Balancing the tasks of running an online business, teaching online art classes, and finding time for my own creative growth can be tricky. I recently told one of my artists friends that sometimes I just need to paint! I love … Read More
Mollie Ollie Mimmo Caddy This post is a review of the Mollie Ollie Mimmo Caddy! This great company sent me their awesome organizer in return for my honest review. So let’s take a look at the organizer caddy. … Read More
Telling A Big Part Of My Story It all started about 10 years ago. I was a homeschooling, stay at home mom looking for a hobby. I tried painting and fell in love with mixed media and acrylic … Read More
Palette Knife Painting I love palette knife painting and especially love painting flowers. Hydrangeas are the most fun and probably one of the best choices for beginners. In the video here, I am creating with a knife, but I … Read More
When I began painting I was stingy. I was so afraid of making mistakes and wasting paint or a canvas that I barely used my supplies. I didn’t know it at the time, but I wasn’t really saving anything by … Read More
If you have been thinking about turning your hobby into a business, this resource is for you! How do you know if you are ready to begin selling your artwork? I’ve put together a video covering at least … Read More
I’ve received several messages lately asking for advice about where to begin with my art lessons. I created a path that I call The Artist’s Flight Path that helps you get an idea of where you are and what you … Read More
Finding time to paint can be hard. We all have busy lives, but if you want to improve your art and create more original paintings full of unique and beautiful ideas from your own mind….painting small studies is a … Read More
I created this series of videos in January of 2020. It has been archived for several months now and only available to my Creative Community, but I decided that it’s a great time to bring them out and share them … Read More
Have you ever tried painting with a palette knife and got frustrated? Have you ever wondered how artists get that textured, layered look that shows brush strokes and knife marks? I get a lot of questions from beginning artists about … Read More
I enjoyed some much needed studio time and painted a commission for snowy trees with lights. I painted with a palette knife for most of the process, but also used brushes. You can watch and follow along in my … Read More
Fall Painting Tutorials Want to paint something with a fall theme but need some ideas? I have five free fall painting tutorials for you! These tutorials will help you with getting started with a palette knife, painting buffalo check plaid, … Read More
This was first recorded as a live Facebook video. Watch me as I paint hydrangeas in acrylics on an 18×24 canvas. After the video, I added a basket container to the painting. It’s number 27 of 100 paintings that … Read More
I am still going! I’ve been working on paintings for my #100paintingsforme project and I created this one live on my Facebook page. You can watch the process of me painting florals with a palette knife using a limited color … Read More
Throughout the year, I offer free, exclusive, painting courses to subscribers of The Little Bluebird Gallery. This Shabby Chic Pumpkin is fun to paint. And it’s a perfect complement to brighten up any home decor for the coming autumn and … Read More
I love to highlight artists that are in my Creative Community and share their story with you. Today, I am sharing an interview and the work of Terri Minton. She is a member of my Creative Community and the owner … Read More
This one is number 3 of 100! You can watch me in real time as I paint this impressionistic floral. You can see the other paintings in this project here: #100paintingsforme It all happened over on my Facebook page and … Read More
2/100 I’m still going. This is painting 2 of 100 in my #100paintingsforme project. This painting is full of fresh and happy colors. I really enjoyed creating the chinoiserie vase. Lemons are always a favorite of mine, and I’ve got … Read More
1/100 I’ve been painting and sharing online for almost a decade now. Somewhere along the way it seems that I have lost my way, and have really become hyper focused on the business side of things. I know myself well … Read More
I love painting with acrylics because there is so much that you can do with them! In this video, I am painting with acrylics on galvanized metal. These metal stands are leftovers from my craft stash from last year. I … Read More
Sometimes I get overwhelmed and burned out. When I do, something inside my creative mind has to be allowed space to just paint without an agenda. No pressure to create to sell. No stress to create something that would be … Read More
