<![CDATA[Studio ReikoRenee - blog]]>

<![CDATA[Studio ReikoRenee - blog]]>Wed, 23 May 2012 23:53:21 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[Career Day]]>Mon, 21 May 2012 14:50:02 -0500http://www.reikorenee.com/3/post/2012/05/career-day.htmlA few weeks ago, I participated in Career Day at Hillcrest Heights Elementary School. I had a ball sharing my thoughts on a career in the arts and answering the students' thoughtful questions. It was inspiring to experience so many bright young people express genuine interest in pursuing careers in the arts. Here's some of the students' artwork:

]]><![CDATA[Life lessons from Mom]]>Thu, 10 May 2012 14:45:17 -0500http://www.reikorenee.com/3/post/2012/05/life-lessons-from-mom.html

In honor of Mother's Day, here are a few things I've learned from my fabulous mother...

Anticipate.

It's not what you have or how much you have, but what you do with it that makes the difference.

Always be prepared to throw an impromptu party.

Every moment is a blessing.

If you're going through a rough patch, it will be better in the morning.

Save your money.

If something is not working, stop doing it.

It's important to exercise your right to vote.

It's never too late to try something new.

Pray, be faithful, be fearless and follow your heart.

If you want something, go for it.

Be willing to be better.

Say please and thank you.

With God, all things are possible.

Shine brightly.

If at first you don't succeed, try again and again and again and again...

Write thank you notes.

When it rains, kick off your shoes and enjoy!

]]><![CDATA[Websites for art enthusiasts]]>Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:16:29 -0500http://www.reikorenee.com/3/post/2012/04/websites-for-art-enthusiasts.html

These are a few of my favorite arts-related websites. They are useful for keeping updated on the latest in the art world and for learning about different artists and art movements.

Artdaily.org - Sign up to receive their comprehensive daily email with beautiful photos and location-based articles.

ARTINFO.com - Sign up for their daily newsletter which includes breaking news, artists' profiles, resources for collectors, gallery information and art market trends.

Black Artist News Blog - Follow this blog for the latest happenings, exhibitions, information and events concerning Black artists.

Google Art Projects - Explore famous museums and create and share your collections online.

MutalArt.com - An online art information service where you can create alerts to track articles, exhibitions and auctions associated with your favorite artists.

Smarthistory.org - Great art history resource with useful information about individual works of art.

TheArtStory.org - Want to learn about modern art? This is the place to start. It includes information about individual artists and art movements.

]]><![CDATA[Recent sketches]]>Tue, 10 Apr 2012 03:57:36 -0500http://www.reikorenee.com/3/post/2012/04/recent-sketches.htmlA few recent sketches...

]]><![CDATA[In case you missed it... March 31st Open Studio]]>Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:47:36 -0500http://www.reikorenee.com/3/post/2012/04/in-case-you-missed-it-march-31st-open-studio.htmlThis past Saturday, I hosted my first open studio of the year. It was a delightful opportunity to share my latest creations and works-in-progress. One of my favorite parts of an open studio is having the chance to discuss art and hear everyone's impressions. Although everyone had their personal favorites, the universal favorites were the works included in what I'm now calling the Heartlight series. Many thanks to my Aunt Nia who gave me the idea for the series name based on Neil Diamond's Heartlight song. Before she gave me the idea, I was calling it the LED light series. I like Heartlight much better. The Heartlight paintings are particularly different because they have lighted hearts powered by battery-operated LED lights. To see these paintings and others included in Saturday's Open Studio, check out the slide show below.

The next open studio event is scheduled for Friday, June 8, 2012, 4-8pm. I hope to see you there!

]]><![CDATA[Art exhibitions to see now]]>Sat, 24 Mar 2012 03:10:22 -0500http://www.reikorenee.com/3/post/2012/03/art-exhibitions-to-see-now.htmlCool art exhibitions to check out now:

Doug Aitken: SONG 1 *No exaggeration: truly spectacularly awesome.
March 22, 2012 - May 13, 2012
The Hirshhorn

The Black List - Photographs by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
October 28, 2011 - April 22, 2012
National Portrait Gallery

R(ad)ical Love: Sister Mary Corita
March 9, 2012 - July 15, 2012
National Museum of Women in the Arts

Annie Leibovitz: Pilgrimage
January 20, 2012 – May 20, 2012
American Art Museum

In the Tower: Mel Bochner
November 6, 2011 - April 8, 2012
National Gallery of Art

]]><![CDATA[Vision Boarding]]>Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:21:35 -0500http://www.reikorenee.com/3/post/2012/03/vision-boarding.html

Last Saturday I had the joy of spending a few hours with some brilliant young ladies at the Loving Me Girls' Conference, organized by the DC Metro Chapter of the National Alumnae of Association of Spelman College I facilitated a workshop called 'What's Your Vision?' Using magazine clippings, paper, paint and other materials, the girls created vision boards reflecting their goals and aspirations. These are some of the vision boards the girls created:

I was so inspired by the girls' boards, I created my own vision board the same evening. Here's part of my board:

The golden nugget with vision boards is the active engagement in the creative process. It's thrilling to see your dreams and aspirations in visual form. I think one of the reasons why Pinterest is so popular is because it provides an outlet for a similar type of creative dreaming. Before creating my own board, I thought something that was so much fun couldn't possibly provide substantial personal development and strategic value. Having tried it, I realize it really is a valuable (and fun) exercise and I now plan to create at least one vision board a month. Next to meditation, I believe it's the best way to connect with my inner thoughts and make sure where I'm headed is in synch with where I want to go.

