<![CDATA[MAGGIE RULEY-ISLAND INSPIRATIONS - STUDIO NOTES]]>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 06:55:42 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[The Florida Panther has been on my “things to paint” list for more than two years.]]>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 16:19:26 GMThttps://www.maggieruley.com/studio-notes/the-florida-panther-has-been-on-my-things-to-paint-list-for-more-than-two-years
Artist Maggie Ruley poses with her original painting Orange Blossom Morning, featuring a rescued Florida panther cub surrounded by orange blossoms, a mockingbird, a zebra longwing butterfly, and a colorful Florida landscape.

Meet baby Peppercorn 

aka
​Orange Blossom Morning 

​
Some paintings seem to know where they're going from the very beginning. This wasn't one of them.

When I started Orange Blossom Morning, I thought I was simply painting a rescued Florida panther cub. Peppercorn, abandoned at just eight weeks old, immediately captured my heart.

As the painting developed, it became something more.

I found myself adding a few of Florida's official state symbols: delicate orange blossoms, a zebra longwing butterfly, and a mockingbird.
Together they celebrate not only one remarkable young panther, but the wild beauty that makes Florida unlike anywhere else.

Peppercorn will never be released into the wild because she was rescued too young to learn the survival skills her mother would have taught her. Even so, she has become an ambassador for her species, helping people appreciate and protect the endangered Florida panther.
​
I hope this painting reminds you that some of Florida's greatest treasures aren't found on the beaches. Sometimes they're hidden quietly among the orange blossoms, waiting to be discovered.
Orange Blossom Morning, an original acrylic painting of a young Florida panther sitting beneath blooming orange blossoms with ripe oranges, a mockingbird, a zebra longwing butterfly, palm trees, colorful wildflowers, and blue Florida water in the background. The artwork is painted on a 36 × 24 inch gallery wrap canvas.
Details and Pricing
]]><![CDATA[Lazy River Book Club]]>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:52:40 GMThttps://www.maggieruley.com/studio-notes/lazy-river-book-club​This painting wasn't supposed to have any people in it.
​When I started, I simply wanted to paint a winding tropical lazy river filled with white inner tubes drifting through the water.
​I loved the peaceful feeling of it, but after a while I realized something was missing. It needed a little life—but not the kind of busy, noisy activity you usually associate with water parks.
Lazy River Book Club, a 36 x 24 original acrylic painting featuring women reading books while floating in white inner tubes along a tropical lazy river with palm trees, colorful umbrellas, and bright island colors.
Then it came to me.
What if it wasn't just a lazy river? What if there were women reading? Sounds right!

And what do we call a group of women friends who read books together?

A Book Club 👍
And so, this painting suddenly had a backstory.
​ The Lazy River Book Club doing what they do best.

What fun!

​I started adding women floating quietly in the tubes, each completely absorbed in her own book.
They're together, sharing the same beautiful afternoon, but each enjoying her own little escape.

That idea made me smile, and suddenly the painting had a story.

I imagined a place where the only agenda was finding a comfortable float, opening a good book, and letting the current do the rest.

​No schedules. No rushing. Just sunshine, tropical palms, bright umbrellas, and the simple pleasure of getting lost in a great read.
Artist Maggie Ruley stands beside her original acrylic painting, Lazy River Book Club, a 24 x 36-inch gallery-wrapped canvas featuring a bird's-eye view of women floating in white inner tubes while reading books along a winding tropical lazy river with palm trees, sandy islands, and bright coral beach umbrellas.
I have a feeling there are a lot of women who would happily sign up for this kind of book club.
​Lazy River Book Club is an original acrylic painting on a 24 x 36-inch gallery-wrapped canvas, with the image continuing around the edges so it's ready to hang without a frame.

