Blogs & Insights
Read all about what's happening at Shelby Dillon Studio. We love sharing tips and insights to painting and decorating your home with the art you love!
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How to Decide Between Original Art and Prints
Not sure whether to choose an original painting or a print for your home? This guide breaks down the differences between originals and prints, from commissioned works to canvas prints and reworked options, helping you decide which art fits your space and budget best.
An Expert’s Guide to Choosing the Right Size Artwork for Your Space
Not sure how to choose the right size artwork for your space? Discover expert tips on selecting the perfect piece for your wall, from above the bed to large walls and bathrooms. Get the balance just right with our easy guide!
Simple Ways Busy Mother's Can Stay Creative Every Day
This Mother’s Day, reflect on the beautiful (and sometimes messy) balance between motherhood and creativity. Discover how even small moments of artistic expression can nourish your soul, spark joy, and help you reclaim your creative spark amidst the busyness of life.
How to Paint with Vibrant, Harmonious Color
Unlock the secret to painting with vibrant, intentional color. Learn how contrast and harmony work together to help you build confident, expressive palettes in your acrylic paintings.
The Real Secret to a Stunning Color Palette
Unlock the secret to a beautiful color palette by mastering value, hue, and saturation. Learn why value matters more than color and how to create depth, contrast, and vibrancy in your paintings.
Color Perception in Art: Why Your Eyes Are Playing Tricks on You
Master the art of color mixing and perception in your paintings! Discover why colors look different in various settings, avoid common color mistakes, and learn expert tips to create vibrant, intentional artwork.
How to Save Your Painting Without Starting Over
Struggling with an overworked painting? Don't start over—fix it! Learn a simple, step-by-step technique using gesso to reset problem areas and bring your artwork back to life.
The Art of Mixing Greens: Bring Depth & Harmony to Your Paintings
Master mixing greens in your paintings! Learn simple techniques to create vibrant, earthy, and deep greens for landscapes, florals, and festive St. Patrick’s artwork.
Keep It Simple: How to Simplify a Scene for a More Cohesive Painting
Learn how to simplify your paintings for stronger compositions. Discover tips for reducing clutter, adjusting colors, and guiding the viewer’s eye.
Photograph & Paint Your Florals: Capturing Art with Natural Light
Learn to photograph your floral paintings with natural, indirect light. Discover creative tips for capturing crisp, true-to-life colors and avoiding common pitfalls.
How To Gift Your Art
Learn how to turn your acrylic art into unique, meaningful gifts. Discover creative ideas and presentation tips to share your art with style!
How to Build Confidence as an Artist: 5 Essential Skills to Improve Your Painting Practice
Explore 5 key painting skills—like learning to see, painting more often, and using larger brushes—to help you build confidence as an artist and refine your unique style.
Embracing Your Creative Journey: 3 Keys to Starting a New Artistic Practice
Starting a new art journey? Discover 3 keys to embracing your creative journey: avoid comparison, focus on the basics, and...
Getting Unstuck: How to Reignite Your Creativity
Feeling uninspired and stuck in your creative process? Let’s explore actionable tips to reignite your creativity.
Color Theory for Beginners: Making Colors Work for You
Color theory isn’t just about creating beautiful images – it’s about setting the mood, telling a story, and expressing yourself.
Exploring Different Types of Art: From Still Life to Surrealism
Come along as we explore some of the most popular types of art, from still life to abstract, and give you a better sense of what each style..
A Beginner’s Guide to Painting Surfaces: Canvas vs. Panels
New to acrylic painting? Learn which surfaces are best for beginners—from stretched canvas to panels and paper—plus tips on prepping and choosing the right materials.
Unleashing Your Inner Artist with Confidence
Unlock your inner artist with confidence. Learn how to overcome self-doubt, embrace imperfections, and grow creatively on your unique artistic journey.
How to Add Color Contrast in Acrylic Paintings
Boost your color confidence and make your artwork pop with our guide to mastering color contrast. Unleash your creativity and add depth and visual interest to your paintings!
Brush Technique: Understanding Different Acrylic Painting Brush Strokes
Master the art of acrylic painting with this complete guide to brush strokes—from basic flats and rounds to specialty techniques like dry brushing, stippling, and impasto
The Simple Guide to Acrylic Paints for Beginners
Learn more about acrylic paints with this simple beginner’s guide from paintwithshelby.com! Become more confident in your art journey.
Painting for the Soul: Healing Through Art
Healing through art can be truly transformative. Harnessing art as an outlet for so many emotions can be powerful and purposeful.
Struggling with Color Harmony in Painting?
Are you struggling to achieve color harmony in your paintings? Grow your color confidence and learn how to effectively combine colors to create balance and visual interest.
Aspiring Artist Guide to Learning to Paint Online
Embark on a colorful adventure of learning to paint online! Join us as we brush through tips, tricks, and laughter, unlocking your artistic potential from the comfort of your home.
The Beginner’s Guide to Supplies for Acrylic Painting
Need a comprehensive list of supplies you need to start your acrylic painting journey with confidence. From brushes and paints to canvases and palettes, this comprehensive guide has got you covered.
The Journey to Painting with Confidence
Discover the transformative path to becoming a confident painter. Gain the confidence to express yourself fearlessly on canvas.
The Basics of Color Theory: Building Color Confidence
Discover the fundamentals of color theory for budding artists looking to build their color confidence. Shelby Dillon dives into the color wheel, primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.
The Art of Cooking: Heart Attack Potatoes
Creamy, buttery, and totally indulgent—these once-a-year Heart Attack Potatoes are the ultimate holiday side dish. No exact measurements, just pure, decadent comfort.
