Words to Live By

She Listens
Original Sold
giclee reproductions available HERE
©Maggie
quote from The Awakening by Kate Chopin

 

 

I'm taking a short break and visiting family in North Carolina, but while I'm away my students are finishing their paintings for our group show Words to Live By that is coming in early October.

 

Remember I said I wanted to create a mini movement of inspirational themed art work?  Sure you do!

 

Well, it happened and I was really pleased to see my students stay focused on the theme for 5 weeks. That's a long time for the creative attention span.  I'm really excited to see what comes in for the show.

group show work in progress

 

The invitations have been printed and  I've given the artists a little challenge, telling them to get them out to their friends and potential customers. And as a bonus I sent them a little art marketing information I've gained over the years. 

 

 

 

Marketing seems confusing when you first start out. But it doesn't have to be.

 

I'll share the few simple, but effective techniques I gave them, with you next week.   (For you creatives out there who would like a very simple start to marketing)

 

I invite you to mark your calendar and join us at the reception if you can.

#smileyfacehere

 

 

 Anyway, while my students are working away, I'm enjoying the first hint of fall.

The September Special is going on Here

Don't forget about this really cool workshop


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

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