If you'd like to see all the details, additional photos, or make it yours, you'll find Lazy River Book Club here.
LAZY RIVER BOOK CLUB: FIND OUT MORE

About Maggie

​
I'm a Key West artist creating colorful original paintings inspired by island life. My working studio and gallery are on Fleming Street in Old Town, where visitors are always welcome.
Browse Available Paintings
]]><![CDATA[June 25th, 2026]]>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:57:47 GMThttps://www.maggieruley.com/studio-notes/june-25th-2026Summerland has officially arrived 🎉
 #beach-bbq-vacation


What’s on your summer agenda? Are you traveling? Spending time with family? Working in the garden? Heading to the beach? I'd love to hear what your summer looks like.

I just returned from a trip to Louisville, Kentucky, where I spent time with my boys and their wonderful families.

My highlights included fun family meals, celebrating a milestone birthday for my eldest granddaughter #21, a Churchill Downs horse racing experience that included an upper level suite, a visit to the paddock where I got to stand by the famous Longines clock with a racehorse owner, watching a grandson’s tennis match, silent disco dancing (yes, it’s a real thing) and so much more. 
​
To top it off, the weather was perfect, with lower temps and no humidity — a major bonus.

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Here in Key West summer arrived around early May and now it’s HOT 🥵. 
However, there are some benefits:
  • Good fishing and snorkeling 
  • No waits in the restaurants
  • Uncrowded beaches,
  • A more relaxed pace around town
  • Summer specials at many businesses 
We still see plenty of families on vacation and visitors from around Florida, but there are fewer crowds, shorter waits at restaurants, and it's when locals get to enjoy the island a little more.
I'm taking advantage of the longer days and slower pace to work shorter days that often end with a quick visit to Fort Zach Beach for a swim or beach stroll. 
The slower summer season also gives me a chance to experiment, try new ideas, and build inventory for the busy season ahead. Currently there are several new small paintings in the works and a few larger pieces planned as well.
Whether you're spending your summer close to home or traveling somewhere special, I hope it includes time for the things you enjoy most.
I'd love to hear from you—what are you doing this summer?
​

Back in my studio, it’s fun to get back painting 

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​After a wonderful family vacation, I'm happy to be back in my Key West art studio with palette knife and oil paints in hand.
​This new tropical palm tree painting is inspired by the light, color, and coastal beauty of the Florida Keys, with bold texture and expressive brushwork that capture the feeling of island life.
SUMMER SPECIAL PRICING

Swaying Fronds

$650.00 $450.00

Swaying Fronds

tropical foliage against a blue sky with zebra winged butterflies by Maggie Ruley

acrylic on canvas

palette knife painting with heavy texture

24” x 24” x 1.5”

gallery wrap canvas, no framing required


Free shipping- continental United States
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Study for Sunset Sail

$350.00 $250.00

Study for Sunset Sail

colorful oil palette knife painting with heavy texture by Maggie Ruley

oil on canvas

14” x 11” unframed


Free shipping- continental United States
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Morning in the Mangroves

$525.00 $395.00

Morning in the Mangroves


Morning in the Mangroves captures one of those peaceful island moments. Two colorful boats rest side by side in front of a wall of green mangroves beneath a bright coastal blue sky.


Details

  • Original acrylic painting
  • 20” x 16” canvas
  • Framed in a white and black floater frame
  • Framed size: 18” x 22” x 1.5” deep
  • Ready to hang


Free shipping- Continental USA

No returns, contact: maggie.ruleykw@yahoo.com if you have concerns.


NOTE: Colors may vary slightly from original due to different monitors and devices
Shop
]]><![CDATA[Private Painting Parties in Key West: A Fun Activity for Groups, Families, and Vacationers]]>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 09:42:09 GMThttps://www.maggieruley.com/studio-notes/private-painting-parties-in-key-west-a-fun-activity-for-groups-families-and-vacationers​Planning a Key West Vacation? Add a Private Painting Party to Your Itinerary
​Looking for Something Fun to Do in Key West?

If you're planning a trip to Key West this fall or winter, chances are you're already dreaming about sunshine, palm trees, 🌴 good food, and a little time to relax.

