 

We're in the planning stages for a reception, so when the date is decided I'll be sure to add that information to this blog post. For now enjoy photographs from the installation. If you find yourself visiting the Baltimore Harbor, or an event at Pier VI, you are nearly there. Stroll down to the corner of E Pratt Street and S President Street and take a look. I've included original watercolors, fluid acrylics, and giclee prints in the show. If you see something you'd like to purchase, contact me. I'll be coordinating all sales.

Prints from April's Tapestry at the Mall Series

By the Stream by April M Rimpo

View in Break Room

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

The Reception at Ranazul

It has already been over a week since the reception at Ranazul. That means means there are less than two more weeks to enjoy the show. I wanted to share some photographs from the reception. It was so great to see everyone who arrived to enjoy my art, discuss my gallery wrapped presentation, and share stories behind the paintings. Visiting with old friends and meeting some new ones was a joy.

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.

An Exhibit in an Alternative Space

Winter (Part I)

Typically I exhibit in national watermedia exhibits, commercial galleries, artist owned galleries, and local art centers that hold monthly exhibits. On rare occasion I have also exhibited in alternative spaces, such as doctor's offices, restaurants, and small business stores. It so happens that I arranged an exhibit in a local restaurant a couple months before the discussion in a weekly art business forum turned to the topic of alternative spaces. 

Winter (Part II)

A synopsis of the forum discussion is that you never know when someone will see your artwork, fall in love with it, and want to make a purchase. So displaying in alternate spaces, although somewhat of a long-short in terms of sales, is worth the risk. Several examples were given by artists who had successfully made sales through alternative venues. These alternative venues may not be the primary places where you want to attempt to make sales, but there is no reason to ignore the possibility.

Summer (Part I)

When I first shifted from part time to full time art, I displayed prints of my artwork in my dentist's office. She invited me to do so and posted images of my work in her office on Facebook.  When asked, her receptionist provided my contact information to their patients and I did receive some calls. Although I did not make any sales as a result, I know there was some increased awareness of my artwork as a result of that venture.

Summery (Part II)

This month my artwork is on display at Ranazul tapas wine bistro in Fulton, Maryland. A few people had suggested this venue to me, so I decide to learn more about it.  It turns out the owner's brother is an artist, so when putting together the plans for the building she included a gallery room as part of the layout. Her goal is to support local artists with exhibits each month. What better way to foster a partnership between the artists and the restaurant? I loved the idea, submitted my artwork, and was accepted for a show. Ranazul provides the space, tapas and beverages for the reception, and takes a very reasonable commission on sales. The artist is responsible to install the exhibit, advertise the reception, and take-down the exhibit at the end of the show. A very equitable relationship. 

Summer (Part III)

If you decide to look into alternative venues, be sure to find out the responsibilities of each party so there are no surprises.

Included here are images of my exhibit, Summer and Winter. The reception is on November 8th at 4PM. Come check it out!




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

Solo Exhibit at Glenview Mansion: Modes of Transportation

A Clutter of  Kayaks by April M Rimpo

I am delighted that my solo exhibit at Glenview Mansion is almost here. It opens on August 2nd, with a reception from 1:30 - 3:30PM. The theme of my exhibit is "Modes of Transportation."  You will find paintings of cars, trains, ships, sailboats, kayaks, dugout boats, motorcycles, bicycles, tricycles, and streetcars; something for everyone. I've been fascinated with painting urban and street scenes for some time and many, but not all, of these paintings fall in that category. A Clutter of Kayaks is a serene painting of several kayakers spending the day on the water. There is also a look at the fate of a car, abandoned by its owner in a field, in More Beautiful with Age. Shipping Port and Freight Yard are two very different views at how we transport goods in and around the United States.

Shipping Port by April M Rimpo

I've become quite hooked on painting cyclists, so you'll see quite a few bicycle paintings in the exhibit. Morning Commute celebrates a group of daily cyclists who ride regardless of weather.  Movement II features a woman who rode in the bicycle race that is routed through our town twice a year.

