#3 30 in 30

I have two series of paintings started. A series of oil sunset paintings and a series of floral paintings.

This is the first finished in the sunset paintings. This is painting #3 in the 30 day Challenge.  Our host for the challenge, Leslie Saeta paints with a palette knife.  It certainly saves on the brush cleaning chore but you go through a ton of paint.

 

 

Sunset on the Edge
oil on canvas board
11" x 14"
$95.00 unframed
© Maggie Ruley 2014

Catch that wave #2 30 day challenge

Here is painting #2 for the 30 day painting challenge hosted by Leslie Saeta.  This year there are over 700 artists participating. 
 I especially liked Helen Trachy's submission for yesterday because she painted a gray tabby cat and I have a gray tabby named Mango.



Catch That Wave
Oil on canvas
5" x 7"
$85.00 unframed
© Maggie Ruley

Here is day # 2 for the 2013 challenge

Now I am going to head over to Leslie's blog and take a peek at today's paintings.  Want to join me?

Click here





Let's learn Hawaiian

As I painted this charming seaside cottage I wondered if I could learn Hawaiian just by listening to Iz?

( Israel Kamakawiwo'ole)

 

Such a beautiful language to listen to and I love the music.  I do hope to make it back to Hawaii someday.

Idyllic Cottage
Oil on canvas
7" x 5"
$85 unframed

This will be painting #1  the 30 day Challenge hosted  by Leslie Saeta

September Challenge

It's time again for the 30 paintings in 30 days Challenge hosted by Leslie Saeta.  I will be participating this year.  I have a few more days yet to decide if I want to choose a theme.  I knowing will be doing smaller work than the my standard size of  20" x 24".  That's good because my stock of small paintings is a bit depleted.  

This will be a good time to do some experimental painting; use up those odd materials, try some new techniques,  work on that "things I'd like to paint" list.
Here are some links to last year's challenge 

http://maggieruley.blogspot.com/2013/09/906-seabreeze-lane-day-9-30-day.html

http://maggieruley.blogspot.com/2013/09/smathers-beach-looking-north-6-x-8-oil.html

http://maggieruley.blogspot.com/2013/09/chunky-funky-palm.html

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http://maggieruley.blogspot.com/2014/08/september-challenge.html

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Anybody else out there doing this year's challenge?

The Chicken Dance

This lively rooster is strutting his stuff.  And despite the lively brushwork in his tail feathers he has somewhat of a folk art feel to him.  I think maybe it's due to the small head.  But their heads really are small in comparison to the rest of them.

Strider
20 x 24" acrylic on canvas
$580
©Maggie Ruley 2014

Hope you are having a great weekend!

 

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Beautiful flyer

I love this recently finished Roseate Pelican!  He was a joy to work on.  He will soon be flying to his new home in Ohio.  

Bon Voyage!

Roseate Pelican
acrylic,
private collection
© Maggie Ruley 2014

And, you will notice I changed my header (again!, but really that one had been there a long time and that painting has been long gone)

Anyway this new header is a cute little watercolor of my studio front.  I wanted something sweet I could use for a biz card and postcard.

Roseate Pelican 

20" x 24"

Acrylic on canvas

 SOLD

Giclee prints available

Meet the neighbors

The cucumbers and green peppers I brought for lunch today just weren't cutting it.  So I popped out my front door and headed to Help Yourself for some hummus to add to my lunch plate.  It's wonderful that the new studio is in such a cool location.  There are B and B's,  a small inn, food places that are not your same-ol'-same-ol', interesting shops and small biz firms, quaint cottages and perfect Victorian homes.

It's not the main drag of Duval Street, but it has it's own lovely charm.  When you come and visit the studio you will know exactly what I mean. But until then I will start introducing you to the neighbors.

Help Yourself houses an organic restaurant, organic market, juice bar and health food store.

Help Yourself
829 Fleming St. Key West
photo Maggie Ruley

Here's my lunch after I added the fire roasted jalapeño hummus.  Much more filling.

Salt Island Provisions
830 Fleming St. Key West
photo Maggie Ruley

Salt, Island Provisions is a lovely small retail shop featuring local honey and sea salt.  I love the way they have their mission statement on the front door.  So simple and honest, I am going to "borrow" that idea.

 

 

 

Not too many peeps on the Conch Tour Train today, maybe too hot.  Directly across from my studio are these lovely Victorian homes.  I have a wonderful view.

I love this town.  Lunch was great, now I feel like going for a swim!  

The Mango Seller

June is the beginning of mango season in Key West.  By late June and early July most of the Mango trees are laden with fruit.  One day there was a young girl with a mango stand selling mangos for a dollar a piece on Fleming Street.  She was standing along side her small table on the side walk selling to the passers by. It was late in the day and I went around the block to get back to her, Fleming is a one way street, and when I got back she was gone. She became the inspiration for this painting.  My cat's name is Mango so she had to be in the painting.

The Mango Seller
© Maggie Ruley 2014

"The Mango Seller"

Acrylic on canvas

40 x 30"

Sold

Giclee prints available

The new studio~gallery is going well.

 

My children's art classes are over and I can be in the studio all day.  I'm getting lots of painting done and meeting the people in the neighborhood.

Island Inspirations

933B Fleming St

Key West, FL 33040

I've gussied up my entry a little.  Lots of dogs walking their people on the street and they get very thirsty in this heat.

2 Studios in Action

My July mornings are filled by working with young artists in a studio space in the East Martello Fort.

We work on various projects until 1:30.

Afternoon from 2 to 6 I spend in my new studio/gallery.  There is still lots to do and get "in order". Whatever that is?  But yesterday I just had to paint.  So here is the first painting from my new studio.

Untitled as of yet, it is  a piece inspired by 2 other pieces I wanted to tweak.

Mangrove and cloud study, untitled
acrylic
12 x 12"
©Maggie Ruley 2014

Above is the studio corner of the gallery before I started using it.  And below is the after pic.  I think I like after better.

A brand new gig or Plan B

The Studios of Key West (the parent organization where I have my painting studio) is moving.  The beautiful historic Armory Building has been a rental and the lease is up.  TSKW is in the process of renovating a building they have purchased.

That meant that my future was up in the air, the new building won't be ready until Dec. or January.  I was on Fleming St. in March and saw this sign.  And thought, "Humm???"

Long story short I signed the lease June 26th and my new studio/gallery opened July 4th weekend.

Through the month of July I am teaching children's art classes in the morning, so weekdays I am only open in the afternoon.

Here is the official announcement!  Trumpets please!

Maggie Ruley ~ Island Inspirations
933b Fleming Street
Key West
Florida, 33042

305 304-1013

July Hours
Monday - Friday 2pm to 6pm
Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 6pm.

It is slowly taking shape here are the first photos.