But if you're traveling with a group, sooner or later someone always asks:
"What are we going to do together?" 🤔
​
That's where a private painting party comes in.
Painters are holding up their paintings in front of Maggie Ruley’s studio in Key West
Send me an email to plan your painting party □ maggie.ruleykw@yahoo.com

For the past several years, I've hosted private painting parties for bachelorette weekends, girls' getaways, family reunions, birthday celebrations, couples' groups, corporate retreats, and vacationing friends looking for something a little different.

No experience is needed.☺️

Really.

Most of the people who walk through my studio doors haven't picked up a paintbrush since elementary school.

I'll guide everyone step-by-step through a colorful Key West-inspired painting while your group laughs, chats, and creates something memorable together. It's less about making perfect art and more about sharing an experience you'll still be talking about long after the vacation ends.

Private painting parties can be held in my Old Town Key West studio or, for many groups, at your vacation rental, resort, or event space.

All supplies are included.✅
Your group simply shows up ready to have fun.

One of my favorite things about these events is watching people surprise themselves. Someone who starts the class insisting they're "not artistic" often ends up leaving with a painting they're genuinely proud of.

And unlike another souvenir T-shirt or refrigerator magnet, you'll go home with something you created yourself. 🖼️ 

If you're planning a girls' trip, family gathering, bachelorette celebration, corporate retreat, birthday party, or simply looking for a fun activity during your Key West vacation, I'd love to help make it special.

After all, the best vacation memories aren't always the things you buy.
Sometimes they're the things you create together.
​
Warmly,
Maggie Ruley
Key West Artist and Instructor 🎨

For More Information ⤵️
maggie.ruleykw@yahoo.com
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PAINTING PARTIES
SHOP THE PAINTINGS

About the artist:

Maggie Ruley is a studio artist living in Key West, Florida.

Her colorful, island-inspired acrylic paintings celebrate the charm, light, and character of Key West life.

Maggie’s work is collected worldwide and can be found in island homes near and far.

She has been featured in The Key West Citizen, New York Daily News, and other publications.
​
Visit her studio and gallery, Maggie Ruley ~ Island Inspirations, at 933b Fleming Street in the Historic Seaport area of Old Town Key West. www.maggieruley.com
]]><![CDATA[World Ocean Day - June 8, 2026]]>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 11:39:07 GMThttps://www.maggieruley.com/studio-notes/world-ocean-day-june-8-2026Celebrate and Protect
Colorful World Ocean Day promotional graphic featuring Maggie Ruley’s painting Blue Whale Whimsy, a 36

World Ocean Day

​Two whales rise through a sea of color, surrounded by starfish, sailboats, sunlight, and the playful patterns of life beneath the waves. Blue Whale Whimsy is a celebration of the beauty, wonder, and joy our oceans bring to the world.
On World Ocean Day, it's a reminder that the sea is more than a destination—it is home to countless creatures, a source of inspiration, and a treasure worth protecting for future generations.
May we continue to appreciate, respect, and care for the blue heart of our planet. 🌎💙🐋
— Maggie Ruley, Key West Artist
SHOP THE PAINTINGS

About the artist 


Maggie Ruley is a studio artist living in Key West, Florida. Her colorful, island-inspired acrylic paintings celebrate the charm, light, and character of Key West life. Maggie’s work is collected worldwide and can be found in island homes near and far.

She has been featured in The Key West Citizen, New York Daily News, and other publications. Visit her studio and gallery,

​Maggie Ruley ~ Island Inspirations, at 933b Fleming Street in the Historic Seaport area of Old Town Key West. www.maggieruley.com

Beach House Love II

$475.00

Beach House Love II


16” x 20” x .75 Acrylic Painting on standard canvas.

Image extends around edges.

Unframed.


Shipping: We offer FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the continental US. If you are located elsewhere, please email maggie.ruleykw@yahoo.com for shipping rates. 


Your painting is hand packaged with care and shipped from Key West, Florida via UPS or USPS. 


