Vero Beach and more

Vero Beach is a lovely community and the Riverside Children's Theater is an amazing facility. The atmosphere was very festive. The Christmas trees they had on display were beautiful and I met some wonderful women. Here is a photo of my display. It looks very dramatic with the dark background.

I've spent the last two days bringing work into the gallery and redoing my displays. The shelves are nice and full. But I can't wait to get back into the studio. I would like to get some painting done this next week.

I hope every one has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know I have a lot for which to be thankful.

More Bowls

This large coconut bowl is 14" across and has a blue green back side. It has a star pattern back as do all the bowls. Coconut bowl, $135.

This bowl has a red leaf and flower pattern. I really like the back, that dark red is called "red wagon" and really rich looking. This bowl is 13" across. Red leaf bowl $125.

I call this pattern "wild papaya". I have wild papayas in my yard, the leaves don't look exactly like that, but you get the idea. This bowl is 13" across. All of these bowls are 5 to 6" deep. Wild papaya bowl $125.

As I write this I am waiting to hear from my electrician. My kiln has a problem AGAIN! I pulled the wiring box apart and I can see it won't be a hard repair, but I don't have the skills or tools to do it. So if I can get it repaired today I will almost be on schedule for my Vero Beach show. If not, I'll go to the show with what I have. I do have some metal Christmas ornaments that need painting, so I could do those and take those along.

I want to thank the people who are subscribing to the blog via e-mail.

For all of my blog posts click http://www.maggieruley.blogspot.com

Everyone have a great day.

Yipee!!

For the last 18 months I have had supply problems getting the clay I like. I was having friends bring it to me from St. Pete and the Jacksonville area. So, I never knew when I would get clay next. Therefore, I was very stingy how I used the clay and was only making smaller items. But recently a new clay supplier appeared in Miami that carries the clay I like and I can get it trucked down to me. It's costly, but not as costly as trucking it from Jacksonville. The day after I got the clay I sat at my wheel and threw 8 large bowls. I am in the process of decorating and firing them now.

Bowl number one is finished in a pineapple - papaya motif.

Here is a side view.

Pineapple - papaya bowl $125.00

http://www.maggieruley.blogspot.com

Leaf and Berry

In the fall and the winter I usually make platters and serving pieces with a design I call
"Leaf and Berry". I do them in my usual tropical colors, but they seem more "northern". I am getting ready for a show in Vero Beach right before Thanksgiving and I think these might seem festive and Christmas-y. The bowls are $34 and the sets, which include a platter and a dip bowl with the spreader knife, are $74 for the oval ruffle set and $54 for the smaller round ruffle sets.

http://maggieruley.blogspot.com

NEW PAINTING - "EVERGLADES AFTERNOON"

This new painting is an oil on canvas. I usually paint in acrylics, but sometimes I just like the look and feel of oil paints. I also like some of the colors better. For example, in acrylic paint alizarin crimson is kind of muddy looking (in my opinion), but in oil paints I find it luminous. This painting "Everglades Afternoon" is 12 x 12 inches and framed in a black floater frame. It is hanging in 7 Artists Gallery and is $275.00

FREE E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION

Sorry, no photo today. I am trying out an e-mail subscription service and I have added the gaget to my home page. The preview is not the way I like it. Let's hope this works.

PAINTINGS WITH TEXTURE AND DIMENSION

A couple of weeks ago I was experimenting with some Golden products I had received in one of their educational workshops given at the Key West Art Center. I coated the canvas with light molding paste so that there was a texture on the canvas. When that was dry I started my grid based composition in the turquoise and red color scheme I seem to favor these days. I worked the background until I thought it was almost finished. Then I used a stencil to add a thick layer of molding paste in a palm shape. Then that had to dry overnight. Then I started to paint the palms and finish the background work. There are four of these in all and they make a nice grouping. I did a larger one but I forgot to texture the background and it isn't as interesting. I also think painting the edging strips works really well on these pieces.

OIL PAINTING SUNSET MARSH

I don't often paint in oils. It is a "hurry up and wait process" for me. There are some artists who can do it all at once, but not me. If I work too long on an oil painting it just gets muddy looking. This painting was started last October. After the first week of painting sessions I wasn't happy with it so I set it aside. The other day I looked at it and realized that I could probably finish it in one more session. And that is all it took. Now I am waiting for the final coat to dry. I used a lot of white in the last session and white takes a long time to dry. I used two photo references for this piece. One was from my trip to Hilton Head and the other was from a cloud photo I had taken somewhere in the Keys. It will still be awhile before this gets to the gallery. First it is going to the printer to be photographed. I think it will make some lovely prints on paper.

"Sunset Marsh"
16 x 20"
$525

WAITING

I wish I had taken before and after photos of this painting. This painting was started about 9 months ago. It is oil and I started it in my Jim Salem painting class. In the winter our painting spot has a large dock area that is a haven for Laughing Gulls. They make a lot of noise and demand your attention at times. I chose a composition of three and after the painting session I really wasn't very happy with what I had. So it had to go sit in a corner for awhile. I took a look at it the other day and decided that I just had to freshen some of the colors, change the width of the horizontal bands and add another layer of color to the birds. Now I am happy with the graphic black and white birds against the simple background. For some reason I find it a very calm painting. It has to dry and then I will take it in to the gallery.

"Waiting"

11 x 14" unframed

$325.

SNAIL MAIL PROJECT

I am participating in Kate Miller's Snail Mail Project with my friend Pam Hobbs. Art work is sent via US Postal service without an envelope from one artist to another. My work is above. I have taken two pear paintings that I started in my Bob Burridge workshop and re-worked them. After I reworked them I cut them and then re glued them so that each side of the art work has part of two pear paintings. Sounds more complicated than it is. The above photos show each side. Now, I am going to sent them on to Pam Hobbs, who is going to finish them and then send them on to Kate Miller. Kate has a number of artists participating and I think there are plans to show the finished pieces a year from now.

http://www.hobbsart.freeservers.com/

http://www.katepmiller.com/