Amp it up!

 

 

I've been busy in the pottery studio working on some amp-ed up designs.  I have decided to make the backs of most of my pieces just as juicy as the fronts.  Here is my fav so far.  Just LOVING! the chartreuse green.

 

Extra large platter with braided handles decorated front and back.  $235.00

10 Ways I Will Make This Painting Better

 

I went to Jim Salem's painting class yesterday.  I hadn't been to class in an age and felt I needed the discipline that the class setting brings.  Plus I got to see old friends and there where COOKIES!  We all did sunsets.  Everyone brought in sunset photos and they were shared.  I am basically happy with my painting, but I thought you might find it interesting to see how I evaluate a painting to decide if it is finished.  My very favorite prof from U of A (go wildcats!), Bruce McGrew, said all of the areas of a painting had to be resolved before you could call it finished.

 

 

Here are the 10 areas that I think need to be resolved and the how I plan to do so.  My next session on this painting will address these areas.   I will do the evaluation process again to decide if it is finished or not.  Stay tuned to see the final update. And don't you just LOVE the circles and arrows.

 

Do you think there's something I'm missing? Let me know.

Foodies

Some small original paintings on paper are off to the Virginia Perle Gallery in Toms River, New Jersey to be in a food themed show.  The show opens on August 2 with a book signing of "The Vegan Cheat Sheet".  I am excited about this show because my grandparents lived very close to Toms River (in Seaside Park, just over the bridge) and I have very fond memories of the area. And if I can't be there at least my work will be.   The show is up until early September.

www.virginiaperleartgallery.net

Sangria! Por Favor!

 

 

The third Thursday of every month, except August, The Studios of Key West hosts open studios for its studio artists (of which I am one) and opens a new show in its main gallery.  So.....

 

You are cordially invited to meet me in my studio at

600 White Street

Key West Florida

from 6 to 9 pm, July 18, 2013 

 

As a mid summer special I am serving some sangria

and all my prints will be 50% off.

 

Please come visit, have a glass of sangria and tell me how your summer has been.

 

I look forward to seeing you!  And did I mention the Sangria?

 

see you later!

Maggie

Key West treasure map

 

 

www.milezerokeywest.com

 

is like a treasure map of Key West fun.  This on line magazine is your guide to what's going on in Key West.  If you are a lover of all things Key West then you should be hooked up with this sight. The Event Calendar (on the bar at the top) is a must read for Key West Fun.    P.S. "like" their Facebook page and get daily gentle reminders.  

Happy 4th of July (short, short video)

Most of June was spent working with young artists and scrambling to put in a little studio time each day.  I have lots of fun stuff to share with you, but not today.  Enjoy your holiday.

3 Kinds of Beach Love

 

It's fun to have a bike at the beach. You can peddle into town for that new "beach book" you have been meaning to read.  Or, you can skim across the hard sand at low tide.  Or, you can leave it parked out front while you watch the sailboats glide by.

 

 

 

 

When you are this close to the beach do you really need a sign that points the way?  Probably not, but they are just so darn cute when you see them pointing the way at a rakish angle.

 

 

 

 

 

Fun at the beach is best when it is shared with friends and family.  Share some beach love this summer!

 

 

 

 

The Pilot's House

acrylic on canvas,

framed as shown 11" x 13"

image 5" x 7"

$165.00

©Maggie Ruley 2013

 

The inspiration for this cottage is the Pilot House on Simonton St. in Key West.

 

 

 

 

Beachside Charmer

Acrylic on canvas

framed as shown  13" x 11"

image size 7" x 5"

$165.00

©Maggie Ruley 2013

 

I love the ramshackle, sprawling form of the house.  You will find many of these "let's add on" cottages in Key West.

 

Good Neighbors
Acrylic on canvas
framed as shown 11" x 13"
image size 5" x 7"
$165.00
©Maggie Ruley 2013

Sometimes houses that are close together can be fun!

more paintings and pottery

Sultry and Soft

 

 

The weather in Key West was sultry and soft before I headed North.  Clouds would build up every afternoon, just threatening to rain, but not doing it.  Word is, after I left the rain started for real.  This scene is the little lagoon behind the Sugarloaf Lodge in my neighborhood.  I have painted this scene many times before and I never get tired of it.  The water is ever changing and those clumps of mangroves continue to grow. 

 

In this oil painting I wanted to incorporate those little flecks of light and activity that I like to use in my acrylic painting.  It was a soft day and I chose soft color and edges to reflect the mood.

 

This painting is 24" x 30" and a little too large for me to finish in one plein air session.  But I had a good handle on where I wanted to go before the light change was too drastic to continue painting.

 

 

Sugarloaf Lagoon

© Maggie Ruley 2013

oil on canvas

24" x 30"

$650

 

www.maggieruley.com



Just in time for summer!

  The word SUMMER unlocks an emotional response in almost everyone.  It is such a huge part of being a child.  Summer means FREEDOM AND FUN.  You go to the ponds and look for turtles and tadpoles.  You go fishing with your Grandfather and sailing with your friends.

 

You catch Dragonflies and lightning bugs and eat exotic fruit like pineapple.

 

All wonderful bright and sunny days.

 

Note to self:  it might be fun to put some lightning bugs on flip flops!

 

Dragonflies, turtles and other summer fun memories are captured on my cheerful ceramic flip flops.

 

A new batch of flip flops has come all the way to North Carolina with me and is headed to a wonderful store in New Bern called Carolina Creations.  Janet Francoeur has created a wonderful space filled with joyful creations.  And if you are ever in New Bern make sure you visit.  Tell her "Hi" and that Maggie sent you.  Or just do a little virtual traveling and click on the link.

 

I arrived in North Carolina yesterday to have my own summer family fun.  I did bring some paints, and if time allows I'll "dabble" a little. 

 

 

P.S.  I saved some flip flops for myself and my friends.  So if you can't make it to Carolina Creations send me an e-mail and will get you the pair that reminds you of your summers and vacations.

 

dragonflyartstudio@yahoo.com

Collage, easy and fun!

I have learned a new skill thanks to my 30 in 30 marketing challenge.  How to make a collage using an on line photo site called ipiccy.  It was easy, I ignored the download part and went right to edit photos and there was no problem.

Here is the collage created by our challenge leader Leslie Saeta, much more complicated than mine but I can see the potential in using this idea.