Please allow up to 7-10 business days for shipping.


Note: please allow for a slight variation in color from the original, due to viewing on various devices.


Maggie Ruley Key West

One-of-a-kind Original Acrylic Painting

Artist retains all copyrights ©️

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Shoreline and Surf

$575.00

Shoreline and Surf


Original Key West shoreline painting with real shells, sand, and sea glass from Fort Zach Beach. Textured coastal wall art in a 16 x 20 framed canvas.


Details

  • Original acrylic and mixed media painting
  • 16” x 20” canvas
  • Framed in a white and black floater frame
  • Framed size: 18” x 22” x 1.5” deep
  • Ready to hang


Free shipping- Continental USA

No returns, contact: maggie.ruleykw@yahoo.com if you have concerns.


NOTE: Colors may vary slightly from original due to different monitors and devices
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Serenity

$350.00

Serenity

peace sailboat painting by Maggie Ruley

acrylic palette knife painting with texture on canvas

10” x 8”

12” x 10” with frame


Free shipping- continental United States
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]]><![CDATA[Paint your pet with me in August]]>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 11:04:14 GMThttps://www.maggieruley.com/studio-notes/paint-your-pet-with-me-in-august
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I’ll teach you how on beautiful Cape Cod

Join me on Saturday, August 22, from 2:00–5:00 PM at Reciprocity Artisan Market in Harwich Port for a Paint Your Pet class.

Your pet will be pre-traced on a 16x20 canvas before class, making it easy and fun for beginners. You'll arrive to find your canvas ready to paint.

Just choose a good head-and-shoulders photo of your pet and email it by August 15. I'll prepare the outline before class.

All paints, brushes, and materials are included. Bring your favorite beverage and snacks and enjoy an afternoon of painting with fellow pet lovers.
​
Space is limited to 16 painters, so early registration is recommended.

Find out more 

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Sign up today, space is limited

About the artist

Maggie Ruley is a studio artist living in Key West, Florida. Her colorful, island-inspired acrylic paintings celebrate the charm, light, and character of Key West life.

Maggie’s work is collected worldwide and can be found in island homes near and far.

She has been featured in The Key West Citizen, New York Daily News, and other publications.

​Visit her studio and gallery, Maggie Ruley ~ Island Inspirations, at 933b Fleming Street in the Historic Seaport area of Old Town Key West.

Explore the paintings 

Bonnie and Clyde

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Big Love

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Blue Whale Whimsy

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Summer on the Cape

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Room to Breathe

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Juicy

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Serenity

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Crab Claws and Frites

Shop

Aperol Spritz

Shop
]]><![CDATA[Special Studio Pricing]]>Mon, 25 May 2026 18:07:23 GMThttps://www.maggieruley.com/studio-notes/special-studio-pricing
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New on the website: Special Studio Pricing

The website has been getting a little refresh lately.

I’ve added a new section called Special Studio Pricing featuring a group of original paintings at especially good studio prices. Some are older favorites. Some are experimental pieces. Some are paintings that simply deserve a fresh set of eyes.👀 

I’ve also added quite a few brand new paintings throughout the website, so there’s lots of new work to explore right now.

One thing I’ve realized lately is that many people have never really browsed my website the way they would walk through a gallery. They may see a painting or two on Facebook or Instagram, but they don’t always realize how much artwork is actually there.

So this is your invitation to take a look around.

You’ll find colorful island-inspired originals, smaller pieces, larger statement paintings, tropical skies, palms, roosters, marsh scenes, and all kinds of little bits of Key West life scattered throughout the collection.
​
And yes… there are a few especially good finds waiting in the Special Studio Pricing section too.
Happy browsing,
Maggie
SEE THE SPECIALS

Before the Storm

$595.00 $395.00

Before the Storm

Colorful Turquoise Waves are starting to churn on the beach. A perfect coastal wave acrylic painting.


Image: 18 x 24” on smooth panel

With frame: 21 x 27”.

