I just love "before and afters", don't you?

I'm always sucked in by those "before and after" articles in magazines like Coastal Living. 

There's just something I love about the transformation process.

Maybe it's because that's what happens when I paint.  The canvas goes through a transformation. From nothing but white to whatever I want. "iheartmyjob

Lately I've been experimenting with what I call "complicated backgrounds".  

Sometimes they're super complicated, like this series. 

And sometimes they're just a little wild and crazy.  

I'm getting ready-to-get-ready to start a new series of Key West cottage paintings, for a show I have coming up in February. So, I've been fooling a round with the wild and crazy concept to see if I can use it to get some interesting (not your usual ho-hum) cottages. 

I've still got to tweak it some, but there are some fun aspects to painting this way.

Here's the before

What I love about this start is it's feeling of movement

And here's the after

I ended up covering up more of the original layer than I would have liked. But that's the joy of painting. Each painting is a lesson!
Corner Cottage with Cat

This painting is 16" x 20", so it's too small for the show, but like I said, I'm getting ready to get ready.

And it's always good to work out the problems on a small scale before you pull out the big canvases. #learnedthehardway

Have a great day,

hugs

Maggie

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Maggie Ruley is a studio artist living in Key West, Florida. Her studio and gallery, Island Inspirations, showcases her artwork and is a creative learning center for her students.

When she's not in the studio, you can find her volunteering with local non-profit arts organizations, teaching classes and workshops, or at the beach.

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

Shot Gun Conchs and the Weekend Ahead

Another Party filled weekend in Key West starting with the................

Classic Key West - TSKW Members Salon

The Studios of Key West shows the work of its member artists twice a year.  The November Salon kicks off the new season and always has a theme.  This year's theme is Classic Key West.  Here is TSKW's description of how the artists might interpret the theme.


Ask what “classic” Key West is, and you’ll get a hundred answers. It might be Hemingway pulling in trophy fish, powder-fueled disco nights at the Copa, or the legend of Bum Farto. Or it might just be a color: the deep warm red of a Poinciana bloom, or the pale blue of a porch ceiling. Open to all members of The Studios, we invite the artists among us to take the island we call home as inspiration, and submit a work that says it best.

I decided to paint the classic Cigar Makers Cottage.  These little shotgun style  tropical cottages are all over the island and I love them. I also wanted to check off as many "classic Key West icons" as I could in this painting. 
For me these icons are:
flowers
chickens/roosters
water view
cats
bicycle
sailboat
sunset
palms
shutters
pretty colors
tiny porch
metal roof

The first place I lived in Key West was a 480 sq. ft. shotgun cottage.  No AC so the doors were always open and you could see straight through to the back yard. The door is always on the right side of the porch as you are facing the house.

Shotgun Conchs
acrylic - 24" x 30" gallery wrap
available through TSKW
©Maggie Ruley 2015

If you are in town I encourage you to come to this show opening.  TSKW will be handing out its new catalog of this season's classes and events.  If you are a collector it will be a great opportunity to see new work by artists from all over the island.

The Studios’ Member Salon

Nov 5-25. Opening Nov 5

Reception: Thu Nov 5, 6-8pm during First Thursdays

for more information about the Members Salon click HERE

Parrotheads in Paradise - Meeting of the Minds

November 4 - 8, 2015

If you are in Key West this weekend you'll notice TropRock music being played all over town along with Jimmy Buffet fans in flip flops, Hawaiian shirts, and straw hats covered with pins and mementos from past conventions.

This fun weekend is one of my favorites.

Meet the Parrotheads in Paradise

Info about the Meeting of the Minds

Schedule of events.

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,

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