How To Refresh Your Paints
Tired of your acrylic paints drying out too fast? Discover pro tips and tools—like Sta-Wet palettes, misting, and slow-dry mediums—to keep your colors fresh and workable.
How To Mix Beautiful Gray
There’s more to gray than black and white. Learn how to mix rich, natural grays by starting with custom black and exploring color saturation—plus why tube black falls flat.
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What Is Gray Really? The Underrated and Powerful Color
Think gray is boring? Think again. Learn how to use gray and other neutrals to balance bold colors, improve color perception, and add depth to your paintings.
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Could VALUE be a problem with your paintings?
If your painting feels flat or unfinished, value might be the issue. Learn how to spot weak value contrast and use simple techniques to bring depth and interest to your work.
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How To Paint in Beautiful, Vibrant Colors
Want to build a better color palette? Learn the basics of color theory—value, hue, saturation, and more—to mix with confidence and create harmonious, joyful art.
Do you struggle with value?
Struggling to make your paintings pop? Learn how to see and use value—the lightness or darkness of color—to create stronger, more dynamic compositions.
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The Secret to a Beautiful Color Palette
Want vibrant, eye-catching color in your paintings? Start with value. Learn why value matters more than hue—and how mastering it unlocks creative color freedom.
Have you ever looked at your paintings and felt like it is “off?”
Stuck on a painting that just isn't working? Use this checklist to troubleshoot issues with composition, color, and value—and learn practical tips to bring your artwork back to life.
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How to Keep Your Creative Mojo During the Holidays
Feeling overwhelmed during the holidays? Discover simple tips to stay creative, protect your energy, and reconnect with your art practice—no pressure, just presence.
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Struggling with Harmony?
Bring unity to your artwork with the 'mother color' technique. Learn how adding a single hue to every mix can create subtle, harmonious compositions in your paintings.
How to Get the Perfect Brushstroke
Tired of muddy colors and messy brushstrokes? Get quick, easy fixes for common painting mistakes in this Q&A workshop packed with confidence-boosting tips.
Have you ever looked at your paintings and felt like something is off?
Struggling with your painting? It might be the composition. Learn how to spot common issues and improve your layouts with this quick tip for creating more dynamic art.
A Simple Fix for an Overworked Painting
Made a mistake in your painting? Don’t toss it—fix it! Learn how to use gesso to reset problem areas and bring new life to your artwork with this simple technique.
All About Tangents
Tangents can disrupt even the best compositions. Learn how to spot and avoid these subtle design pitfalls with practical tips to create more balanced, visually pleasing artwork.
Can you believe your eyes?
Think the ocean is bright blue? Think again. Learn how to train your eye to see true colors and mix accurate palettes for more lifelike paintings.
Seeing the Forest Through the Trees
Whether you're new to painting or returning after a break, this post offers encouragement to slow down, embrace the creative process, and find joy in the journey.
The Key to Making Progress in your Paintings
Feeling the summer slump? Learn simple, low-pressure ways to stay creative—even when motivation is low. No paintbrush required, just 10 mindful minutes a day.
Are you standing in your own way?
Struggling with negative self-talk in your art practice? This encouraging reminder helps you reframe doubt, embrace your worth, and find joy in creating authentically.
How to Choose the Perfect Paintbrush
Discover the best paintbrushes for your art style with this beginner-friendly guide to brush types, shapes, and materials—plus expert tips for choosing the right tools.
How to Get Unstuck
Feeling creatively stuck? You’re not alone. Explore practical tips—from self-care and nature walks to journaling and doodling—that can help reignite your artistic spark.
How To Collect Art
How do you collect art? This may seem like a broad question, but it's one we hear often. Before you begin investing in art, take some time to consider what you really love and do some research. Consider things like...
How To Frame Artwork
To frame or not to frame? Learn how to choose the perfect frame for your art—from materials and matting to floating vs. traditional styles—plus tips to match your space.
What Size Art Do I Need?
Not sure what size art to choose for your space? Learn simple tips for picking the perfect dimensions based on scale, framing, and layout—plus creative gallery wall ideas.
The Secret to Mixing a Dynamic Gray
Think gray is just black and white? Think again. Learn how to mix rich, natural-looking grays using custom black and color blending techniques for more dynamic paintings.
What is Gray, Really?
Think gray is dull? Think again. Discover how this versatile neutral can balance bold colors, improve color perception, and help you overcome the fear of a blank canvas.
Is Value a Problem in Your Painting?
Does your painting feel unfinished or flat? Learn how to spot weak value contrast and use grayscale techniques to bring depth and clarity to your artwork.
Value in Different Colors
Want to master bold, expressive color? Start with value. Learn why lightness and darkness matter more than hue—and how understanding value unlocks dynamic, harmonious paintings.
How to See Value
Confused about value in painting? Learn simple ways to see light and dark more clearly—using squinting or your smartphone—and discover how value brings depth to your art.
How to Wield Color like a Pro
Ready to level up your use of color? Learn the core principles of color theory—value, hue, saturation, contrast, and harmony—and start building a palette you love.
All About Tangents
Tangents can quietly disrupt a composition. Learn how to spot and avoid these awkward design tensions with practical tips for creating clearer, more compelling artwork.
A Simple Fix for an Overworked Painting
Not loving part of your painting? Don’t start over—redo it. Learn how to fix problem areas using gesso and a ground layer so you can rework with confidence.
How to Improve Your Painting's Composition
Something feel off in your painting? Use this practical checklist to troubleshoot issues with focal point, brushwork, and value—and learn easy fixes to strengthen your composition.