Framed in a whitewashed bar wood frame.


Shipping: We offer FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the continental US. If you are located elsewhere, please email maggie.ruleykw@yahoo.com for shipping rates. 


Your painting is hand packaged with care and shipped from Key West, Florida via UPS or USPS. 


Please allow up to 7-10 business days for shipping.


Note: please allow for a slight variation in color from the original, due to viewing on various devices.


Maggie Ruley Original one-of-a-kind acrylic artwork from Key West, Florida

Artist retains all copyrights ©️

Maggie Ruley-Island Inspirations | A Key West Art Gallery | 933b Fleming St.
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11th Street Beach, Tybee Island

$395.00 $225.00

Tybee Isand Beach Access - leave only footprints

part of the Tybee-inspired collection and infused with coastal vibes.


11” x 14” x .5 Acrylic Painting on canvas.

Image extends around edges.

Ready to hang.


Shipping: We offer FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the continental US. If you are located elsewhere, please email maggie.ruleykw@yahoo.com for shipping rates. 


Your painting is hand packaged with care and shipped from Key West, Florida via UPS or USPS. 


Please allow up to 7-10 business days for shipping.


Note: please allow for a slight variation in color from the original, due to viewing on various devices.


Maggie Ruley Original one-of-a-kind acrylic artwork from Key West, Florida

Artist retains all copyrights ©️

Maggie Ruley-Island Inspirations | A Key West Art Gallery | 933b Fleming St.
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Flowers in a Greek Vase

$695.00 $425.00

Flowers in a Greek Vase

Colorful floral arrangement in an Ancient Greek vase with a charming owl decoration.


16” x 20” x .5” Acrylic Painting on canvas.

Framed with white frame - adds 1” to each dimension

Ready to hang.


Shipping: We offer FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the continental US. If you are located elsewhere, please email maggie.ruleykw@yahoo.com for shipping rates. 


Your painting is hand packaged with care and shipped from Key West, Florida via UPS or USPS. 


Please allow up to 7-10 business days for shipping.


Note: please allow for a slight variation in color from the original, due to viewing on various devices.


Maggie Ruley Original one-of-a-kind acrylic artwork from Key West, Florida

Artist retains all copyrights ©️

Maggie Ruley-Island Inspirations | A Key West Art Gallery | 933b Fleming St.
Shop

Summer on the Cape

$395.00 $275.00

Summer on the Cape by Maggie Ruley

Vintage sand pail and shovel on a beautiful beach


  • Oil on standard canvas
  • 12” x 12” x .75”
  • unpainted edges


Happy memories of New England summer beach day as sailboats race by. I have fond memories of a Cape Cod vacation and the beautiful wild roses that line the beach path.


Shipping: We offer FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the continental US. If you are located elsewhere, please email maggie.ruleykw@yahoo.com for shipping rates. 

Your painting is hand packaged with care and shipped from Key West, Florida via UPS or USPS. 

Please allow up to 10-14 business days for shipping. 



Maggie Ruley Original one-of-a-kind acrylic artwork from Key West, Florida

Artist retains all copyrights ©️

Maggie Ruley-Island Inspirations | A Key West Art Gallery | 933b Fleming St.
Shop

Splash of Color

$325.00 $225.00

Splash of Color

Contemporary floral painting 

14” x 11” plus frame.

Acrylic Painting on canvas.


Shipping: We offer FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the continental US. If you are located elsewhere, please email maggie.ruleykw@yahoo.com for shipping rates. 

Your painting is hand packaged with care and shipped from Key West, Florida via UPS or USPS. 

Please allow up to 10-14 business days for shipping. 