Movement II by April M Rimpo

I admire people who ride bicycles. I've always been more than a little bit uncoordinated, to the point that, when I turn my head to look for cars, my bike drifts in the direction I look.  It's a problem I have not been able to break, so I admit I don't ride my bike anymore.  The narrow streets in the area where I live feel too dangerous given my "skills." I have, however, learned about the growth of bike trails across America that give me hope that I will be able to ride again. The American League of Bicyclists is a great organization that I have been following recently.  Maybe they will inspire me to get back on the saddle.

The paintings shown here are just a few that you will find in this exhibit. I hope to see you there. The photograph of me with my new custom Custom Candy Bar wrappers is one more reason to attend the reception.  I'll have some of these candy bars with me, so come check out the exhibit.  Someone suggested I make these for each art event I participate with different images of my art;  I thought it was an interesting idea. Let me know if you would collect them.

Hershey Bars with Custom Candy Label of April
with Freight Yard.  Wrapper from www.candywrapperstore.com 

Three other artists also have exhibits at Glenview this month.  They are: Shelley Marie "Naturally Unnatural" mixed media, Caroly Johnson "Illuminations" photography, and Kalin and Thweatt paintings and sculpture. 

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.

Solo Exhibit: Exploring Cultures through Color at Bernice Kish Gallery - Update

My solo exhibit at the Bernice Kish Gallery at Slayton House in Columbia, Maryland runs from May 14th through June 9th.  Whether you want original art or prints either is available.  Forms for order giclee prints are on hand at the gallery. See my article "Giclee Prints Can Provide New Color for Your Office or Home" ,which was published in The Business Monthly, May 2015, Volume 23, Number 5, learn more about giclee prints.

I've included a few images from installation so you can see a bit of the venue as well. In addition there are close ups shots of several paintings.

Installation Day - Getting the spacing just right

Consider yourself invited; I look forward to seeing family, friends, my collectors, and meeting new people who love the arts. Bernice Kish Gallery is located at Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia, Maryland 21044.

Deciding on the artwork to include in a solo exhibit is more difficult than you might think.  The artwork needs to look like it belongs together either through theme, color transitions, style, or some combination of those elements.  

My subject matter is diverse.  I also vary my style based on the subject matter using what best suits what I want to say about the subject. As a result, I felt I had to limit the styles included in this exhibit so I could present you with a variety of subjects. I hope you enjoy the result. 

... and level

I used a common set of pigments for most of my paintings, but you can achieve a wide variety of colors from the same pigments. As a result the colors vary in the paintings I selected, but they are harmonious since they come from the same set of pigments.

I find deciding on the order of the paintings to be great fun, grouping similar subjects together and using color to transition to the next subject. Six paintings are shown here to give you insight into the flow of the exhibit.

In addition to original paintings, a few giclee prints are included in the exhibit. In fact, a couple prints in the exhibit are the same image as an original also in the exhibit. Order forms will be available so you can order prints of most of the original paintings. If you are interested in a different size than listed on the order form you and use the form to request a quotation for a different size. To see the same image in various print formats click here.

Wondering what else is going on in Howard County? Check out TotallyHoco.com. This site includes a wide variety of events. It allows you to filter events by category or explore options for a particular date. I think you'll find it a useful resource.



  #HoCoArt

Reception for "Traveling the World in Transparent Media"

Yesterday's reception of my solo exhibit at the Columbia Art Center was wonderful. I've included some pictures taken before the doors opened so you can see the art.  These are followed by pictures during the reception. My transparent media included both water media paintings and fused glass.

 

I gave a talk during the reception about the inspiration behind several of the pieces and the connections between the paintings and the fused glass art. These media give me different perspectives on the same subject.  I find that working in one medium inspires creations in the other.

A moment to catch up with some friends

 

First Sale

At left I am with Yolanda Koh who was also having a reception for her Solo exhibit at the Columbia Art Center.  I'd like to thank the Columbia Art Center for providing such a beautiful venue for my exhibit and all the hard work of their staff.