An Unexpected Workshop for a Local Watercolor Group

  

Azalea Garden 11"X 14" watercolor by April M Rimpo

A local watercolor club reached out to me about 1.5 weeks ago to see if I would be available to teach a workshop to them an upcoming Saturday. I had done one other one-day workshop for them before and I knew the talent in the group was good. Their normal instructor had a conflict, so I was happy to help out.

I know their normal instructor as I took a workshop from him many years ago and wanted to teach something they might not learn from him. Based on some questions that had come up during a class for a different group, I decided a spring scene with flowers and people that also included reflections in the water. I had a new method for teaching how to paint trees and figured trees were another good thing to include in the painting. 

Lakeside Azaleas by April M Rimpo

There is a local Azalea Garden, just a few miles from my home that typically shows off all the beautiful variety of colors of Azaleas this time of year. It's a favorite place to visit in May and leading up to Mother's Day.  I had not made it there this year, but that garden was my inspiration. I arrived with no reference material so they would also have to make up their own colors for the flowers and focus on learning techniques rather than copying a photograph.  I did locate a few images of the garden on my phone (thank you Google) to show them the overall concept, then turned it off and we started.

I love to demonstrate a step, then have the students paint, then demo the next step, etc.  This way it provides time for the painting to dry between steps, which is quite important on watercolors.  I actually worked the two demo paintings, shown above, concurrently, so I could show one step on one and the next step on the other, giving each demo a little bit more time to dry before I went back into the painting. 

Since the group had also asked me to discuss the technique I use for varnishing watercolor paintings, we didn't have time to photograph the group with their paintings. I also knew from my last time with them that they really preferred not to have them photographed.  I was happy with what they produced and a few came up at the end of class to tell me they were happy with their results. One had seemed quite concerned during the class whether she was "doing it right" so I was glad to hear she was happy.  

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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.

Paddling 10" x 20" fluid acrylic

Paddling by April M Rimpo

Paddling

10" X 20" fluid acrylic

Varnished and Mounted on Board

Ready to Frame

$325

Available at Touchstone Gallery online and in the Canvas Bins

Cherry blossoms are so fleeting, it seems like they have barely arrived and then they are gone. I enjoy relishing in Spring even after the Cherry blossoms, tulips, irises, and rhododendron have lost their color.

We've had a lovely spring, rainy days interspersed with bright sunny ones. The leaves have unfurled, filling in the view around our home with the natural calm of green. 

This painting celebrates those earlier days of Spring, when we first emerge from winter.

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.

"Springtime" watercolor 18" X 14"

Springtime by April M. Rimpo

Springtime

Watercolor

18"X14" image

Framed in brush silver frame

$875

Available at HorseSpirit Arts Gallery

Phone: 410-461- 4505
Email: info@HorseSpiritArtsGallery.com 
Open: Open 6 days a week, check their website for hours

Each spring Howard County Maryland, where I live, holds a number of events to support Blossoms of Hope. This cause supports the Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center at Howard County General Hospital. This painting was done for an exhibit called Haiku for Hope and will be presented with an associated haiku written by a local poet. The child in the foreground links back to the haiku written by Poppy Herrin. Springtime won an Honorable Mention Award at this exhibit.

This painting was one of those selected for banners that were displayed as part of a special ceremony held on National Arbor Day at Lake Kittamaqundi in Columbia, Maryland. The banners used for the ceremony have also been used at the Howard County Welcome Center in Ellicott City.  

Howard County has planted over 1600 Kwanzan cherry trees throughout the county.  The Kwanzan cherry trees bloom about two weeks later than the Sakura trees that surround the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC allowing you to enjoy the beautiful blossoms for a longer period of time.  You can read more about the Blossoms of Hope events at http://www.visithowardcounty.com/blossoms-of-hope, where you can also find a map where the trees have been planted.

Given the opportunity for a banner I wanted a painting that celebrated the cherry blossoms and had a strong graphic line that would lend itself well to the banners.  I use this style in some of my paintings and I like the simplification of shapes with the line work.  Of course a strong value pattern (darks and lights) is essential for a banner format which is perfect for the way I like to work in watercolor.  

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.

"Undercover" a 4"X4" stackable-art painting

Undercover by April M Rimpo

Undercover

Fluid Acrylic on Watercolor Paper varnished and mounted on

4" X 4" X 2" deep Cradled Wood Panel

$55 includes shipping within the United States

SOLD through April's Spreesy Store

Much of yesterday's snow has melted and the streets are clear. All the birds and animals are out and about. I'm sure nests are being built, spring cleaning of sorts for our feathered friends. The more timid animal life is peeking out and checking the air with ever twitching noses.  This little bunny, partially under the cover of the woods, hasn't quite decided whether to venture further or not.

