Mango Madness

Mango Madness

Every June The Studios of Key West has a show in their main gallery that highlights the talents of its artist members and celebrates the start of mango season here in Key West.  The title of the show is, of course, Mango Madness.

To add some extra fun to the prep for this show two other TSKW members, David Meier and Pam Hobbs, joined me in my studio to paint together for the show.

When David presented this idea to Pam and I we said, "Yeah! For Sure."

It turned out to be a great day of painting.

Painting is often a very solitary endeavor, so this was a delight

Finished paintings

I haven't seen David's finished painting yet, but here are mine and Pam's.  And all I can say is, Were we even in the same room?"



Mango Tea
acrylic 16 x 20"
©Maggie Ruley 2016
 contact tskw.org to purchase

.


Pam Hobbs' Mango Painting
used with permission
#pamhobbs
I'll be at the opening, so if you're there make sure you say hello! Below are the deets about the show and opening.

June 2 - July 28

 

The Members Summer Salon and Mango Madness!

Opening Reception and Mango Madness Party:
Thur June 2, 6-8pm
Sponsored by The Restaurant Store
Mango themed work not required!

 

The Members Summer Salon showcases the work artists have been busily creating over the past season. Members display new works echoing the brightness and lightness of summer. The Members Salon includes all media and stylistic approaches.
 

June 2 - July 28

 

Click HERE to find out more about the event.

Below are photos from our group painting day.



getting started
Pam Hobbs on left, David Meier, center

the original set up



Thank you Davie Meier for the great set up




The original set up wasn't working for me, so at the end of the day I rearranged it and added the blue vase.

 

And thank you again to The Studios of Key West for our fun poolside painting class last week.

Pool side painting class at The Marker Key West sponsored by
tskw.org

If you an email subscriber to my blog and you are reading this from your inbox, 2 things.

First, you might want to CLICK HERE so you can see all the fun extras on the blog site.  You'll be glad you did and you can leave a comment.

 

And Second,Thank you! Please forward it on to anyone else who might enjoy it. Thank you again.

 

 If you aren't (reading this in your inbox)and you'd like to get all the really cool things going on in my studio delivered (with love) to your inbox, CLICK HERE  and fill out that box thingy that says, "Never miss a post", in the upper right corner.

 

 

 

Maggie Ruley is a studio artist living in Key West, Florida. 

 

Her colorful paintings and tropical pottery are collected world wide and can be found in many island homes. She has been featured in the Key West Citizen,

the New York Daily News , and other publications.

 

Her handmade ceramic flip flops have been sold in gift shops all along the east coast and in California and Hawaii.

 

 Her studio-gallery is located in the Historic Seaport area of Old Town Key West.

Maggie Ruley~Island Inspirations

933b Fleming St.

Key West Florida 33042

www.maggieruley.com

Poolside Painting with Maggie,

Fresh Cut
©Maggie Ruley 2016

Poolside Painting with Maggie

The Studios of Key West, a really great arts organization and The Marker Key West, a brand new (and really swanky) resort in the historic seaport area of Key West are partnering to create art experiences at the resort.  One of these is (drum roll please) Poolside Painting with Maggie,  a once a month painting session for resort guests and locals.

In April we painted loose and juicy watercolors with sunflowers and bougainvillea for our inspiration.

Mark your Calendars

The June class is Wednesday, May 25, 5-7pm at the pool bar at the Marker Resort.  That's right, pool bar.  Did I mention we had our own cocktail waitress to bring us libations while we painted? 
#rumanddietcoke
 It was huge fun.  The Marker Resort is located at the foot of William Street right where it bumps up against the Gulf of Mexico.  If you'd like to sign up for the class and paint with me this Wednesday, CLICK HERE.  I take a colorful and loose approach that makes watercolor fun and easy for all. And The Studios of Key West provides all the supplies.






Here is what we painted



I had to do some warm ups before the class.



Isabel, from The Miami Herald followed her inner Muse
#El Nuevo Herald

 

Poolside painting with Maggie Ruley, April 2016



Poolside painting with Maggie Ruley, April 2016
These lovely ladies are from Miami. They are from the Miami Herald and NPR



Poolside painting with Maggie Ruley, April 2016

 

 

 Find out more about The Marker Key West

 

Find out more about The Studios of Key West

 

If you are reading this from your inbox, 2 things.

