I'm getting ready for my next show.I'm always proud to tell someone I'm a juried artist member of the Key West Art Center and Gallery. It's Key West's old gallery, established in 1960. Besides all their activities, they have shows for their artists throughout the year. And I'm super excited that my show is coming up soon. It's July 14, with the opening reception July 15. That means that all my painting efforts are directed to getting new pieces for the show. (It also means I've got to get BUSY) I'm making a couple of slight shifts for this show. First, most of the paintings will be oil paintings, not acrylic. Second, some of the paintings will be oil on paper, with a mat, ready to frame. (Easy for people to carry away) Tropical Summer - Recent Paintings - July 14-27, 2017 |
| 'I like to spend a fair amount of time at my easel messing around. I wish I had a more impressive classification for it, but it really is just "messin' around". I have a few beloved themes that I return to over and over again, so it's fun (for me, at least) to start a familiar theme with the question, "What if?" The objective is to paint the same-ol' same-ol' and make it not same-ol' same-ol'. Last week I took that approach to my curved shoreline with clouds theme. |  What Now? |
You can see the result above. It's not finished. In fact, it's having a time-out. For me a painting goes into time-out when I'm not entirely satisfied but don't know the answer to the question, "What Now?' ( I've had paintings in time-out as long as 9 months.)
The reality of the What if? approach to painting is that it's very easy to get started, For example, "What if I out line all the trees in red and all the clouds in blue?" Easy peasy, I outline all the trees in red and all the clouds in blue. And I can continue to ask What if? over and over as I paint. It can be huge fun with some exciting results. But it's inevitable that at some point I'm going to get to a place where I want to finish the painting and have to answer the question, What now? And that's a lot harder to answer.
The reality of the What if? approach to painting is that it's very easy to get started, For example, "What if I out line all the trees in red and all the clouds in blue?" Easy peasy, I outline all the trees in red and all the clouds in blue. And I can continue to ask What if? over and over as I paint. It can be huge fun with some exciting results. But it's inevitable that at some point I'm going to get to a place where I want to finish the painting and have to answer the question, What now? And that's a lot harder to answer.
Big hugs to everyone,
Maggie
Maggie
Sometimes you have to "walk the talk"
I continually tell my students that the fastest path to success as a painter is painting from life, either from a still life set up, or outside on location. Painting on location is commonly called plein air painting, a fancy French term that makes you feel really special while you are battling the heat, wind, sun or rain, and bugs.
I believe in its benefits so much that every year I run Plein Air Key West for the Key West Art Center. But I am chagrined to say I haven't done much of it lately. #studiohappens
So this last week I packed up my gear. loaded it on my bike, and joined up with our local plein air painting group to paint the cute cottage that back in the day was home to the great American playwright, Tennessee Williams..
I finished the painting in my studio because by noon, I was hot and my retinas felt burnt to a crisp. But I did enjoy the day and the challenge. I'm looking forward to more outdoor sessions.
I believe in its benefits so much that every year I run Plein Air Key West for the Key West Art Center. But I am chagrined to say I haven't done much of it lately. #studiohappens
So this last week I packed up my gear. loaded it on my bike, and joined up with our local plein air painting group to paint the cute cottage that back in the day was home to the great American playwright, Tennessee Williams..
I finished the painting in my studio because by noon, I was hot and my retinas felt burnt to a crisp. But I did enjoy the day and the challenge. I'm looking forward to more outdoor sessions.
Tennessee Williams in Key West
After my painting session I realized that I didn't really know that much about Mr. William's time here in Key West. I did know that he was an avid painter as well as a writer of plays and poems. And I could rattle off the names of his famous plays. #isawthemovie
So I went on "The Google" (as my mother calls it) to find out more. There wasn't as much as I thought, but there was an interesting interview with his last lover. (I'll let you find that on your own) And there was a page describing the permanent display of his art work in the Key West Art and Historical Society Museum, which I have seen and recommend. Here's the link to that.
http://www.kwahs.org/exhibitions/tennessee-williams-the-playwright-and-the-painter
When you are next in Key West take a look at his house, the Key West Art and Historical Society and my studio.
Maggie Ruley ~ Island Inspirations
933b Fleming Street, Key West
Tennessee Williams' house is a little off the beaten path, see the map below.
So I went on "The Google" (as my mother calls it) to find out more. There wasn't as much as I thought, but there was an interesting interview with his last lover. (I'll let you find that on your own) And there was a page describing the permanent display of his art work in the Key West Art and Historical Society Museum, which I have seen and recommend. Here's the link to that.
http://www.kwahs.org/exhibitions/tennessee-williams-the-playwright-and-the-painter
When you are next in Key West take a look at his house, the Key West Art and Historical Society and my studio.
Maggie Ruley ~ Island Inspirations
933b Fleming Street, Key West
Tennessee Williams' house is a little off the beaten path, see the map below.
Hugs to all,
Maggie
P.S. To those of you who are used to seeing my old blog delivered to your inbox; please note, that blog hasn't gone away, you can always find it at
www.maggieruley.blogspot.com
www.maggieruley.blogspot.com
Sometimes people see a painting that is already sold and ask me if I can paint one similar for them. Sometimes I can and sometimes I can't (or won't for various reasons).
I did this recently for a lovely couple from Arlington Va. While visiting Key West they saw a painting called Firebird. As a navy couple they had been stationed in Hawaii twice and remembered the bird of paradise flowers with fondness. They wanted a tangible reminder of their Hawaiian memories. Who could say no to that?
I was more than happy to paint Hawaiian Memories for them.
I did this recently for a lovely couple from Arlington Va. While visiting Key West they saw a painting called Firebird. As a navy couple they had been stationed in Hawaii twice and remembered the bird of paradise flowers with fondness. They wanted a tangible reminder of their Hawaiian memories. Who could say no to that?
I was more than happy to paint Hawaiian Memories for them.
Hawaiian Memories, 16 x 20" oil on canvas
Maggie Ruley acrylic basics painting class 2017
Every artist at one time or another looks at a painting and says, "I wish I had painted that." It happened to me a couple of weeks ago in my
acrylic basics painting class.
I gave my students a demonstration of a pineapple painting on a black primed canvas, and everyone of their paintings came out better than mine. I was very proud of them. But still, I would have liked to have been happier with mine.
So what did I do? I decided to start over and try to redeem myself.
Pineapple Moon is the result of my efforts.
So, if and when you experience creative envy don't despair, turn it into creative effort. You'll be glad you did.
hugs,
Maggie
Pineapple Moon - 24 x 20" acrylic 2017 Maggie ruley