Welcome spring!

Pineapples, the official symbol of welcome.

I know in other parts of the country, tulips, and daffodils and violets welcome spring, but here in Key West we can't grow those amazing bulbs.  So it's orchids and bougainvillea and pineapples that say welcome.

My Thursday painting class did such an amazing job on their pineapple paintings last week, they inspired me to do one of my own.  I love it when that happens.

A wonderful group of pineapples! I love the variety they got!

Pineapple Moon

acrylic 24 x 20"

copyright 2017

In other news:

My show "Conchtown" at the Studios of Key West is still hanging in the upstairs XOJ Gallery.  The opening was lots of fun and thanks for the loads of you who turned out for it.

Larry Blackburn of Konklife took some wonderful photos.

Click here to see them.

If you are reading this is your inbox and want to read it in the original blog format which can connect to other fascinating blog posts 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

  

If you are reading this is your inbox and want to read it in the original blog format which can connect to other fascinating blog posts click

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

Have you found your spirit animal?

Have you found your inner spirit animal?

 

I've got a really fun and super different workshop planned for Saturday, October 22, 2016. 10am - 4pm.

Discover, Connect to, and Paint Your

Spirit Animal

Spirit owl
©Maggie Ruley 2016

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Spirit Blue Heron
©Maggie Ruley 2016

10am - 4pm
with
Dr Renee Lanier and Maggie Ruley: your guides through this amazing day
Where?
Maggie’s Studio,
Island Inspirations, 933b Fleming St, Key West FL, 33040
Workshop fee $125
As a bonus to my friends, register before October 11, 2016
For the special price of $95 #earlybirdspecial

 Painting materials provided.

Class size is limited to 12; your payment holds your space!
*Cancellation policy at end.

Sign up here.  

Why this is going to be so cool.

You've probably heard that everyone has an inner connection with a particular spirit animal. (Sometimes referred to as your Totem)

But did you know that most likely you have more than one?
And that when you learn how to connect to your spirit animal(s) you gain influential insights into your subconscious mind and guidance in your life?
If you did, great!
If you didn't, great too!

Whatever your answer, I invite you to spend a wonderful day discovering and connecting to your own powerful spirit animals.  Renee Lanier, PhD will guide you through a morning of exercises and meditations designed to give you the power to discover the spirit animals that are within you.  They are there, waiting patiently, to help you in your everyday life. 

During her career as a transpersonal psychologist, Dr Renee has helped a multitude of people connect with spirit in order to live joyful and fulfilling lives.  She will lead you through the process of connection gently and with understanding.

In the afternoon we’ll breakout the paints. We’ll further explore the characteristics of your particular animal spirit using creativity and color.

Here's where I'll help you as you create a painting that will give you a greater connection to your morning discoveries.

For those of you who have already have a personal alliance with a spirit animal, you know the importance it plays in your life.  Give yourself a day to reconnect and see if any new ones are influencing you now.


So you may be thinking: What is a spirit animal and why does it matter to me?
Your spirit animal is a guide to help you connect to your subconscious and understand different parts of your life that need to be explored.

Your spirit animal will help you:
* Understand parts of your life you may want to develop.
* Guide you through times of strong emotion.
* open your heart to the idea of transformation.
* Help you choose your path in life.
* Gain new insights on your current relationships.
* Feel comforted through support and guidance.

Connecting with your spirit animal will allow you to form a powerful ally within yourself and help you feel a renewed energy for engaging in your life.

 

Discover, Connect to, and Paint Your Spirit Animal
Saturday, October 22, 2016

Spirit Raven
©Maggie Ruley 2016

10am - 4pm
with Dr Renee Lanier and Maggie Ruley as your guides through this amazing day.
Location,
Island Inspirations, 933b Fleming St, Key West FL, 33040
Workshop fee $125
As a bonus to my friends, register before October 11, 2016
For the special price of $95 #earlybirdspecial

Painting materials provided

Class size is limited to 12; your payment reserves your space! 
Sign up here

*Cancellation policy.

We’d hate it if something happened and you couldn't join us, but sometimes stuff happens so……
Cancel before October 13, full refund
Cancel between October 13-19, refund your payment minus $10
No refunds after October 19, but you may pass your seat on to someone else if we know ahead of time.

I look forward to seeing you in this or any of my classes and workshops,


The Super Secret September Special is still going on!!!!!

If you lost the link, here it is.  Take a look and see if the painting you love is still available.
Big hugs!

Maggie

P.S.  Thanks to everyone who took the quiz and let me know their art buying style.

 



Spirit Rabbit
© Maggie Ruley 2016

 

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

maggie.ruleykw@yahoo.com

Find more things to love on my website: www.maggieruley.com

Connect with me on FACEBOOK

 

 

 

......And a Star to Steer Her By

The Power of Poetry

The world seems to be a little Helter Skelter  lately, just over the top meanness and crazy. Regrets if this bums you out, bums me out too.  So? What to do? What to do?  For me personally, it was to add some poetry* to my painting. The world needs more poetry, really.  This painting took the edge off that icky feeling for me.  I kept thinking about how the lines of poetry in the piece could represent the wind that moves the ships forward.