 

First, you might want to CLICK HERE so you can see all the fun extras on the blog site.  You'll be glad you did and you can leave a comment.

 

And Second,Thank you! Please forward it on to anyone else who might enjoy it. Thank you again.

 

 If you aren't (reading this in your inbox)and you'd like to get all the really cool things going on in my studio delivered (with love) to your inbox, CLICK HERE  and fill out that box thingy that says, "Never miss a post", in the upper right corner.

 

 

 

Maggie Ruley is a studio artist living in Key West, Florida. 

 

Her colorful paintings and tropical pottery are collected world wide and can be found in many island homes. She has been featured in the Key West Citizen,

the New York Daily News , and other publications.

 

Her handmade ceramic flip flops have been sold in gift shops all along the east coast and in California and Hawaii.

 

 Her studio-gallery is located in the Historic Seaport area of Old Town Key West.

Maggie Ruley~Island Inspirations

933b Fleming St.

Key West Florida 33042

www.maggieruley.com

IDK, Just Cuz

 

 

Special Update

After I read the blog post I sent out yesterday, I realized I had a few more things to say about getting a not-so-favorable reaction to your artwork. Well, really, I have a lot of things to say on that subject. But for today I'm only going to say a few. So I did a little re-write, because I think it's kind of important.  As a bonus to you for reading it again I've added a fun photo.

Question: "What made you paint THAT!?"

Answer: "IDK, Just cuz."

 

 

The Story Book Giraffe
20" x 16" acrylic on canvas
$650
Giclee prints available
©Maggie Ruley 2016

 

 

When people get used to you painting a certain subject matter or in a certain style it can be a little un-nerving for them to see something different from you. 

 

If your new subject or style upsets someone, hold their hand, tell them to breath and that it's going to be okay, really. There's no need to explain or to try and make them understand. It's your creative journey and lots of times it's un-explainable. And if you go into an explanation a lot times their eyes just glaze over and you've lost them.

 

My standard reply is, "I don't know, just cuz." Or, "It seemed like fun."  You get the idea.

 

Here's the deal, it's a great big sparkle-y world out there full of amazing beautiful things for me and you (this also applies to non-artists!) to interpret and rearrange. 

#everyoneiscreative 

 

And I would be totally bored if I didn't take advantage of that when the urge strikes me.

#shortattentionspan

#willchasebrightshinyobjects

 

Please note, I'm not dealing with super harsh, icky mean criticism here.  This is about I-don't-get-it-you're-upsetting-me-a-little criticism.

 

This painting started as a demonstration for my class. We were exploring complicated backgrounds, negative shape painting and finding pattern.  In my mind Pattern = Giraffe, no brainer.

 

I don't always finish my class demonstrations but this one was full of all the things that made me want to fully develop it.  Fun color, elegant shapes and a boat load of stars.  It's kinda like an illustration in a child's book, hence the title, Story Book Giraffe.

 

How great would this look in a child's room?  Totally Great!

 

If you have any great ideas how handle this kind of situation I'd love to hear them.  CLICK through to the blog and leave them in the comment section.

 

 

 

 

This was my studio during my last class notice the flowers, wine and chocolates. What's not to love? P.S. the chocolates were a gift to all the Mom's in the class from our dear artist friend David Scott Meier.

 

The delightful work by my students.

 

 

 If you are reading this from your inbox, 2 things.

First, you might want to CLICK HERE so you can see all the fun extras on the blog site.  You'll be glad you did and you can leave a comment.

 

And Second,Thank you! Please forward it on to anyone else who might enjoy it. Thank you again.

 

 If you aren't (reading this in your inbox)and you'd like to get all the really cool things going on in my studio delivered (with love) to your inbox, CLICK HERE  and fill out that box thingy that says, "Never miss a post", in the upper right corner.

 

Maggie Ruley is a studio artist living in Key West, Florida. 

 

Her colorful paintings and tropical pottery are collected world wide and can be found in many island homes. She has been featured in the Key West Citizen,

the New York Daily News , and other publications.

