Holiday DIY painting class with video instructions ❗️😊

 

New Winter & Holiday Painting Tutorials — Creative Fun for the Whole Family

If you're looking for something fun and cozy to do over the holidays, I’ve got you covered. I’ve added six new winter and holiday-themed painting tutorials to my website — each one comes with digital instructions and video access, so you can paint at your own pace, anytime.

These designs are beginner-friendly and great for:

• Family art time during winter break

• Kids who need a creative indoor activity

• A quiet afternoon of “me time”

• Virtual paint nights with friends

• Grandkids visiting for the holidays

Each tutorial includes:

• Step-by-step written instructions

• A pre-drawn tracer in two sizes

• Access to a video lesson

• Supply list

• Instant digital download — nothing ships, so you can start painting right away

  Get information and tutorials HERE
  

2026 Painting Class Schedule Is Here!

 Registration opens in late December — save your spot early

If you're ready to start the new year with creativity, color, and a laid-back Key West vibe, my 2026 paint-and-sip classes are officially on the calendar. These sessions are beginner-friendly, fun, and packed with the same painting tips I use in my own studio practice.

No stiff lectures. No pressure. Just good company, island inspiration, and simple techniques that help you make a painting you’re proud of.

What Makes These Classes Different

In every class, I sprinkle in real painting strategies—things like color mixing shortcuts, brush handling, layering tricks, and composition adjustments that make your painting stronger. These are the same approaches I use when I’m working on my own pieces.

Students tell me this is what sets these classes apart. You get the fun of paint-and-sip and you learn something you can use again.

What You Can Look Forward To

Classes run on Tuesday afternoons, 1:30 to 4-ish, January through March.
All materials are included—just show up and enjoy.

A few of the 2026 subjects include:

• Tropical parrotfish scene

• Dinghy and distant islands

• Blue Heaven Shower

• Ft. Zach beach scene

• Sunflowers with palette knife details

• Rooster painting

• Water lily pads

• Royal poinciana tree

• Plus monthly Painter’s Choice & Next Level sessions

• And a Special Pet Portrait class on January 24

Every painting is designed to be approachable for beginners, with lots of room for creativity if you want to add your own twist.

How to Register

Registration opens late December, and classes tend to fill quickly.
The best way to stay in the loop is to join my email list—subscribers always get first access to class links.

👉SIGN UP FOR CLASS AND STUDIO UPDATES 

A Creative Winter You’ll Actually Look Forward To

If you're craving a weekly dose of color, community, and new skills, these classes are a great way to ease into the winter season. You’ll leave each week with a finished painting, a couple of new techniques, and that relaxed, refreshed feeling you get when you make something with your hands.

Can’t wait to paint with you in 2026.

Holiday Gifts for your Key West loving friends.

 Holiday Gift Shopping in the Studio 🎄🌴

I’ve set up a sweet little display of all my holiday goodies in the studio — ornaments, cards, prints, tea towels, and a few extra-special pieces. If you’re doing your Key West gift shopping, this is an easy stop where you can find something fun and island-y for everyone on your list.

A quick heads-up: I’m heading out of town for Christmas, so the studio will only be open through December 18. If you’ve had your eye on something, now’s the time to swing by, say hello, and treat yourself while you’re at it.

Happy holiday shopping from my little corner of Fleming Street. 🌺✨

About the Artist
Maggie Ruley is a studio artist living in Key West, Florida. Her colorful, island-inspired acrylic paintings celebrate the charm, light, and character of Key West life. Maggie’s work is collected worldwide and can be found in island homes near and far.

She has been featured in The Key West Citizen, New York Daily News, and other publications.

Visit her studio and gallery, Maggie Ruley ~ Island Inspirations, at 933b Fleming Street in the Historic Seaport area of Old Town Key West.
www.maggieruley.com

Black Friday BOGO: Two 8x8 Canvas Prints for $79

Holiday Sale on my most popular 8x8” prints on canvas 

It’s Black Friday, (almost) and I’m running a very special BOGO deal on my 8x8 canvas prints — two for $79, shipping included. Regular price is $75 each, so this is a sweet treat for collectors and anyone who loves a little Key West color in their home.

How it works

• Browse the numbered images in my website listing 

• Pick any two

• Enter your numbers at checkout

  See the listing HERE

These small prints are bright, joyful, and full of island charm. They look great on a gallery wall, work nicely as gifts, and make it easy to add a pop of Key West color to any room. Perfect for holiday gifting, stocking stuffers, or treating yourself to a little sunshine as the days get shorter.

Each print is made to order. The image wraps around the edges, they come wired on the back, and they’re ready to hang. Since they’re printed just for you, please allow  production time before they ship.

Important details

• BOGO price: Two for $79

• Shipping: Free in the continental USA

• Unframed: Canvas wrap with finished edges

• Made to order: 9–12 day production

• Estimated shipping time: 14–21 days

• Sale ends: Saturday, November 29, 2025

• Order now to receive them before Christmas

I’ve added clear numbers to each print so it’s simple to pick your favorites. These designs are some of my most loved — roosters, cottages, beach bikes, palms, and tropical views that carry that easy Key West energy.