Have you ever wondered what’s inside my Creative Community? It’s so much more than it used to be. When we started this group back in 2017 it was very much like what my Palette Knife Painting For Beginners group … Read More
Painting with A Palette Knife Painting with a palette knife is my very favorite way to paint. It allows me to be loose and create sharp, bold lines of color while also creating texture on the canvas. Watch as … Read More
Sometimes I get questions about how I do everything that I do with my online business and take care of our home and family. Spoiler alert! I don’t always do everything well, but I have very recently found a few … 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
Where do I begin? This is a question that I get asked pretty often. There are many ways to help yourself to get started with a new painting, but this time we are going to just take a look at … Read More
Finding inspiration for your own art work may be as easy as looking out a window! In this video I give you a little glimpse into my world…my backyard. I often use my own environment as inspiration for my paintings. I’ve … Read More
This is harder than it might seem. Painting in a messy, painterly, impressionistic, loose style doesn’t come naturally for most people. “How do I loosen up my paintings?” is a question that I get asked often. As a … Read More
I’m so excited about this! This idea has been in my head for about a year now, and it’s finally coming to life. I’ve hesitated for many reasons. I’m normally a better listener than talker, but I believe that … Read More
You determine the value of your art. Did you know that? Confidence is so important as you begin creating. In this Heart to Heart chat we will talk about 4 ways to boost your creative confidence (not arrogance….confidence). I … Read More
“Creativity takes courage.” – Henry Matisse Why does it feel so hard to put down that first stroke of paint? Why do we fear creativity? How do we get past that fear and begin making art bravely? These … Read More
Painting An Abstract Rose Painting with a palette knife is my very favorite way to create art. It’s so much easier to make bold strokes and painterly, impressionistic work using a painting knife rather than a brush. Using acrylic … Read More
Create a beautiful landscape painting using a palette knife and acrylic paints from Chalkola.com Find this set online and get 10% off with my discount code: AMANDAH10 *Find it here: https://bit.ly/3drxQsE *Products listed above are affiliate links. That means … Read More
Over on my Facebook page, we painted a hydrangea in a bud vase using heavy bodied acrylic paint and a palette knife! This was a live video and after the lesson I received photos of several beautiful paintings done by … Read More
This palette knife flower painting time lapse video is a tutorial that you can learn from in real time here: https://artbyamandahilburn.com/product/large-floral-bouquet-a-self-study-studio-session/ Get the supply list, real time video lesson, and color palette and learn to paint with me! Get even … Read More
Burnout…is a real thing, and I’m in the midst of it. I’ve been pushing myself too hard for too long. Years of non-stop creating, launching, selling, painting, teaching, going, going, going….and my mind, my body, and my creativity … Read More
How To Use Color Temperature In A Floral Painting Knowing a little bit about color temperature will help you achieve more depth with your paintings. Some colors are considered cool and some are warm. Cool and warm colors … Read More
The Barn Join me in my studio and watch as I paint and update an old painting of a barn using collage papers and paint! I painted the original about two years ago and decided it needed an update. … Read More
Abstract Watercolor Rose Video Watch me play with watercolors and paint an abstract watercolor rose on paper. Watercolor is not the medium that I use most often, but I do like to play with different things sometimes for fun. … Read More
Shop a collection of original mixed media paintings! These paintings are all created with a large variety of supplies that vary from vintage graphics to burlap. Each one is unique and original and many of them also include an inspirational … Read More
So…I did a thing today. I created my first vlog on my YouTube channel. It was a challenge, as all new things tend to be, but I enjoyed it! It actually took me 2 days to do it, but now … Read More
Watch as I paint three cute little hummingbirds in this time lapse video.
“There’s no place like home.” Dirt roads, mossy trees, barns and bird dogs…my Deep Southern Roots Collection is all about the deep south, the place I call home. See them all here….