 

Her handmade ceramic flip flops have been sold in gift shops all along the east coast and in California and Hawaii.

 

 Her studio-gallery is located in the Historic Seaport area of Old Town Key West.

Maggie Ruley~Island Inspirations

933b Fleming St.

Key West Florida 33042

www.maggieruley.com

5 Words An Artist Doesn't Want to Hear.

 

 

5 Words an Artist Doesn't Want to Hear:

"What made you paint THAT!?"

 

 

The Story Book Giraffe
20" x 16" acrylic on canvas
$650
Giclee prints available
©Maggie Ruley 2016

 

 

When people get used to you painting a certain subject matter or in a certain style it can be a little un-nerving for them to see something different from you. 

 

If your new subject or style upsets someone, hold their hand, tell them to breath and that it's going to be okay, really.

 

Here's the deal, it's a great big sparkle-y world out there full of amazing beautiful things for me and you (this also applies to non-artists) to interpret and rearrange. 

#everyoneiscreative 

 

And I would be totally bored if I didn't take advantage of that when the urge strikes me.

#shortattentionspan

#willchasebrightshinyobjects

 

This painting started as a demonstration for my class. We were exploring complicated backgrounds,negative shape painting and finding pattern.  In my mind Pattern = Giraffe, no brainer.

 

I don't always finish my class demonstrations but this one was full of all the things that made me want to fully develop it.  Fun color, elegant shapes and a boat load of stars.

 

It's kinda like an illustration in a child's book, hence the title.

 

How great would this look in a child's room?  Totally Great!

 

The delightful work by my students.

 

 If you are reading this from your inbox, 2 things.

First, you might want to CLICK HERE so you can see all the fun extras on the blog site.  You'll be glad you did and you can leave a comment.

 

And Second,Thank you! Please forward it on to anyone else who might enjoy it. Thank you again.

 

 If you aren't (reading this in your inbox)and you'd like to get all the really cool things going on in my studio delivered (with love) to your inbox, CLICK HERE  and fill out that box thingy that says, "Never miss a post", in the upper right corner.

 

Maggie Ruley is a studio artist living in Key West, Florida. 

 

Her colorful paintings and tropical pottery are collected world wide and can be found in many island homes. She has been featured in the Key West Citizen,

the New York Daily News , and other publications.

 

Her handmade ceramic flip flops have been sold in gift shops all along the east coast and in California and Hawaii.

 

 Her studio-gallery is located in the Historic Seaport area of Old Town Key West.

Maggie Ruley~Island Inspirations

933b Fleming St.

Key West Florida 33042

www.maggieruley.com

It's Hard to Say Goodbye

Picnic
private collection
acrylic 30"x40"

A wonderful couple from Massachusetts wanted some Key West Roosters hanging in their home up north.  They specified, Bold and Funky and Bright Happy colors.  They needed a horizontal format and we decided that two roosters would best fit their format.

When it came to designing the painting my first sketch ended up being a hen and rooster with chicks and they were happy with the idea.

We worked closely together during the painting process.  They got emails with photos after every session. And numerous changes were made to fit their vision.  Which was fine with me.  My paintings get richer and richer each layer that is applied.

I ended up loving this painting and it was hard to say goodbye. But because of the joint effort we put into it, I know it will be loved.

Notice the swatches hanging on the wall next to the photo.  I love swatches and paint chips and I will happily work with them.
#iloveswatches  #iwillmatchyoursofa

If you are reading this from your inbox, thank you for subscribing. If you'd like to sign up to get updates, or see all that my blog has to offer, click here.

Maggie Ruley is a studio artist living in Key West, Florida. 

 

Her colorful paintings and tropical pottery are collected world wide and can be found in many island homes. She has been featured in the Key West Citizen,

the New York Daily News , and other publications.

 

Her handmade ceramic flip flops have been sold in gift shops all along the east coast and in California and Hawaii.

 

 Her studio and gallery is located in the historic Seaport area of Old Town Key West.

Maggie Ruley~Island Inspirations

933b Fleming St.

Key West Florida 33042

www.maggieruley.com