The way it looks; prickly bottom half, smooth and spikey top half.
The way it changes color as it gets riper.
The way it smells; like a far away tropical island.
Its incredible, indescribable taste.
It's a special occasion fruit, a holiday fruit, a family gathering fruit.
Seriously, do you drink Pina Coladas after work on a Wednesday? No! The super cute pool boy brings one to your chaise lounge in THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY on your vacation. Now that's special.
Also, consider the way it's treated with reverence.
It's always has a place of prominence in the supermarket. It's at the end of aisle, or on a raised dais.
The Queen of Fruit would not be CAUGHT DEAD in the middle seat between the potatoes and the onions, hell no! First class all the way.
Everyday fruit? Oh no it isn't! (picture my index finger wagging side to side here)
And don't forget it's the universal sign of *Welcome*. I think they put one on Voyager 1, if they didn't, they should have.
That's why I paint the esteemed pineapple over and over. Here are some pics of my most recent study session. These are all oil paintings. And the really cool thing is that some of these will be headed to a gallery on Cape Cod soon. I'm jazzed about that. I wonder which ones are going to be chosen to go?
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Pineapple studies
both 18"x14", oil on canvas board, palette knife
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| Note to artists: I intentionally took a different approach with each painting. I used limited palettes, I played warm against cools, I explored grays, I used the palette knife on some, I explored using a transparent first layer. All were done alla prima and they all started with a transparent earthy red underpainting. |
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| Fun fact: Pineapples have warm green and yellow-gold bottoms, and cool green and blue tops. |
Aloha dear friends,
Maggie
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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