I’ve been playing with the idea of painting a collection of abstract florals and landscapes. This big 36 x 36 canvas was a playground for me recently. Abstract work is NOT easy. I have to admit that in the past … Read More
I’m continuing my series of “behind the scenes” chats about my experience as a full time artist. You can see video 1 here: Life As A Full Time Artist 1 And video 2 here: Life As A Full time Artist … Read More
View this post on Instagram Working on some new pieces in a collection I’m calling Deep Southern Roots. #southernart #bluebirdartchallenge A post shared by AMANDA HILBURN (@thelittlebluebirdgallery) on Oct 16, 2019 at 10:03am PDT
I’m continuing my series of “behind the scenes” chats about my experience as a full time artist. You can see video 1 here: Life As A Full Time Artist 1 In this video I’m revealing some truths on success and … Read More
I shared some things with my Facebook followers yesterday that was honest and very uncomfortable for me. Most of the time I only share the good things about being a full time artist. You know what I mean…the relaxing effects … Read More
Join me for a fun farmhouse Christmas painting workshop! We will paint 4 different farmhouse themed paintings! A Wreath On Barnwood A Little Tree In a Bucket A Snowman A Christmas Cow Our subjects will be variations of these … Read More
View this post on Instagram Ornament sets are coming to my shop tomorrow!!! 👏 A post shared by AMANDA HILBURN (@thelittlebluebirdgallery) on Oct 10, 2019 at 7:30am PDT View this post on Instagram Coming to the … Read More
View this post on Instagram Day 7 in the #bluebirdartchallenge I am filming a tutorial for my Creative Community and we are exploring brush stroke economy this week 🙂 A post shared by AMANDA HILBURN (@thelittlebluebirdgallery) on Oct … Read More
View this post on Instagram Day 6 challenge done! Played with watercolor and acrylics in this one. #bluebirdartchallenge A post shared by AMANDA HILBURN (@thelittlebluebirdgallery) on Oct 7, 2019 at 5:42pm PDT
View this post on Instagram Day 5 challenge done! I painted this one live on my facebook page 👩🏼🎨 These abstracts are so fun ❤️🎨 #bluebirdartchallenge A post shared by AMANDA HILBURN (@thelittlebluebirdgallery) on Oct 6, 2019 at … Read More
View this post on Instagram Day 4 of the #bluebirdartchallenge a red rose 🌹 A post shared by AMANDA HILBURN (@thelittlebluebirdgallery) on Oct 5, 2019 at 3:36pm PDT
View this post on Instagram Day 3 of my paint something every day challenge and this one is definitely an experiment. 🙂👩🏼🎨 Very different from what I normally create. 🎨Watercolor, collage, oil pastel, acrylics and charcoal were part … Read More
View this post on Instagram Here’s my painting for today. These little hydrangea ornaments are # 2 in my paint something everyday challenge. Are you joining me? Post your painting for today and then add this hashtag so we can … Read More
View this post on Instagram Playing with paint today and beginning a challenge. 👩🏼🎨I’ve never tried this before but….I am going to paint something everyday and see how long I can go. This is painting #1. You are more than … Read More
The Bloom Collection is here! Y’all!! There are new original paintings in the shop, and I’m so excited to share them with you! These girls and flowers are all connected. They represent joy, individuality, unique beauty, and self care. … 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
Three years ago, I began thinking about having my own painting group on the internet. I started digging, learning, thinking a LOT, and for about a year I was in creative learning mode. Then in September of 2017 I did … Read More
In this video I share with you 6 reasons why the internet is perfect for introverted artists in business. These are all from my own experience as an online business owner and introverted artist. Watch and let me know your … Read More
Self Care For Introverted Artists In Business Setting boundaries is so important as a creative business owner, but it’s especially important if you are an introverted artist in business! You pour yourself into every area of your work…creativity, customer … Read More
Staying neat and organized in your creative space will help you be more productive. I get pretty messy as I work, but I don’t work well in a messy space….that’s kind of a problem! LOL!! The best way I have … Read More
Hey friends! Guess where you can find me this week? If you answered on The Left Brain Artist Podcast your we’re right! It was such a pleasure to talk to Suzanne about my story and how I’ve grown my … Read More
Varnishing Mixed Media Art Varnishing mixed media art can be tricky. There are no limits to mediums when you are creating mixed media art, but there are limits when you begin looking for ways to seal it. When I create … Read More
Varnishing Acrylic Paintings (This post contains affiliate links.) There are many reasons why I varnish my acrylic paintings. Here are just a few. It gives the whole painting a unified finish. If you are working with different brands of paint … Read More
Color Combos That I Love Using colors that compliment each other is really important. You can look at a color wheel to help you make good color decisions, but keep in mind that you can also play with colors … Read More
Cool and Warm Colors Knowing a little bit about color temperature will help you achieve more depth with your paintings. Some colors are considered cool and some are warm. Cool and warm colors can play off of each other … Read More
