The Blog

When I began painting and selling my work online, I found something exciting and rewarding. I love to create!! It’s something that I have to do whether I sell any of it or not! It’s part of who I am. … Read More

Meet Christie Hawkins! She is the owner of The Social Easel and is a wonderful example of how artists should never stop growing and learning!   Here’s Christie’s Story… When I started taking classes from Amanda I had never worked … Read More

Today I want you to meet Beverly Parsneau. Her experience with how art can heal is just amazing!   Here’s Beverly’s Story… I’m a retired middle school art teacher of 32 years. My husband and I always had creative projects … Read More

I would like to introduce you to Melissa Ellington. In the past, she never felt comfortable calling herself an artist, but after joining our Creative Community she does! AND she is selling her artwork!!! Amazing!! Encouraging!! and just one of … Read More

  Framing Canvas Art There is nothing that can really finish a painting like a frame. I’ve been so surprised by how some of my smaller canvas art has been transformed by simply adding a frame! It bulks up the … Read More

An Inspiring Community   “Those jellyfish you recently painted were so beautiful! Where did you get the idea to paint jellyfish?” Someone recently asked me this question. I thanked them for the compliment and without skipping a beat began telling … Read More

  Save Your White Paint Have you ever tried to create depth in your paintings but have a hard time knowing when to use what colors to do that? I’ve found that a light, medium, and dark hue can do … Read More

Hi there, friend. I’m Amanda, and this is my story! I’m a mixed media artist, and I love to use a variety of mediums on a canvas to bring an unusual twist of texture to my pieces. I most often … Read More

There are so many amazing artists in my Creative Community. In the last several weeks  I’ve been interviewing and featuring some of them here on the blog.   This week’s featured artist is Sharon Coleman. This is our interview, some of … Read More

Thick Paint There are so many options out there when you begin looking for paint. Acrylics are my favorites for many reasons! I love the variety of mediums that can be mixed with them, and I love that you can … Read More

There are so many amazing artists in my Creative Community. I have been interviewing and featuring some of them here on the blog lately! This week’s featured artist is Pam Wilder. This is our interview, some of her beautiful paintings, and … Read More

Have you ever heard this quote before? “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” It’s attributed to artist, Pablo Picasso whose artwork was very unique, abstract, and playful. I love being messy and … Read More

There are so many amazing artists in my Creative Community. I have been interviewing and featuring some of them here on the blog lately!   This week’s featured artist is Sali Parker. This is our interview, some of her beautiful paintings, … Read More

New Prints Y’all! I just brought back matted and signed prints AND added new prints to the shop! It has been a while since I added any new prints of my originals, but now you can shop 40 different designs … Read More

There are so many amazing artists in my Creative Community. In the following weeks I’ll be interviewing and featuring some of them here on the blog.   This week’s featured artist is Donna Reed. This is our interview, some of her … Read More

How To Package And Ship Small Paintings Most of the packages that I ship myself are smaller pieces. Things like prints and small canvases can easily be packaged and shipped from your home! I have also found a great way … Read More

There are so many amazing artists in my Creative Community. In the following weeks I’ll be interviewing and featuring some of them here on the blog.   Today’s featured artist is Jennifer Cupp. Here’s our interview, some of her beautiful … Read More

This topic comes up so often in art circles. How do you find YOUR style? How do you transition from copying to learn to making art that’s as unique as you are? This free mini class will walk you through … Read More

Make Time For Art One of the most common concerns that I hear from customers who are thinking about joining my online painting group is that they don’t know if they have enough time to paint. My reply is…make time … Read More

Do you ever find yourself looking at a blank canvas with a blank mind? It is possible to overwork yourself as an artist and deplete your creativity. Like the old saying goes, “You can’t pour from an empty cup!”. So … Read More

Time Lapse Loose Spring Floral   Here’s a fun little video for ya on the first day of April! This piece took over an hour to create, but it’s sped up to under one minute just for fun! I’m so … Read More

          Art Is An Escape   I truly believe that art is so much more than home decor. It is a much needed escape from the chaos of life. Art is a spark of joy in … Read More

Paint all the things that you love in your own hand made journal. It’s a painted diary about you. Let’s paint your story. Y’all! I have a new and very different offering ready for you to experience! I’m so excited … Read More

We are having a fun week of daily prompts over in my free Facebook group! I’m hosting a 5 day creative challenge! Whoo hoo! Are you in my free group? If not, here’s the link to join: Friends of the … Read More

Yay! There are three new tutorials ready for you in my Studio Sessions painting lessons! A flying pig, a blue crab, and a sweet llama are all waiting on you to create them!

