The Little Bluebird Gallery Blog

So many artists assume that loose painting means sloppy, rushed, or totally unplanned—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In this video, I’m breaking down … Read More

Want to loosen up your painting style? In this video, I’m sharing 3 simple tips to help you paint more freely and expressively. Whether you’re feeling … 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 … 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 … 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. … 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 … 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 … 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.   … 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. … 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 … Read More

🍋🎨 Enjoy the calming process of painting as I create a vibrant lemon acrylic painting. No talking—just soothing music and brushstrokes as the artwork unfolds. Let … Read More

  Want to loosen up your painting style and create a beautiful sunflower without overthinking it? In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to paint a … Read More

Watch as I paint a loose floral in acrylics with simple brushstrokes and blended colors. No talking—just relaxing music and the painting process. 🎨 Want to … Read More

    Did you know that warm and cool colors can make your paintings feel more dynamic? In this video, I’m showing examples from my own … Read More

  I used to struggle with finding my art style. I kept searching for what I loved, but nothing felt quite right—until I flipped the question. … Read More

  In this video, I’m slowing down my paintbrush and showing you how I create petals and leaves in a loose and expressive style. If you … Read More

  Want to loosen up and have more fun with your painting? In this video, I’m showing you how I use simple notecards to create little … Read More

  Ever wondered how to use a sketchbook to improve your art and stay inspired? In this video, I’m sharing a flip-through of my sketchbooks and … Read More

  In this video, I’m painting two little wooden eggs and giving them a fresh, spring-inspired look! Then, I’ll add them to a beautiful cloche I … Read More

  I am really rough on my paint brushes but that’s ok! I use the old ones to create interesting marks and creative ideas in my … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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! … 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. … 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 … Read More

I’ve been painting irises and thinking about how I don’t know everything that there is to know about painting. Let’s chat about waiting until you know … Read More

  Teaching artists often tell their students to take what they have learned in their classes and make it their own. In this video I give … Read More

I’ve been painting a lot of roses recently and am beginning to see some patterns. For instance, not every petal has to be perfect for the … Read More

If you’re new to painting flowers, but are looking for a fun and easy way get started with acrylics then this video is perfect for you! … Read More

The rich brown backgrounds in my most recent paintings may have you wondering what paint I use. Painting is one of the few things that I … Read More

  Fear is the enemy of creativity. Let’s paint flowers and talk about ways I have learned to overcome fear.   This painting is available for … 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 … Read More

Not all reds are created equal. Some brands that are labeled with the same hue end up looking totally different when you mix them when white. … Read More

Hi there! It’s me, Amanda, and I have a new relaxing painting video to share with you! I’ve been working on several coastal paintings for my … Read More

Lately I’ve been searching for ways to relax and create some peaceful moments in my day. Watercolor is not my usual medium of choice, but I’ve … Read More

This video was recorded live on my Facebook page. I’m playing with watercolors and challenging you to take a few minutes every day to create. Just … Read More

Do you like practicing your acrylic painting ideas on paper but find it hard to keep flat? This art tip is pretty simple but helps me … Read More

This video will show you how to paint a single rose with a palette knife using acrylics. I hope you enjoy painting with me!   Here’s … Read More

This video is a quick tip about using color in your acrylic paintings. Beginner artists sometimes use paint directly out of the tube and this video … Read More

Color swatches can help you plan ahead! I like to make swatches of my paints so that I can really see the color when I am … Read More

This lesson is pulled from my online workshop, Hydrangeas: A Flora Workshop. If you’d like to learn more about painting hydrangeas with a brush and an … Read More

This video was pulled from the tutorial library inside my membership, The Creative Community! You can take these elements and put them together to create your … Read More

In this video, I teach you how to paint a creamy white pumpkin on a dark and moody background. This lesson is part of a longer … Read More

In this video, I’m adding texture and finishing up the edges on this pumpkin cutting board. I love painting on found objects and you can easily … Read More

Just like art, success is really very subjective. In this video, I am talking about the idea of being a successful artist and how I believe … Read More

While I’m not selling originals right now, I AM selling my artwork. It’s complicated, but I’ll explain.    

  I found these cute little frames at the thrift store and wanted to flip them. I used acrylic paint, mixed media paper, and some glue … Read More

  I love a good pink mix but sometimes it’s hard to get right. In this video I’m going to show you how to create a … Read More

I love thrift stores and finding items that I can use to paint on! Today I have a thrifted chalkboard that I’m working on. Come hang … Read More

  One of my goals for this year is to paint more often. Sometimes it’s hard to do that when you aren’t in a creative mood, … Read More

  I was asked about my glass palette that I use for painting with acrylic paint. It’s a simple little set-up and it works well for … Read More

(This post contains affiliate links.) I love the vintage bells that I’ve been seeing in home decor everywhere these days. They are so beautiful and shabby! … Read More

  This week’s “Tuesday at Two” live session over on my Facebook page involved texture, acrylic paint, and a palette knife! Watch and learn how to … Read More

  Having a good balance of technique and intuition is key when you are wanting to paint in a loose style. In this video, you’ll learn … Read More

This week in my Tuesday live video on my Facebook page we played with paper and created mixed media mushrooms! This idea can be used on … Read More

  This video is a replay of my weekly live time on my Facebook page. Sometimes I get stuck and need help getting back into my … Read More

Framing art can really elevate its beauty. In this video I show you a little trick to create original canvas art customized to fit beautiful frames!