Why I Love Mixed Media Art When I began exploring mixed media art, I knew I had found something that was going to change my way of creating art! I do not remember where I first saw a painting that … Read More
If there is one bit of advice that I could give you that will help you be more productive, more creative, and more successful in your art business it would be take breaks. Taking breaks seems like the LAST thing … Read More
Water is my favorite! It really does not matter where the water is …beach, lake, pond, or bathtub…water just helps me chill and relax. When we moved into the house we are in now, there was a small pool in … Read More
I’m so thankful that I live in a country where I have the freedoms that I enjoy. Freedom to worship Freedom to own my own business Freedom to homeschool our children Freedom to have a happy home atmosphere Freedom to … Read More
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
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
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
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
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
Everyone loves to give and get gifts during the Christmas season. But, not everyone knows what to get for their artist family members. And, with all the different types of paints, mediums, canvases, and brushes it’s no wonder. For those … Read More
It’s time again for Famous Artist Fridays where we explore beautiful art by some of the most famous artists of all time. This week we’re discovering works by Claude Monet. This post contains affiliate advertisements. Famous Artist: Claude Monet Claude Monet, … Read More
Years ago I wanted to decorate my home with lovely things. But I couldn’t afford the art I longed to have on my walls. So I set out to learn to paint. Over the years painting has become my passion. … Read More
It’s Famous Artist Fridays and this week we have Rembrandt for you. Remember that the goal of this series is learning through observation. Below I’m sharing some of the great works of the famous artist Rembrandt. This post contains affiliate … Read More
Fall is a wonderful time of the year with the amazing colors, cooler temperatures, and of course, pumpkins! Isn’t it amazing the number of colors that we can find pumpkins? I was just observing at the local hardware store pumpkins … 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 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
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
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
I’ve been wanting to do this project for quite a while now but just didn’t make the time until this weekend. I’m so glad I did! Y’all this is super easy to do and will fit into any … 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 In this little snippet, I will show you how to add words to your mixed media art using rubber stamps and ink! Here are some affiliate links to stamps and ink that I … Read More
There are so many cool things that you can do with mixed media art, and I thought I would share this little $1 resource with you that can help you create some awesome texture in your paintings! Yeah…it’s tissue paper. … Read More
A Little Studio Tour This space is always evolving and changing to suit my needs, so by the time I publish this post I will most likely have changed something else. When we moved into this house, I started … 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
I have both prints and originals in my shop. I’ve had a few customers who were a bit confused about the difference between the two, so I thought I’d try to explain. What is a print? Simply put, a print is … 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
Painting abstract florals with a palette knife! Flowers are one of my VERY favorite things to paint. I really enjoy using a palette knife to create roses and peonies, so I thought I would share a short and simple little demo with … Read More
I’m Having A Sale! Have you seen the new matted and signed prints that are now available in my shop? I am super excited to be able to offer these to you! AND….they are on sale through May 1, 2017!! … Read More
Our Dining Room to Library/Game Room Update I have another room finished and ready to share with you all! This photo below shows the formal dining room in our house as it was when we moved in. There was … Read More
I worked more in my studio this week than I have worked in months! It was a good week 🙂 I almost always paint while listening to a podcast or music, and I start out sitting down but end up standing. I … Read More
I’m so happy to be back in my studio working. I am still trying to get the lighting and set up just right in this new room, but I did record a little snippet of me painting this piece while I … Read More
We are still making changes to the house a little at a time. I was going 90 to nothin’ for a while, but have started slowing down a little bit. I have made it to a point now that I … Read More
Now available in my shop is…..The Floral Collection! I have several new floral pieces ready and would love for you to come by and take a look! Here are a few samples…. To see everything that is available now just … Read More
Did you know that I have a new collection of paintings releasing on Saturday? I am super excited to get back to work, and I hope that this new way of sharing will help me stay creative and help you … Read More
Our Kitchen Update On A Budget We finally got everything boxed up and moved to Florida! Moving is so much work, and the house that we bought needed (still needs) work, so I have taken a long break … Read More