I’m excited to announce the release of my new collection of original artwork, New Beginnings! This series features nests, eggs, and birds in sizes 4×4 -11×14. I created these pieces using a variety of supplies like: acrylic paints, tissue paper, … Read More

Reflections on the past year and hopes for the future are on everyone’s mind right now. My mind is fixed on intentional living, purposeful choices, and working hard at finding a sense of grounded peace in every area of my … Read More

Some of my favorite things are right here in this space. It’s my private art studio. This room is in our home, and I thought I’d give you a little tour as well as some links to shop my studio! … Read More

I know you’ve seen other bloggers and creatives on social media doing some kind of 12 Days of Christmas type of sale or gift giving ideas. Well…the best gift that I have to give you is the gift of creativity. … Read More

I am so excited about this new offering that I believe will be soooo much fun! So many have requested a tutorial on this guy that I decided it would be awesome for us all to create it together! Let’s … Read More

This piece is a new exploration and also a bit of a revelation! In this one painting I see elements of influence. I see ideas gleaned from many different artists that I admire and ideas from my own experience and … Read More

Our laundry room was dark and gloomy when we moved into this house. I painted the paneling with primer over a year ago and then just left it for a while. I didn’t really have a plan for what to … Read More

  This piece started out as a pitcher of pink roses, but I recorded a video as I changed these flowers to something that I liked even better and created a palette knife sunflower painting! The video below was recorded … Read More

(This post contains affiliate links)   Palette Knife Painting I love palette knife painting. I mean….truly love it. Why do I love it so much? Palette knife painting is messy. It’s fun, and it’s full of texture. I’ve tried so … Read More

10 Lies People Believe About Art   I hear it all the time….”I can’t even draw a stick figure.” Where is all of this negativity towards creativity originating? I’m not really sure. However, I’ve made a list of 10 lies … Read More

Painting A Fall Fox I can’t get over how quickly the summer has gone by. It’s time to start getting ready for all things pumpkin!! Yay! Painting things that are seasonal can be so much fun, and I’d love to … Read More

Hi there! I am so excited that you are here for this little bluebird art lesson! I know you are going to have so much fun creating this little fox. This kind of art is called mixed media. That just means … Read More

Painting Makeover Taking old paintings and giving them new life is so rewarding to me. Here’s how I gave this painting a little makeover. Sometimes paintings sit in my studio and I just never feel great about them. I usually … Read More

Hi there! I am so excited that you are here for this little bluebird art lesson! I know you are going to have so much fun creating this little pumpkin. This kind of art is called mixed media art. That … Read More

Buffalo Check Plaid (This post includes affiliate links) If you have been out of your house at all lately, you’ve seen all the home decor covered in buffalo check plaid! It’s trending for sure! I decided to take on buffalo … Read More

  Creativity is not a competition! Comparison is a thief of joy! There is room for us all!   Dear Artist Friend, Do you know what? Your success as an artist is ambiguous. Just like art itself, it’s all about … Read More

New Individual Art Lessons From My Studio I’m so excited to share with you a new offering that is now available in my shop! Studio Sessions are individual tutorial videos taken from my online painting group, The Little Bluebird Gallery … Read More

This month in The Little  Bluebird Creative Community, we are painting faces, feminine figures, and a whimsical mixed media girl! I love creating loose and whimsical faces and figures with a palette knife. Allowing myself to be messy and have … Read More

I’ve got two new prints now available in the shop! These new products are available with these designs now. Canvas Prints! AND….Journals!! AND…..Zipper Pouches, too!!! Find them all here in my online shop!      