Maggie Ruley Original one-of-a-kind acrylic artwork from Key West, Florida

Artist retains all copyrights ©️

Maggie Ruley-Island Inspirations | A Key West Art Gallery | 933b Fleming St.
Shop

Sassy Rooster

$350.00 $275.00

Sassy Rooster

colorful Key West Rooster by Maggie Ruley

acrylic on canvas

12” x 10” with frame


Free shipping- continental United States
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Sail Away

$250.00 $175.00

Sail Away

colorful Key West sailboat by Maggie Ruley

acrylic on canvas

14” x 11” unframed

painted sides, ready to hang

Class demonstration painting


Free shipping- continental United States
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Blue Heron

$250.00 $175.00

Blue Heron

colorful Blue Heron and sunset painting by Maggie Ruley

acrylic on canvas

14” x 11” unframed

painted sides, ready to hang

Class demonstration painting


Free shipping- continental United States
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Beauty in the Reeds

$425.00 $325.00

Beauty in the Reeds

colorful blue heron with butterflies by Maggie Ruley

acrylic on canvas

12” x 12” x 1.5”

gallery wrap canvas, no framing required


Free shipping- continental United States
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Brilliant Foliage

$425.00 $325.00

Brilliant Foliage

colorful tropical foliage with butterflies by Maggie Ruley

acrylic on canvas

12” x 12” x 1.5”

gallery wrap canvas, no framing required


Free shipping- continental United States
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Beach Day Surf and Sand

$275.00 $175.00

Beach Day Surf and Sand

mixed media and acrylic painting by Maggie

acrylic and beach shells on canvas

8” x 10”

10” x 12” with frame


Free shipping- continental United States
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Midnight Muse

$650.00 $450.00

Midnight Muse

colorful tropical foliage surrounding white herons with butterflies by Maggie Ruley

acrylic on canvas

24” x 24” x 1.5”

gallery wrap canvas, no framing required


Free shipping- continental United States
Shop

About the artist

Maggie Ruley is a studio artist living in Key West, Florida.

Her colorful, island-inspired acrylic paintings celebrate the charm, light, and character of Key West life.

Maggie’s work is collected worldwide and can be found in island homes near and far.
She has been featured in The Key West Citizen, New York Daily News, and other publications.

Visit her studio and gallery, Maggie Ruley ~ Island Inspirations,
​at 933b Fleming Street in the Historic Seaport area of Old Town Key West.
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]]><![CDATA[Oysters, a favorite for Key West Happy Hour]]>Sat, 23 May 2026 12:59:51 GMThttps://www.maggieruley.com/studio-notes/oysters-a-favorite-for-key-west-happy-hourFresh off the easel 
Oil palette knife painting of oversized oyster shells layered across a soft peach-pink background on an easel in Maggie Ruley’s Key West studio. The oysters are painted in creamy whites, pale aqua, gray, and touches of gold with thick textured brush and knife strokes. Colorful tropical paintings can be seen in the background.
​Fresh off the easel. 🦪
A little coastal, a little dressy, and full of thick paint and soft island color. These oversized oysters have that cocktail-hour energy I keep coming back to lately.

Painted in the studio in Key West with palette knife layers and a peachy pink background that reminds me of late afternoon light before dinner plans.
​
This one feels like summer by the water. 🍸🌴
​This painting will be part of a new summer series coming soon. 🌴🦪

Email subscribers always get the first look and first dibs before new work is officially released online or in the studio.
​
Join my email list at HERE
​Maggie Ruley is a studio artist living in Key West, Florida.
Her colorful, island-inspired acrylic paintings celebrate the charm, light, and character of Key West life.
Maggie’s work is collected worldwide and can be found in island homes near and far. She has been featured in The Key West Citizen, New York Daily News, and other publications.
Visit her studio and gallery, Maggie Ruley ~ Island Inspirations, at 933b Fleming Street in the Historic Seaport area of Old Town Key West.