Have you noticed how many books and blog posts and articles have been written lately about downsizing, living intentionally, decluttering, and living a more simplified life? Then there are all the tiny house fans and minimalists and tv shows about people selling everything … Read More
This chair has been with us for many, many years! I think I bought it at Pier One about 9 years ago. It’s comfy, but it’s so dark and gloomy, so I decided to give it a makeover. Here’s my … Read More
It has been almost a month since my last blog post! I had some updating to do to the inside (technical parts) of my website, and I think it is finally ready. Yay!! While this was going on, I was somewhat … Read More
This is Rosalee. She is the new chick in The Little Bluebird Gallery. I just painted her today and love her shabby chic looks! 🙂 She gave me a few problems like, that beak of hers! You will see in … Read More
I am super duper excited to share this new eCourse with you! Three Little Pumpkins is not just one project, but THREE painting projects in one course! You will learn to be loose and get a little messy with the palette … Read More
I am so excited to share this transformation with you! Here’s a video sharing the products that I used for this project! This is the little table I transformed before I began. I removed the drawers from the table. … Read More
The Little Camper I just finished creating a new Heart to Heart eCourse, and it is now ready for you! The Little Camper is a mixed media tutorial that includes over an hour of video instruction. The skill level required … Read More
We are a Goodwill shopping, thrift store browsing, craft store loving kind of family. We frequent our local thrifty stores, and this week I found these metal tv trays for $.99 each! (New project!!!!) I knew I already had supplies at … Read More
Sometimes you need to be brave and create something different and new. So today, I’m working on a flower girl. Just like me, she is still a work in progress!
Eeeekkk!!! I am soooo excited to announce this new addition to my website! I just completed my first eCourse and it is now available for purchase!!! 🙂 This is more than a time lapse video of me painting, y’all. … Read More
In a world reeling in chaos, fear, and what can appear to be hopelessness, we all could use some reminders of what is right, lovely, and good. These blessings are all around every one of us every day, but we … Read More
This month let’s create something to ride. Think…..Bikes, Cars, Skateboards, Boats, Trucks Remember, you don’t have to paint! You can crochet, finger paint, make a card, make string art, whatever! Just use transportation as your theme and have fun! … Read More
Quiet… I love the thought of it and the reality of it. I have always disliked noise. Big crowds make me feel nervous and drained. I do not like to be the center of attention. I prefer listening rather than … Read More
I am excited to announce that I have re-opened my shop on Zazzle.com and have lots of fun things loaded for you to choose from! Here are a few examples. You can see more by clicking on this link: … Read More
Okay y’all! I was off during the month of April but now it’s time to get back to creating and I hope you will join me! This month let’s try our hand at creating something about cows. Remember, you don’t … Read More
These happy sunflowers are a reminder to look on the bright side and acknowledge the blessings all around you every day! Living in the sunshine will change your outlook on everything. I don’t know about you, but I need to … Read More
I love peonies…well, I really love all flowers but peonies are one of my favorites. This new piece is inspired by a photo from the latest issue of Southern Living magazine that really jumped out at me as I browsed … Read More
I painted this for my daughter’s bedroom a while back. She asked for something feminine and floral but a little abstract. I had not tried anything quite like this before, and I have to say that I really, REALLY … Read More
It has been a while since I posted a creative challenge. I am excited to get things going again! This time we are going to do things differently, and I hope it will be easier for us all. Each … Read More
I’ve been working on a series of whimsical farm animals on linen canvases. They are all mixed media pieces, and I am still in the process of creating more of them. Right now I have several listed in my shop … Read More
It has been about a year, but this whole experience is just now sinking in…. I had not REALLY thought about it very much before today. I was too busy brainstorming, working, planning, and researching to think about the fact … Read More
Mixed Media Animal Art With Shabby Chic Flair I have been experimenting with art for several years now. Many of you have watched me as I have learned different techniques and enjoyed creating with mixed media, acrylic paint, watercolors, and … Read More
I spent an afternoon last week cleaning out and rearranging in our extra room. This room holds a lot of creative…um…stuff 🙂 and it gets pretty messy at times. It’s a room that my family shares and we spend … Read More
The new year is approaching and with it usually comes a desire for a fresh start. I usually start the year off with pen in hand, computer monitor glowing, and these words of wisdom from Winnie the Pooh…”Think, think, think…” I have … Read More
I can feel it coming! Can you? The whispers of fall are all around! I think autumn might be my favorite time of the whole year. There are so many things I love about the season. Things like: APPLE CIDER … Read More