This month in The Little Bluebird Creative Community we are creating all things transportation related! This cute little guy is one of our projects and he’s called, Be Happy! Here’s a time lapse video of a portion of the tutorial … Read More

This new painting came to life Live on my Facebook page. I chatted with friends while I tore paper napkins, painted facial features, and placed vintage graphics in just the right spots. I added the words, “Kindness Changes Everything” after … Read More

I’m offering you two video lessons all about palette knife painting, paints, and cotton! These two lessons were the first lessons that I created for my Creative Community paid painting group. I’d love for you to give them a try … Read More

Trust and Obey: a mixed media painting   I created a new mixed media painting live on my Facebook page last night. The name of this piece is “Trust and Obey”. You can watch me work on this piece from … Read More

Blue Fairy I created this new piece this week and recorded it for the final tutorial for February in The Little Bluebird Creative Community. Here’s a fun time lapsed video that shows a little glimpse into my process. I love creating … Read More

Let’s Paint a Redbird Learn to paint this cute little guy in this free tutorial video! I painted this redbird live on my Facebook page and want to share it with you, too! Here’s the video. I hope you learn … Read More

Painting With A Palette Knife “What is that thing you are painting with?” “I need to learn how to use one of those things you paint with.” These are some of the comments I get when I share videos of … Read More

Self Care in 2018 Do you have plans for the new year? I do! I wear a lot of hats. I’m a wife, mother, home school teacher, Bible class teacher, artist, entrepreneur, and homemaker. I’ve noticed a bad trend in … Read More

Adding Raffia To Your Christmas Tree   This is our tree with the lights, ornaments, and ribbon. Gimli and I decided it still needed a little something else. I am in love with raffia and I use it all the … Read More

This week we added some decor to the tree, painted Christmas canvases, created an experimental soup, and had peeping cats looking in our windows. He is “helping” me add some things to the tree. ? A post shared by Amanda … Read More

For 2017, these have been the most popular prints in my shop. You all chose these more than any others. They are the top 5 prints purchased by you this year! 1. Gather 2. Lilacs 3. Rosie 4. English Roses … Read More

Art Supplies I primarily paint with palette knives and also create mixed media art using papers, mediums, doilies, and stamps. I’m sharing with you some of my favorite art supplies. These are all products that I use and love. (Post … Read More

I am pretty new to Instagram but am beginning to love it more and more! Come follow me here: Amanda on Insta Snuggle buddies ❤️ #cats_of_instagram #cats #snuggles A post shared by Amanda Hilburn (@thelittlebluebirdgallery) on Nov 29, 2017 at … Read More

Update Old Christmas Decor (This post includes affiliate links.) As I pulled out some Christmas decorations last week, I noticed that my wreath didn’t look so great on my new navy blue door this year. That same door was light … Read More

A Gift of Creativity In December! I have exciting news for you! If you have been on the fence about joining The Little Bluebird Creative Community, December will be the BEST time to do it and accept my gift of … Read More

Dear Friend, Thank you for your support, your encouragement, and your orders this year. Without you, I would not have an art business and would not be able to use this creative outlet of mine to help support my family. … Read More

Online Paint Party Our first Studio Session was a success. Several sweet friends joined me as we painted a whimsical cow live in an online painting party. We were able to chat and paint together. If you missed the live … Read More

Order Your Custom Christmas Ornaments Now It’s that time of year again! I am taking orders for custom Christmas ornaments! Yay! Here are a few examples of what I have done in the past. Your home decked out for the … Read More

Transform Your Brick We have a wall in our sun room that used to be an exterior wall of our house. It was dark and a little ugly (in my opinion) so I decided to transform the brick and give … Read More

How To Make Prints   I’ve been making my own prints of my artwork for several years now. It’s not very expensive and very easy to do if you have the right tools. I played around with different kinds of … Read More

3 Easy Steps To Begin Selling Your Art Online “How did you begin selling your art online?” I get asked this question a lot. While I am not a marketing expert, I can tell you what I did to get … Read More

Place Mat Pillows Place mat pillows are super easy to make, and they are a great and thrifty way to add some fun seasonal décor to your home. I found these little fox place mats at our local Walmart, but … Read More

The Little Bluebird Creative Community You may not know this, but I’m an accidental artist. I didn’t really plan to have a business at all. About six years ago, I was looking for something to hang in our living room … Read More

Fall Is My Fave…Now I can say that fall is my fave now, but when I was a little girl…..not so much. It was the time of year when school started, and I was a weepy nervous mess of a … Read More