.www.maggieruley.com
]]><![CDATA[Memorial Day Weekend in the Studio]]>Fri, 22 May 2026 12:14:10 GMThttps://www.maggieruley.com/studio-notes/memorial-day-weekend-in-the-studio
Maggie Ruley standing in her Key West art studio holding paintbrushes beside large expressive American flag paintings. The colorful contemporary paintings feature loose brushwork, layered red, white, and blue paint, stars, flamingos, and energetic abstract details. An easel and studio supplies surround the longtime Key West artist in her working space.
Memorial Day weekend in the studio □□ Working on a series of loose, expressive American flag paintings inspired by summer, freedom, old Florida color, and life in Key West.
​Memorial Day weekend is here and I’ll be open in the studio all weekend, including Memorial Day Monday.
I’ve been working on new paintings and the studio walls are filled with fresh color, texture, clouds, palms, cottages, and island scenes inspired by life here in Key West.
​
If you’re out walking around Old Town this weekend, stop in and say hello. Visitors are always welcome, whether you’re looking for artwork or just curious to see what’s happening in the studio.
Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday weekend.
Big hugs,
Maggie
PAINT YOUR OWN AMERICAN FLAG

About the artist

​
Maggie Ruley is a studio artist living in Key West, Florida. Her colorful, island-inspired acrylic paintings celebrate the charm, light, and character of Key West life.

Maggie’s work is collected worldwide and can be found in island homes near and far.
She has been featured in The Key West Citizen, New York Daily News, and other publications.
​
Visit her studio and gallery, Maggie Ruley ~ Island Inspirations, at 933b Fleming Street in the Historic Seaport area of Old Town Key West.
www.maggieruley.com
SHOP
]]><![CDATA[How a Mango Painting Turned Into an American Flag Experience]]>Fri, 15 May 2026 18:21:12 GMThttps://www.maggieruley.com/studio-notes/how-a-mango-painting-turned-into-an-american-flag-experience
Maggie Ruley standing beside an oil painting of a flag decorated with mangoes outside her studio in Key West Florida

Key West artist, Maggie Ruley, with her “Mango Nation” oil painting outside her studio -Island Inspirations, 933 Fleming Street, Key West, Florida 

​I was working on a painting for the Studios of Key West “Mango Madness” show and decided to do an American flag with mangoes replacing the red stripes and a conch shell in the blue section.

While I was painting it, I started thinking about America’s upcoming 250th anniversary and some of the loose, energetic flag paintings I’ve done over the years.
They’ve always been fun paintings.
Bold brushwork. Strong color. A little movement. A little chaos. The kind of painting where perfection is definitely not the goal.
And honestly, they’re not hard to paint.

That got me thinking this might be the perfect year to teach other people how to create their own version for this very special July 4th season.
So I decided to turn it into an online painting experience.

My “Not Your Average” American Flag Acrylic Painting Experience takes place inside a private Facebook group where students can paint along with me at their own pace.

As soon as you join, you’ll have access to the painting instruction videos and templates, so you can get started right away.

Then we’ll also have live paint-along sessions where you can ask questions, watch demonstrations, and share the experience with the group.

The painting itself is loose, colorful, and forgiving.
This is not about painting a stiff, ruler-straight flag.
It’s about creating something with personality and energy that feels festive and handmade.
Something you’ll actually want to hang up for Memorial Day, July 4th, summer parties, beach houses, lake houses, porches, or backyard celebrations.

And honestly, there’s something extra special about being able to say, “I painted that myself.”
Especially this year.

The class is designed for beginners and experienced painters alike.
Students can paint on either an 11x14 or 16x20 canvas using their own acrylic supplies.

Drawing templates are included along with step-by-step instruction videos and the live sessions inside the Facebook classroom.

The class is just $25 in honor of the America 250 celebration.
And if you can’t attend the livestreams live or your internet connection is slow, no worries. Everything will remain available to replay and watch anytime.
​
I think this one is going to be a lot of fun.
Hope you’ll join me.
Big hugs,
Maggie
JOIN THE PAINTING EXPERIENCE
A Maggie Ruley painting of an American Flag over a sofa in a room decorated for July 4, 2026

Not a fan of Facebook? Or painting with groups? 
I get it!!
There’s a video only version of the class you can access to paint when you want, how you want. ⤵️🇺🇸

Video only class experience
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