I have had a long stretch of artist block due to…let’s see… stress, bills, family illnesses, housework, home schooling, spider infestations (don’t even ask!). It’s just all that adult stuff that builds up and makes you want to hide in … Read More
I’d like to introduce Josephine the Cow. She’s a new addition to my shop! Josephine was created with watercolors and a bit of acrylic paint. I chose the name Josephine after asking for suggestions for a name for this piece … Read More
Giving away this 4×4 original mixed media canvas art on July 8th to one winner. A random winner will be announced on July 8th here on my blog! Here’s a little video of this cutie being made by me 🙂 … Read More
This week we are highlighting the work of Georgia O’Keefe. Get ready for some beautiful, bellowing blooms and delicately drawn bones. Blooms and bones are her signature pieces. Here are some of our favorites… Here are some extras just … Read More
This week’s famous artist is: Vincent VanGogh Vincent vanGogh is one of my favorite artists. I love the colors and strong contrasts in his work. Here are some of our favorites by this artist: Here are a few fun links … Read More
This week’s Famous Artist Fridays artist is Grandma Moses. She didn’t begin painting until she was 76 years old. What an inspiration! Here are some of our favorites: Here’s a link for a short bio on Grandma Moses: LINK … Read More
I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that … Read More
As I have been preparing for ladies Bible class this week, I have found several interesting quotes and ideas about being busy. We are so very busy today with so many different things! I know my days are jam-packed with … Read More
I took a few photos as I painted this nest today in my sketchbook. I did it in about an hour and used palette knives and acrylics for this piece. Here we go……first….a blue sky A little yellow ochre and … Read More
It’s been a while since we had a Famous Artist Fridays post! We rotate subjects like this in our home school, and music has been taking up more of our time recently. However, today we took a look at the … Read More
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (Col 3:23)
My week of practicing human figures has progressed a little bit. I’m still mostly doing the same position, but this time I tried it with watercolors. I have to say this was much more of a challenge than the acrylics … Read More
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: (1Peter 5:6) More work with the palette knife today. I’m thinking this may turn into a series of women kneeling in different scenes. … Read More
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. (1John 2:28) I guess one good thing about being sick is all the painting … Read More
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and … Read More
Headlines today can sometimes spark some anxiety, fear, and worry in our minds. I have to remind myself all the time (with help from my husband some days) that God is in control! This worry wreath is a reminder that if I am … Read More
Jessie Wilcox Smith This week’s famous artist was a children’s book illustrator who created the most precious pieces of art that I’ve ever seen. I love the way she captured the innocence of these sweet little children. For more about … Read More
Ansel Adams I love the black and white photos by Ansel Adams. We have studied his work before (see this post: Ansel Adams Artist Study) but wanted to revisit and choose some of our favorites. Here is a link to … Read More
Aged Effects I’ve been experimenting with watercolors and diluted acrylic paints this week. I love the aged effects I can get with watercolors. I’ve always enjoyed trying to make my pieces appear to be a bit antiquated or shabby, and … Read More
I’ve been having lots of fun with watercolors and pumpkins this week! I’m hoping to continue to have more fall items to come! Right now I’ve got these two originals available for purchase. Click on the photos to purchase … Read More
These are snippets of some of my most recent watercolor flower practice papers. I added a few of my favorite Bible verses and made these just for you! I hope you like them and enjoy sharing them on your favorite … Read More
For a long time, I’ve wanted to do some hand lettering. I decided to take some time to give it a try, and this was my first attempt. I just used an ink pen for this one, and I enjoyed … Read More
Georges Seurat Dot…Dot…Dot…Dot… that’s what makes a Seurat a Seurat! Pointillism is what he is best know for. Look at our favorites of his and check out all those little dots! Want to see more of his paintings? I’ve pinned … Read More
This week we are doing something totally different. I let the kids show me some of their favorite works of art that they had found on their own. They didn’t have to be created by a “famous” artist, but they … Read More
Henri Matisse This week we will take a look at some of the bright and bold art of Henri Matisse. Here are a few of our favorites! (Just fyi: careful when searching his work with the kiddos around. He did … Read More
This week’s famous artist is the children’s book illustrator, Eric Carle. I love his unique collage technique, his sweet children’s books, and he also reminds me of my Grandaddy Johnson 🙂 Art comes in so many different forms and I … Read More
“Nature study as a subject is one which should be approached with great reverence, for in dealing with birds, animals, flower and all other forms of natural life, we are perhaps, nearer to the Creator than in any other … Read More
FREEBIE Facebook Cover: Just click and save to your computer. Then load it on your facebook page! Thank you for supporting me and my family!