"Deer with Fawn" a 4" X 4" stackable-art painting

Deer with Fawn by April M Rimpo

Deer with Fawn

Fluid Acrylic on Watercolor Paper varnished and mounted on

4" X 4" X 2" deep Cradled Wood Panel

$50

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

6:45 PM EDT today is the Vernal Equinox when it becomes officially Spring. It actually felt like Spring a few days ago. The warm temperatures had a few people out with no jacket and I even saw a few of the more rugged sort wearing shorts. I chose the light sweater, which I found unnecessary as the day progressed.  All was well.  It seemed light the birds in our yard were chirping a happy song, the leaf buds on the trees seemed just a tiny bit larger. A pair of hawks that live in our trees appeared to be beginning the nesting process.  I even saw a vulture (not my favorite bird nor a lovely image of Spring) doing a fancy dance with his wings held out for another vulture trying very hard to attract her attention.   I thought at last, Spring is here.  It seemed like doing this little painting of a deer with her fawn was perfect to celebrate. Fawns are normally born in Maryland toward the end of Spring in May or June, but for me the fawns are one of the symbols of Spring.

So despite the fact that the weather decided to give us one more winter day, starting us out with more snow, I am still going to celebrate Spring. Although we do have about 1" of snow coating the trees it is beginning to turn to rain and I am still hopeful that by 6:45 PM EDT they trees will again be bare.  

Happy Spring, everyone!

"Lambs", a 4" X 4' fluid acrylic mounted on a deep cradle wood panel

Lambs by April M Rimpo

Lambs

4" X 4" fluid acrylic
mounted on 2" deep cradled, wood panel

that was stained in pecan

$45

SOLD through HorseSpirit Arts Gallery
info@horsespiritartsgallery.com 

410-461-3505 

Although our only resident animal is a dear kitty, Dusty, we live in an area were small and large animals abound.  The domesticated farm animals include: lambs, goats, chickens, Guinea hen, cattle, and horse. Our wild animal visitors include: brown fox, raccoons, deer, ground hogs, and an occasional opossum. So when I want to paint an animal it is like one will either wander by our home or I can just walk to a neighbors to get some photographs.  These cute lambs live about a mile from our home.

When I did my Spring by the River painting I intentionally had an extra 6 inches of paper on one end, so as I painted some nice unplanned tints and textures formed on in this margin.  I particularly liked this piece that had pale pinks and grays and decided it would make a nice backdrop for the lambs. 

This small 4" X 4" painting on watercolor paper was mounted on a 2" deep cradled, wood panel becoming one of my "stackable" pieces perfect for Easter, a child's bedroom, a play area, or any little nook or cranny that needs a spot of color.  I varnished the paper after painting to provide UV protection form the sun and to protect that paper from the elements.

"Spring by the River" a 24" X 36" fluid acrylic

Spring by the River by April M Rimpo

Spring by the River

24" X 36"

Fluid Acrylic on Paper

Mounted on 2" Deep-cradled, Wood Panel  

Original SOLD

12" X 18" giclee print on watercolor paper - coming soon

To purchase archival prints on watercolor paper or on canvas contact April

Most years the Azaleas are in full bloom by Mother's Day in Maryland. I know that is two months from now, but I am ready. The Azaleas stand proud in my new painting Spring by the River. The white Azaleas are shaded with pale pastel shades of blue, violet, and pink, while the red blossoms vary from orange to hot pink and magenta. I have a bit of a weakness for the white blooms with pink centers.

A fellow artist in our area has a show opening this weekend and I know she has paintings that include scenes from a local Azalea garden. We have not had an awful lot of snow this year, probably a little less than normal, but the cold has everyone I know extremely ready for winter to end. Well I do know a few friends who wish they lived in Maine, you know who you are, and are probably walking around in the 0 - 20 degree Fahrenheit days without a jacket.  

I have Spring fever, as you have noticed in my last several blog posts, so enjoy Spring through my paintings until it finally finds it way to our doorsteps.

"Enjoying Tongue Row" a 20" X 16" fluid acrylic

Enjoying Tongue Row by April M Rimpo

Enjoying Tongue Row

Fluid Acrylic

Mounted on 20" X 16" X 2" deep

cradled wood panel
$775

Not far from my home is an old mill town called Ellicott City. The town was established by the Ellicott family, thus the name.  Tongue Row is a section of stone granite houses originally rented to mill workers by the owner Ann Tongue. Now these houses are a set of boutiques including a cafe and a silversmith.

A Farmer's Market is held by Tongue Row once a month seasonally. In addition to fresh produce, musicians serenade the event, and artisans sell their wares.

