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 

Some People Aren’t Afraid of Bright Colors. #MyKindOfPeople

  A Happy Butterfly Finds a New Home 🦋

There’s nothing better than seeing one of my happy paintings find the perfect home! These two lovely ladies stopped by the studio and instantly connected with this big, bright butterfly. With its sunny yellows, playful brushstrokes, and tropical pops of color, it’s sure to bring joy and energy to any room.

And how fun is this — their sneakers match the painting! Clearly, it was meant to be. 💛💙💚

Sometimes all it takes is one piece of art to lift the mood and add a burst of color to your home.

Two happy collectors and their new Key West butterfly painting, by Maggie Ruley— look how their sneakers match! 🦋💛💙💚

All for now, Maggie

Key West Inspired Holiday Home Decor

 

🎄 It’s the Most Wonderful Time for New Holiday Tea Towels!

I’ve added something festive and colorful to the studio — Christmas tea towels! These new designs bring cheerful holiday spirit to your kitchen or make easy, thoughtful gifts for just about anyone on your list.

They’re perfect for:

• Hostess or housewarming gifts

• Co-workers, teachers, and neighbors

• Tucking into a gift basket or pairing with a bottle of wine

• Adding a splash of merry color to your own kitchen

Each towel features my watercolor-style artwork in bright, tropical holiday hues — a perfect match for a Key West Christmas.

✨ Available now in the studio or ORDER ONLINE HERE

Bring home a little extra holiday joy — or treat someone special to a gift that’s both useful and beautiful!

Add a splash of Key West color to your home this holiday season!

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

The Magic of Blue, Green, and White in Art and Design

 

Nature’s Palette: Blue Sky, Green Leaves, and the White Moon — Inspiration for Calm, Coastal Color Combinations

There’s something timeless about a painting built around shades of blue, green, and white. Maybe it’s because those colors remind us of the world outside — the sky, the sea, and the lushness of plants in sunlight. Together they create a calm, natural balance that instantly makes any space feel more peaceful.

In art, this color trio works beautifully. Blue and green sit next to each other on the color wheel, which means they naturally harmonize. Add touches of white, and the whole palette feels airy and light — perfect for coastal scenes, landscapes, or any painting that aims to bring a sense of openness and calm.

That’s also why people are drawn to these colors for their homes and offices. Blue promotes focus and calm; green symbolizes growth and renewal; white brings clarity and brightness. When used together in artwork or interior design, they evoke freshness and serenity — a gentle reminder to slow down and breathe.

If you’re a painter, spending a little time learning how to mix a variety of greens is well worth it. Greens can shift dramatically depending on what you mix them with — a touch of yellow for tropical vibrancy, a bit of blue for cool depth, or even a touch of red to quiet things down. (I think I may have written a post about mixing greens before — I’ll link it here if I find it!)

Blue, green, and white — three simple colors that connect us back to nature and make any room feel like a breath of fresh air.

All for now, wishing you a calm and lovely day, Maggie

To read other recent posts scroll to the bottom and click on older posts on the far right. 

Key West Sunset in the Rearview – Mile Marker 13 on A1A

A little glimpse of beauty, worth slowing down for 😎 

When you live “up the Keys,” the mile markers become part of your everyday vocabulary. I live on Lower Sugarloaf Key at MM 17, and this photo was taken just a few miles down the road at MM 13, around 5:30-ish on November 2, 2025.

We had just turned the clocks back, so the sunset arrived earlier — but it was worth slowing down to enjoy. I caught it glowing in my side-view mirror, a fiery reflection of the day ending behind me as I headed home.

Sometimes a quick snapshot like this becomes the start of a new painting — a reference for color, mood, and that fleeting Keys magic that’s impossible to resist.

Sunset on A1A | mm 13

Wishing you all beautiful sunsets 🌅, Maggie

Exploring Texture and Color with Acrylic Palette Knife Painting

 Why I’m Painting More with Palette Knives

 (and Loving the Challenge)

Lately, I’ve noticed a clear trend among my collectors and visitors — they’re drawn to my palette knife paintings. The texture, energy, and movement really seem to capture people’s attention, so I’ve been painting more with my knives.

It’s a fun challenge, especially as an acrylic painter, since acrylics dry so fast that I have to work quickly and decisively. In a way, it feels like I’m back to being a student again — learning, experimenting, and rediscovering the joy (and sometimes frustration) of being a painter. 🧑🏻‍🎨 

Here’s a photo of me with one of my recent pieces, a 36” x 24” acrylic on canvas inspired by the clouds I saw on my way home one evening. 

Thinking About Trying Palette Knife Painting?

Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way:

• 🎨 Be prepared to use a lot of paint. You’ll need generous amounts of color — especially white — to get that thick, textured look.

• 🖼 It’s actually easier to paint larger. Palette knife strokes need room to move and breathe.

• 🧽 It’s messy (in the best way). Keep plenty of paper towels or rags nearby.

• 🪶 Use sturdy canvases. These paintings are heavier than brush paintings, so make sure your canvas has strong stretcher bars.

Palette knife painting is bold, spontaneous, and full of energy — just the way I like it.

All for now dear friends, Maggie