 Key West artist, Maggie Ruley, with her “Mango Nation” oil painting outside her studio -Island Inspirations, 933 Fleming Street, Key West, FloridaI 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  Not a fan of Facebook? Or painting with groups?
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Maggie RuleyMaggie Ruley is a Key West–based artist whose contemporary paintings capture the color, light, and spirit of island living. Her work is collected by visitors and island residents who want to bring that relaxed, vibrant feeling into their spaces. ArchivesCategories |
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