To learn more about vision boards, check out this article.

]]><![CDATA[Creativity Quotes]]>Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:30:24 -0500http://www.reikorenee.com/3/post/2012/03/creativity-quotes1.html

Some of my favorite quotes about creativity:

"You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have."
- Maya Angelou

"To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it." - Osho

“A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.” - Frank Capra

"Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties."
- Erich Fromm

"Think outside of the box. Your creativity is not found in your comfort zone. " - John Di Lemme

"Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun." - Mary Lou Cook

]]><![CDATA[African-American Fine Art Auction at Swann Galleries]]>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:28:39 -0500http://www.reikorenee.com/3/post/2012/02/african-american-fine-art-auction-at-swann-galleries.htmlToday is the Swann Galleries auction of African-American fine art. The auction includes an impressive showing of many amazing art works by African American artists. Initially, I thought about what I'd bid on given a $100K budget, but my budget would've been practically blown after bidding on one of my favorite pieces. So as I work to develop my multimillionaire mindset, I chose works based on an unlimited budget. Here are my choices:

Images courtesy of Swann Galleries

JAMES VANDERZEE (1886 - 1983) Untitled (Young Man at Home of Josephine Becton). Silver print, 1934. 251x200 mm; 9 7/8x7 7/8 inches, full margins. Signed and inscribed "NYC 1934" by VanDerZee in the negative. With VanDerZee's "GGG Photo Studio" ink hand stamp on verso. Estimate $2,500-3,500

ELIZABETH CATLETT (1915 - ) Sharecropper. Color linoleum cut on smooth cream wove paper, circa 1952. 452x425 mm; 17 5/8x16 1/2 inches, full margins. Estimate $15,000-25,000

DAVID HAMMONS (1943 - ) & BRUCE TALAMON (ND - ) Untitled (Max Roach Album Art). Group of 4 color screenprints, one printed on corrugated cardboard, three printed on wove paper, 1977. Each 13x11 inches, full margins. Estimate $50,000-75,000

LOÏS MAILOU JONES (1905 - 1998) Rue Geoffroy St. Hillaire, Paris. Oil on canvas, 1948. 500x650 mm; 19 3/4x24 inches. Estimate $15,000-25,000

ALVIN D. LOVING, JR. (1935 - 2006) L-A-4. Acrylic on shaped canvas, circa 1968-70. 480mm; 19-inches diameter (hexagonal). Estimate $5,000-7,000

BEAUFORD DELANEY (1901 - 1979) Untitled (Abstract Composition). Oil monotype on heavy wove paper, 1961. 502x660 mm; 19 3/4x26 inches, full margins. Signed, dated and inscribed "La ...." in ink, lower right. Estimate $15,000-25,000

WALTER WILLIAMS (1920 - 1988) Boy with Sunflowers. Color woodcut on thin imitation Japan paper, 1965. 298x610 mm; 11 3/4x24 inches, full margins. Estimate $2,000-3,000

JOHN T. RIDDLE, JR. (1934 - 2002) Dominoes # 3, Deaf, Dumb, and Blind. Color screenprint, 1981. 838x530mm; 33x20 7/8 inches, full margins. Estimate $2,000-3,000

ALVIN D. LOVING, JR. (1935 - 2006) The Red Queen. Color screenprint on wove paper, circa 1980. 984x679 mm; 38 3/4x26 3/4 inches, full margins. Estimate $2,000-3,000

ALMA THOMAS (1891 - 1978) March on Washington. Oil on canvas, 1964. 762x990 mm; 30x39 inches. Estimate $30,000-50,000

WILLIAM T. WILLIAMS (1942 - ) Eastern Star. Acrylic on canvas, 1971. 2032x1524 mm; 84x60 inches. Estimate $75,000-100,000

To see all of the works in the auction, view the online catalogue here. Check the Swann Galleries website for more information on upcoming auctions.

]]><![CDATA[Open Studio in March]]>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:14:51 -0500http://www.reikorenee.com/3/post/2012/01/open-studio-in-march.html

What If, 5x5" Mixed media on canvas board

When I mention to people that I'm hosting an open studio, I'm often asked, "What is an open studio?" It's really just a casual studio visit during a set period of time, in this case 2-7pm on Saturday, March 31st. Open studios are less formal than art shows and guests are invited to stop by and view art work in its creative environment. It's also a great opportunity for me to share my latest work, processes and inspirations. I've been experimenting with different types of materials and I'm excited to get folks' thoughts, impressions and reactions. Refreshments will be served and there will be a drawing for Fun+Art+Wine gift certificates. Email me at reiko@reikorenee.com to RSVP and to receive directions to the studio. More information on the event can be found here.

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