The Delray Affair

"The House of Ruby"
By Eileen Seitz
MY INSPIRATION

Monday morning in Delray Beach I went out in search of my "muse". Not sure what I was looking for, but knowing it would reveal itself to me once again.

It was the hand applied "stucco" on the outside walls, the shape of the roof, the old barrel tiles , the front porch with white rockers and the grandness and fragrance of the magnificence healthy Orchid Tree flowering away. Immediately I stopped my car, starred for about a minute and I knew I found my muse. I drove around the surrounding streets a few times just to make sure there wasn't another inspiration. But no, this house kept calling me back.

So I parked my car, sat down to receive the energies. I was looking all around the front of this home and I noticed the variety of reds. The colors kept jumping out amidst the shades of greens. Everywhere I saw different reds and pinks; the house, the flowers on the tree, the fragrant huge light pink roses and the two red hibiscus flowers that bloomed that morning.

I grinned and smiled to myself. All shades of red, cranberry, violets, pinks, fuchsias. I thought how perfect. The owners love all shades of "Red". That just struck my mind very deeply. I did not know why but I felt it had significance.

I proceeded to draw, to bring the dance before me to the watercolor paper. Shortly as I was getting into my work, I felt the presence of another. I looked up and the lady of the house came out walking her gorgeous black furry dog. She greets me with a huge smile asking me what I was doing. I told her I was creating the painting for the Delray Affair 2011 art festival and liked her house to make it the Official 2011 poster. She smiled and introduced herself to me as Susan Ruby. As soon as I heard her name, I had to think "amazing” it was one of those Ah Ha moments. "Ruby" what a perfect name for the "owner" of this home. It was so PERFECT!! I was laughing quietly again.

Ruby is a shade of RED!!! One of those magical moments of how well the universe works.

Red = passion, pinks = love from the heart. Grounded "Love" was all I could think and it was a true reflection of this women I just met who laughed and smiled so freely.

She told me that the house was built in 1924 and it used to be on a pineapple plantation. That's why on the porch, at both sides at the top of the stairs are two large beautifully carved white pineapple sculptures, They remind me of the sitting lions at the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan. The porch windows are painted with white trim and in front of the windows sit two high back white rocking chairs. I found all of these details so inspirational.

She invited me to come into her home and she would give me a tour. The House is an historical home. I felt myself being transported back in time. Her choice of furniture and fabrics suited this home.

Delray is a community blessed with easy access to the beach. I needed to add the ocean to the painting as this is a big part of this community. After going to the beach and finding the hobie cat for the painting, my inner voice guided me to a corner property across the street where a beautiful canopy of very old sea grape trees lived. I carried my 2 stools and watercolor paper and sat for a while in the presence of these beautiful trees. They had been growing there along time by the size of the trunks and the way the bark has so many colors on it. Drawing them for me was like breathing in the ages. One more important thing in this painting is the bicycle. Can you find it? If you look deep enough you will see the blue bicycle.