If you’re not in Key West this season, this is a fun way to bring a little island warmth home.

Visit my website to order yours today.

About the Artist
Maggie Ruley is a studio artist living in Key West, Florida. Her colorful, island-inspired acrylic paintings celebrate the charm, light, and character of Key West life. Maggie’s work is collected worldwide and can be found in island homes near and far.

She has been featured in The Key West Citizen, New York Daily News, and other publications.

Visit her studio and gallery, Maggie Ruley ~ Island Inspirations, at 933b Fleming Street in the Historic Seaport area of Old Town Key West.
www.maggieruley.com

Save the Date for Small Business Saturday in Key West!

Shop Local - Small Business Saturday at The Studio of Key West!

Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 29, 2025 — it’s Small Business Saturday in Key West, and The Studios of Key West will be transformed into a festive Artisan Market filled with local makers, artists, and island-inspired gifts.

If you love supporting local artists in Key West, this is your chance to shop small, find handmade holiday gifts, and feel extra good about where your dollars go. The whole building at 533 Eaton Street will be buzzing with creativity, holiday cheer, and island vibes — the perfect way to kick off the season.

I’ll be there with a table full of Key West holiday gifts including tea towels, art kits, stocking stuffers cards, and ornaments — all colorful, cheerful, and made with love and island inspired. 

✨ Can’t make it that day? Many of these same handmade items are already available in my studio on Fleming Street, so you can shop early (or later!) and still get the full local art experience.

Save the date, bring a friend, and come celebrate Key West’s creative spirit!

Pet Portrait Class Success!

Nailed it! 💯

What a great group this week! Everyone showed up ready to try something new, and the results speak for themselves. Their pet portraits turned out fantastic — full of personality, strong color choices, and lots of love.

Two of the painters had never picked up a brush before, and you’d never guess it from their finished pieces. That kind of creative courage always inspires me.

I’m extra proud of this crew. They worked hard, supported each other, and brought so much good energy into the studio. Can’t wait to see what they paint next.

Pet portrait paintings in Key West in Maggie Ruley’s class.

Smiling faces! So happy with their paintings.

🎅 Tropical Holiday Gnome Painting Class

 

Fun, Festive, and Full of Color

There’s nothing better than mixing paint, laughter, and a touch of holiday cheer!
Yesterday’s Holiday Gnome Paint & Sip class was pure fun from start to finish. Everyone did such a great job bringing their tropical gnomes to life — bright colors, palm fronds, and all.

Each student went home with a cheerful painting that makes the perfect gift or a festive addition to their holiday décor. The tropical twist on a classic Christmas theme brought plenty of Key West spirit into the studio.

This coming Saturday is our Pet Portrait Class, the last class before the holiday break. After that, we’ll take a short pause so everyone can relax and enjoy the season.

My Paint & Sip–style classes — where all materials are supplied and creativity flows freely — will resume in January with a brand-new schedule.

Interested in a private or small-group class?
📧 Email me to discuss dates and ideas — they make an extra special activity for friends, visitors, birthday parties or family get-togethers.

👉maggie.ruleykw@yahoo.com

Bringing a tropical touch to the holidays — one brushstroke at a time.

Holiday gnomes taking shape at Maggie Ruley’s Key West Paint & Sip class.

Let’s Go Sailing

 

Skimming Through Summer Seas

There’s something timeless about a sailboat gliding through turquoise waves under a bright sky. I painted this small piece to capture that effortless feeling of freedom that comes with a sunny day on the water.

The blue-green-white color palette is one of my favorites — cool, calm, and clean. It’s the same range of colors that makes island life so refreshing and beautiful, from the sea to the clouds overhead. A little painting like this brings that breezy Key West energy right into your home.

Island living and coastal decor in one small package.

Details:
8” x 10” acrylic on canvas panel, framed – $325

See more or purchase HERE

Wishing you all smooth sailing, ⛵️ Maggie 

Regarding yesterday’s blog post: Before and after photos.

I had to make a few small tweaks to the paintings. I think the only one I didn’t “fix” is the flamingo.

AFTER⤵️

BEFORE ⤵️

See if you can spot the difference? 

Read yesterday’s blog post HERE

Quick Sketches or Finished Paintings?

Leave them alone? Or, fuss over them?

These six small paintings started as quick studies — little experiments in color, texture, and composition. My plan was to learn from them, then take what I learned into larger “real” paintings.

But now that I see them all together, I’m tempted to go back in and “fix” things — make small corrections, add more detail, or polish them up until they feel good enough.

Of course, that kind of defeats the purpose of doing quick sketches. They were meant to be loose, fast, and full of energy — not perfect. So now I’m asking myself: can I let them be what they are and move on?

At the moment, I honestly don’t know. Maybe that’s part of the lesson — learning when to stop and when to keep going.

Why quick studies matter:
Doing small, fast paintings helps artists loosen up and learn faster. You discover color combinations, brush techniques, and compositional ideas without the pressure of perfection. It’s a great way to stay creative, experiment, and grow as a painter — one little canvas at a time.

At the moment, not for sale.

I’ll let you know what I decide, all for now, Maggie