I am a little obsessed with lemons right now. 🙂 I love the happy colors I can use while painting these yummy fruits. This is one of example of my obsession…. And here’s another….   If you love lemons as … Read More

I was recently scrolling through my Pinterest boards and got inspired to paint this buffet table that we have had for years. It was being stored in the barn and had been quite neglected. This buffet needed a makeover. Here’s … Read More

Y’all…this is what happens when you go to Walmart way too often. 🙂 I frequent the craft section, but I usually see the same things every time. However….on this day….I found this. Just watch 🙂

  I love to paint and not just on canvas. I recently decided to turn some old plastic pumpkins into pretty painted pumpkins. I love the cottage style, and I also love the more neutral colors for fall that are … Read More

I’m so excited about this new collection of shabby chic pumpkin paintings that will be released and ready for you to purchase on September 1st! Here’s a little sneak peek for you. Be ready on Friday to come by and … Read More

I am excited about this new offering to you all! These new art lessons were created with kids in mind, but they can be enjoyed by all ages! The first lesson is now available, and I plan to continue to … Read More

Hydrangeas: a Heart to Heart eCourse I am so excited to offer you this new eCourse! You will learn how to paint your own beautiful floral arrangement of hydrangeas just like the one pictured here. I will walk you through … Read More

Painting rocks and hiding them all over town has become a VERY popular pastime in our area! I mean, people are serious about this painted rock finding thing, y’all! LOL I have painted a few with friends, and I’ve found … Read More

Unique Gifts: T-shirts and Pillows     I’ve learned a new skill and I’m using it to make you all some really fun and useful items! I’ve had pillows for a while, but now I’m learning how to make t-shirts … Read More

Adding Words To A Mixed Media Painting This is the bonus video that comes with my full eCourse, Little White Chapel. I thought you might like to see a little sample of what my eCourses are like by sharing this … Read More

We All Have Struggles I like to find inspiring Bible verses, quotes, and ideas to share with others. I love adding them to my artwork  to enhance the meaningfulness of each piece. However, I’ve found that instead of making these … Read More

This new eCourse is ready, and I am so excited about it! In Shabby Chic Farm, you will learn to create…   A Cow The first lesson teaches you to create a shabby chic mixed media cow on canvas. You … Read More

A New Time Lapse Video   Here’s a fun new time lapse video for you. In this video I painted a bright bouquet of flowers and added a bit of whimsy with patterned paper as the table top. Hope you … Read More

Crazy Chicken Lady Smart Phone Wallpaper If you like chickens, I’ve got something that I think you’ll love! I took the print of my mixed media painting, Rosie the Chicken, and created a digital file that you can use as … Read More

I have several new mini paintings available in the shop today! These were so much fun to create. Each one is unique and original and they all capture a little bit of something that I love from the country. A cow, … Read More

Let’s Watch Our Words Just the other day, I was required to go into an office in town to pay a bill and was reminded how important it is that we watch our words. It was your normal, everyday office with cubicles, … Read More

Fixing It Up: My Collage Art Table I just moved an old table into my studio and fixed it up with scraps of collage papers! It is the perfect height for standing and working, and I like to stand when I … Read More

This cat, y’all! ??? #catsofinstagram #spoiled #gimlithecat A post shared by Amanda Hilburn (@thelittlebluebirdgallery) on May 24, 2017 at 3:54pm PDT Sleepy time with Preston ? #catsofinstagram #catsnuggles A post shared by Amanda Hilburn (@thelittlebluebirdgallery) on May 10, 2017 at … Read More

  If you are on Facebook, I’m pretty sure you have seen the new “LIVE” option. I’m just getting started with this whole live video thing. It’s a little scary, y’all. I mean…it’s LIVE! If I mess up…you’ll see it. If … Read More

I have four new inspirational girls prints in the shop. These paintings are all pretty personal. I tend to create these girls when I am feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or scattered. The originals will stay with me, but I decided to … Read More

 I’ve spent all afternoon designing these new calendars and I’m so excited about them!!!  I worked to make sure that these offer you more than last year. These new Art by Amanda Hilburn calendars will not just be something pretty … Read More