I have a confession to make…..I’m afraid of cows. I find it very ironic that my cow paintings are some of my most popular items since, in real life, cows scare me to death when I get up close and … Read More
How I Painted Roses I painted a new piece today and took photos of it at different stages of the process. I am learning some new things and thought I’d share with you. First of all I painted the background and … Read More
I started a new Pinterest board! I have several boards and pin a wide variety of things from art ideas to homemaking tips. This new board, however, is very different! It’s different because I’m using this one to pin recipes, crafts, and … Read More
I’m so excited to be guest posting today over at Free Pretty Things For You! I hope you will head over there and take a look at all the beautiful things that are available on Keren’s blog. She is a graphic art … Read More
Do you enjoy cute graphics as much as I do? I have an entire Pinterest board that is dedicated to vintage cards! There is just something about the sweetness of the little children and the animals that I love. I … Read More
I wanted to share these new pieces with you. I recently painted two more silhouette pieces from customer’s photos. I really enjoy doing these pieces because they are not just pretty pictures….they are special memories. If you are interested in … Read More
Tree silhouettes were some of the very first items that I listed in my Etsy shop when this new art journey began. However, these new trees that I just finished up this weekend are quite different from my first works. … Read More
I recently had a customer to send me this photo and ask if I could paint a re-creation of it for her husband. I don’t normally do many landscapes or people, but how could I say no? This photo is … Read More
I just finished up a set of funky woodland animals for a customer. We have Funky Mr. Owl…. The Funky Bunny….. And Funky Mr. Fox These were so much fun to design and I’d love to do more in this … 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
This week we’ve done something a little different for artist study. In the past, when I chose an artist it has been someone like Monet or Degas. Someone who lived long ago and is considered a historical figure. Well…I thought … Read More
This is my new piece called WINGS OF LOVE. It’s an experiment of sorts. I love the look of texture on a canvas, but had never tried using paper to do it. I’ve mixed flour in paint to give some of … Read More
If you’ve read my blog post called “My Story” you might remember me mentioning that I’m a self-taught artist. Well….I’m still learning, and I wanted to share with you some things that I do to teach myself new techniques! I … Read More
I just love birds…and art…and birds! I try my best to make some things that would appeal to everyone, but I just can’t stop with the birds! Sorry….I can’t help it. These are my new designs, and yes, they are … Read More
Okay…so some folks just don’t like birds. Well, what about foxes? I’ve been working on this idea for a while but just haven’t really done much with it. I did this first one on canvas a while back and it’s … Read More
This week I found these wooden blanks at our local craft shop and decided I could really fix them up! They have turned out to be a big hit on my Facebook page and all of these that are pictured … Read More
Well I had recently posted that using Press N Seal to preserve flowers in our nature journals was a great thing…..it’s not so great. It seems that the Press N Seal holds in the moisture and the flower petals seem … Read More
The kids studied Renoir this week and painted a still life painting. They really did a great job! Our project book suggested using something like a vase or jar and adding branches, flowers, or something from nature in the container. … Read More
We experienced our first ice storm this past weekend. It was cold but beautiful! We finally got Sister’s sewing machine going and she made a drawstring bag! Brother did a short unit study on knights and made this cute little … Read More
These are some of her paintings from “art class”. She goes on Saturdays and LOVES it! 🙂