Because this was such an uplifting experience, I decided that my next painting classes** are going to focus on adding inspirational messages or symbols to the paintings. 

So, I'm going to tell my students to dust off their Jonathan Livingston Seagull, rummage through Pinterest for the perfect Rumi quote, or re-read their journals for snippets of things they've written that have helped them through their angst  filled moments.

I want to create a mini-movement of inspirational art.  I'm even considering a show of the work at the end of weeks we work on this.  But don't tell my students yet, just in case I can't make it work. 



Ships and Stars
24 x 24"
original acrylic
©Maggie Ruley 2016

*Sea Fever, I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel's kick, and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking

John Masefield

P.S.  I get my daily dose of poetry through The Writer's Almanac

** painting classes will resume the end of August, not sure the date because there's a week I might have jury duty.

Featured Giclee

Another way to add some smiles to your world is to look a Flamingo in the eye.  Everyone smiles when they do. It's a scientific fact.

Flamingo Feathers

Click here to purchase. It's easy peasy!

If you are 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

 

Find more things to love on my website: www.maggieruley.com

 

Connect with me on FACEBOOK

Mind Blowing Red

Every year this time in Key West our Royal Poinciana trees are in full bloom with mind blowing red flowers.

If you haven't been to Key West when they are blooming, regrets. Late May/early June is the primo time to see them. Can't make it then? No worries, they continue to have flowers through the summer.  Take a look at these beautiful ancient trees/souls. Enjoy these photos and see how my painting class did their own fabulous renditions of them.
#omg




Key West Royal Poinciana Tree
photo ©Maggie Ruley 2016



Grinell and Southard St. Key West
photo ©Maggie Ruley 2016



Poinciana Blooms Key West
photo ©Maggie Ruley 2016

 I love how my students each have a unique style and vision.  I encourage them to work in a way that lets their own way of seeing shine through their paintings.



Maggie Ruley Painting class June 2016
Poinciana Trees
photo ©Maggie Ruley 2016

My class really worked hard through the winter and spring and to celebrate that I gave them a pre-class luncheon in my studio.

#yespaintingiswork
#itsthebestkindofwork


Maggie Ruley painting class luncheon
Island Inspirations Key West
photo © Maggie Ruley 2016

I invited artist David Scott Meier as a special guest.  He was a great addition to the luncheon. We talked about travel, sky diving, art, food and much more.  The hour flew by. 
David is famous for his "Yellow Straw" (Nice Hat) and his dog paintings.
See some of David's Giclee reproductions on the wall in the photo above.

Doesn't my small middle gallery make a fabulous dining room?


Maggie Ruley painting class luncheon special guest, David Meier
Island Inspirations
933b Fleming St. Key West, FL 33040
photo © Maggie Ruley 2016

Want to paint with me? CLICK HERE to find out more about my painting classes.

If you are 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

 

Find more things to love on my website:

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

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

Kiss a Fireman ~ Day 11

On 9/11 it seems appropriate to talk about the generosity of others.  Here are two painting tips that have been drilled into me by 2 very generous artists/teachers/mentors.  And they are tips that really work to make your paintings better and are super easy to do.

 

1 - top photo - A dark line at the base on an object really grounds the object.  I have placed a dark mark at the base of each vase.  Thank you Jim Salem for repeatedly drilling that into me.

 

2 - bottom photo - A discarded mat close at hand can be used to isolate the image you are working on and give you a clear idea of what your next step should be.  Thank you Robert Burridge.

 

A big thank you to all the artists/teachers who so generously share their wisdom.

 

 And today and all days a huge thank you to firemen, police officers and first responders.  A kiss and hug to you all.

Remembrance
acrylic on paper
7 x 5" matted to 10 x 8"
$45
©Maggie Ruley 2014
 



nine floral paintings in progress
©Maggie Ruley

Thank you to Leslie Saeta for hosting this challenge.

E-mail subscribers if you click the link here you can:

• read pasts posts
• look at other blogs I follow
• see who my on line followers are
• click on the tabs to find out more info about me
• link to my website
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Duet ~ Day 9



Duet
acrylic on paper
7" x 5" matted to 10" x 8"
$45
©Maggie Ruley 2014

The painting above is the middle painting, middle row in the photo below.  You can see it changes a lot from this stage to the final painting.

This is a painting exercise I learned from artist

Robert Burridge

Nine little bouquets in progress



Each little painting is starting to take on a life of its own, but I still leave them joined.  They do not get separated until they are all finished.  All of the paintings get worked on at the same time.

To see day 9 from last year

Click Here

 

To see the other paintings in the 30 day Challenge

Click Here



Mute Monday (almost)

Ring around the Rosie
acrylic on paper
7' x 5" matted to 10" x 8"
$45

Day 8
2014 Leslie Saeta's
30 in 30 Days Painting Challenge

Step 2 of the Robert Burridge style warm up

Photos from last year's workshop