It's a lovely spot to stop and relax on the benches. 

 

#HoCoArts

"A Time For Peace", 10" X 20" acrylic on 2" deep Wood Cradled Panel

A Time for Peace by April M Rimpo

A Time for Peace

fluid acrylic on paper

10" X 20" image mounted on 2" deep
Cradled Wood Panel

SOLD

Although we live in the Baltimore/DC area, we are west enough to be in a farming community on a wooded lot where we are visited by deer, foxes, and raccoons. My husband is faithful to the birds, feeding them during the winter months to make sure they survive.  The variety of birds is more limited in the Winter since many species have flown south, but the population of doves seems to increase.  Lucky for us, some remain for the Spring and part way into Summer.  This dove did stay for Spring and one morning when looking out across our backyard I noticed her sitting  on a tree limb; she looked as though she too was enjoying the quiet morning and the dapples of sun that had begun to sprinkle into the wooded area.  A Time of Peace is intended to recapture the serenity I felt that morning looking out on the dove.

For those of you who follow my posts regularly, you may recall I recently mentioned learning a watercolor technique where you pour the paint.  In that post I said I wanted to try this approach with acrylics as well.  This painting was my first journey down that path.  

I use fluid acrylic paint, which means the paint is thinned with water until it flows like watercolor.  However, one major difference is that acrylics dry quickly and, once dry, are essentially permanent.  They cannot be lifted off the paper as you can do with watercolors. In order to achieve the soft, nearly pastel look to this painting, I needed to use very dilute acrylic in each layer to keep the paint from getting thick and opaque. Using a light touch also allowed me to add layers of paint to change the hue in an area if I was not satisfied with an earlier pouring. I actually found I could accomplish pretty much the same result with the fluid acrylic as with the watercolor paint.  

I have also learned that I very much like using a pipette to spread the paint around the paper since it is easier to control how much paint I apply.  When truly pouring from a container, I have occasionally gotten too much paint and then it can be difficult to remove the excess quickly enough, especially with acrylic.  I'm sure I'll continue to use pouring (or maybe I should say "pipetting") in my acrylic paintings since I like the random colors in the washes and the extra glow that I can achieve.

* Contact April regarding purchases outside the United States

"Making a Difference" 24" x 24" gallery wrapped acrylic and watercolor

Making a Difference by April M Rimpo

Making a Difference

Fluid Acrylic and Watercolor

24" X 24" varnished gallery wrapped paper

$1375 within the United States *

Available at HorseSpirit Arts Gallery

Phone: 410-461- 4505
Email: info@HorseSpiritArtsGallery.com 
Open: Open 6 days a week, check their website for hours

Here is my painting for the invitational exhibition held at the Columbia Art Center Galleries in coordination with the Howard County Tourism & Promotion's Blossoms of Hope, which runs April 10-April 27, 2014. This year's theme "Vision of Hope" is in recognition of James Rouse’s 100th birthday, and celebrates Mr. Rouse’s spirit as a visionary.  The paintings in the exhibit are inspired by his quote “Optimism stimulates energy, spirit, home, and action.”  Proceeds from the exhibit support the Claudia Mayer/Tina Broccolino Cancer Resource Center at Howard County General Hospital.

For my entry I wanted to combine Mr Rouse's vision of hope with the great work done at the Claudia Mayer/Tina Broccolino Cancer Resource Center and decided to focus on a walk for cancer.  I researched the closest breast cancer walks to where I live and decided to highlight the walk in DC and the Washington Monument, where the opening ceremony will occur in 2014. To me these walks epitomize this quote. I also wanted to tie in the cherry blossoms that are the symbol of Blossoms of Hope, so I looked through my photographs of cherry blossoms in DC and found the background for the painting.  From there I looked through photographs of crowds so I could include people who were walking that looked natural.  All of this came together into "Making a Difference".

Posts of this painting while it was a work in progress:

• Just starting out
• WIP Part two

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* Contact April regarding shipping outside the United States

"Making a Difference" Work in Progress Part 2

"Making a Difference" Work in Progress Part 2

I've made a lot of progress on "Making a Difference" and wanted to share the current state of my painting. The people in the cancer walk are getting close to completion.  I'm sure I'll need to do some clean-up to sharpen edges, but I decided it was time to get in the cherry trees to make sure the similar color between the trees and the people's clothing didn't make the people disappear.  I intentionally muted the trees to push them back and made sure the shadows along the bottom were at the right color and intensity to help the walkers show up. Still to be done is the spring green tree on the left.

Let me know how much I need to intensify the people to make sure they are not lost in this scene of DC.  Thanks for your help.