Supply List -Small and Medium flat brush -Heavy Body Acrylic Paint in these colors: Titanium White, Burnt Umber, Manganese Blue, Burnt Sienna, Mars Black, and Cad … Read More

This week I’m planning a new schedule for myself, painting a tropical landscape, correcting a swan painting, and chatting with you! Hope you enjoy! Link to … Read More

  Relax and enjoy the process of painting a spring landscape in acrylics! If you’d like more info about the library of painting tutorials that I … Read More

Relax and watch as I paint a spray of vintage-style flowers in acrylic paint. This one began with a light background that didn’t make me happy, … Read More

This week I’m sharing my process as I create a floral painting in a vintage vase. Hope you find this one relaxing and enjoy it! This … Read More

This week I’m painting a landscape with a pond and a little white farmhouse. Hope you enjoy seeing a little behind-the-scenes from my art studio! This … Read More

  This tutorial is pulled from the past. I created it for my Creative Community membership, and it’s one of hundreds that are now archived in … Read More

  This week I’m vlogging. Join me as I varnish a painting, go thrift shopping, scan paintings, and show you my newest digital skills.

Want to paint a little white house with me? This video is a recording of my weekly live video over on my Facebook page. We painted … Read More

This week’s Tuesday at 2 tip is all about painting on paper! Did you know that you can use watercolor paper with acrylic paint? It’s a … Read More

  Welcome to my latest tutorial pulled from my weekly Tuesday at 2 live session on Facebook! In this video, I’ll guide you through the simple … Read More

This tip is so helpful if you are guilty of saying things like, “I can’t even draw a stick figure”. Use this to build your skills … Read More

  This video is a quick tip to help you finish your canvas paintings fast. I talk about a few different ideas that you can try, … Read More

In this video, I give a simplified explanation of value. Value is what gives depth to a painting and it’s often the thing that beginner artists … Read More

Muted colors bring a calm and classy vibe to paintings, and I use mostly muted colors as my color palette. If you want to add a … Read More

  Quick and Easy: DIY Acrylic Color Wheel with Red, Blue, and Yellow! Let’s get started with a fun DIY – making a color wheel using … Read More

  This canvas was very heavily textured, and I wanted to reuse it to create a landscape. To smooth out the deep lines of texture, I … Read More

We all must begin somewhere, and I believe that all artists begin by imitation. We see something that inspires us, and we give it a try! … Read More

I love creating anything floral, and painting flowers is one of my favorite things. However, drawing is one of my least favorites because it feels tight, … Read More

I have a Christmas tree with a snowman theme. It’s a newer tree, so I don’t have many ornaments yet. Since I need more, I’ve been … Read More

   I was recently asked this question…”How do you choose a background color for your painting?” In this video, I give you some tips and … Read More

I’ve been painting pumpkins and having so much fun! I still have more to add to the shop, but you can see what’s available now here: … Read More

  Go with me to my local art supply store and see what I bought! This is the first time I’ve tried vlogging out in public … Read More

I finished her up and she didn’t turn out at all like I had expected. She’s a peaceful nature lover who puts her trust in God. … Read More

   I’ve been revisiting a design that I had a lot of fun with a few years ago. If you have been following me for … Read More

I’ve been playing with interiors lately and love that I can create and design everything from wallpaper to flower arrangements in these imaginary settings. It’s almost … Read More

It’s been a while since I just painted something for fun on a live video on Facebook. I was in the mood to paint birds in … Read More

Welcome to my art vlog! In this episode, join me as I update an old painting, box and ship an order, add wire to the back … Read More

Throughout my artistic journey, my style has changed over and over again. When I started creating art, I was heavily influenced by whimsical collage work and … Read More

  I think roses are my favorite flowers to paint. Painting roses in acrylics in my sketchbook makes me happy and relaxed. I hope this video … Read More

    I paint a lot of flowers and with those flowers you need some greenery. Most of the time I use sap green and mix … Read More

I love painting in sketchbooks, but they don’t always work out like I want them to. In this video I test 4 different sketchbooks using acrylic … Read More

  I was asked this question in a live Q&A time inside my painting membership, The Little Bluebird Creative Community. This is a little color swatching … Read More

This tutorial is all about color temperature. I have fun playing with a reproduction of one of my favorite paintings by Van Gogh and give you … Read More

This week I’m swatching new paint colors and playing with clay! Join me in my studio and find out what I bought at the art supply … Read More

This week I’m sharing this lesson that’s pulled from my Creative Community membership painting library. I know how hard it can be to loosen up and … Read More

I love to make old things like new. I love rearranging furniture, making a room more cozy, giving my website a new look, changing aesthetics of … Read More

I love playing with loose strokes and unpredictable supplies. This tutorial is a fun warm up, and it can turn into something very pretty! Hope you … Read More

Painting flowers is my favorite and this flower is one that’s perfect for my palette knife. Foxgloves are beautiful flowers and I hope you enjoy painting … Read More

Watch as I begin with an idea and then use that small study to produce a full painting.  

Clouds are one of my favorite things to paint. You can really get some great fluffy texture using a palette knife. Let me show you how … Read More

In this behind the scenes art studio vlog, I’m creating a tutorial for my art & art biz membership, The Little Bluebird Creative Community. This video … Read More

I can’t think of another flower that says spring is coming better than daffodils. Let’s paint some and look forward to sunshine, green grass, and all … Read More

If you are feeling stuck, frustrated, or crippled by the thought of finding your style as an artist, this video is for you!  

I love using a palette knife to get loose and textured artwork! Let me show you how!  

  Mentioned in the video: The brushes I mentioned are actually a variety pack from Walmart. I am not an affiliate for Walmart, but you can … Read More

What if I told you there was a magical key to success for finding your art style, creating an online business, growing on social media, and … Read More

Painting with a palette knife is a quick and fun way to paint sunflowers loosely. I love the painterly look you can get from using this … Read More

Painting on paper is a great way to be economical with your painting practice. I find that it allows for more freedom and less anxiety. However, … 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 … Read More