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.

As part of my 'more fun' New Year's theme, I went to the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and the American Art Museum to view The Black List exhibition and I came across the painting Old Black Joe by artist Horace Pippin. I was initially attracted to the piece by the bright colors used in the painting. However, the coolest thing about the painting was the artist. Pippin was a self-taught artist who started painting at age 40. Furthermore, he injured his right arm while fighting in World War I and learned to paint using his left hand to guide his right hand that held the paint brush. It took him three years to finish his first painting. I love how committed he was to painting and how he ignored the many obstacles in his path to pursue his art. It's a wonderful reminder that it's not what you have, but what you do with what you have, that makes the difference. To learn more about Horace Pippin, check out his paintings Old Black Joe at the  Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Domino Players and The Barracks at The Phillips Collection.

So it's a new year and many people are busy making new year's resolutions. I typically don't make new year's resolutions because I don't really like the structured-ness of resolutions. Instead, each year, I prefer to create themes which provide the perfect combination of simplicity, guidance and flexibility for living my best life. A few of my themes for 2012 are: Pray more, worry less... Love more... Forgive more... Paint more... Learn more... Have more fun.

Part of my 'Have more fun' theme is checking out these exhibitions:

On view now:
Gordon Parks: Photographs from the Collection
October 1, 2011- January 16, 2012
Corcoran Gallery of Art

30 Americans
October 1, 2011- February 12, 2012
Corcoran Gallery of Art

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

Mark Rothko: Seagram Murals
December 6, 2011 - April 15, 2012
National Gallery of Art (East Building Ground Level)
To learn more about Rothko's work, check out Fun+Art+Wine's Mark Rothko and Pinot Noir sessions on 1.21 and 1.27.

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

Upcoming:
Annie Leibovitz: Pilgrimage
January 20, 2012 – May 20, 2012
American Art Museum (2nd floor South)

Picasso's Drawings, 1890-1921: Reinventing Tradition
January 29, 2012 - May 6, 2012
National Gallery of Art (West Building Ground Floor)
To learn more about Picasso's work, check out Fun+Art+Wine's Pablo Picasso & Rosé sessions on 2.11 and 2.24.

African American Art in the 20th Century
April 27, 2012 – September 3, 2012
American Art Museum (1st floor West)

Joan Miró: The Ladder of Escape
May 6, 2012 - August 12, 2012
National Gallery of Art (East Building Upper Level)

Carrie Mae Weems Retrospective
September 2012 - January 2013
Frist Center for the Visual Arts