If you’re in the mood to create something soft, pretty, and full of movement, this hummingbird project is such a fun one to make! This project is a great example of how painted details and glass can work together beautifully. You do not need to overpaint every single detail, because the glass does a lot of the visual work in the finished piece. That makes this a really approachable mixed media project, even if birds feel a little intimidating at first!

Step 1: Paint the Background and Sketch

Paint your background with a light green in the bottom portion of the canvas and some blue and white on the top portion of the canvas to create a grass and sky compositon. Let dry.

Begin by lightly sketching your hummingbird onto the canvas with watercolor pencils. You could also use a tracer. The sketch does not need to be overly detailed, but it should give you the general shape of the head, body, wings, tail, and beak placement. Add a simple flower near the bottom of the canvas as well. Thi...

This sweet little bird project combines acrylic paint, glass, and resin to create a textured, dimensional mixed media piece that feels playful and cozy. It’s imperfect on purpose, forgiving in process, and one of those projects that magically comes together at the end. If you love layering, texture, and letting the art evolve as you go, try this project!

Step 1: Prepare the Canvas and Trace the Bird

Start with a blank 6×6 canvas. Tape your bird tracer onto the canvas so it doesn’t shift. Using graphite paper and a stylus (or any pointy tool), trace only the outer shape of the bird, the beak, eye placement, and a loose guideline for the nest.

Avoid tracing the bird’s breast area in detail since glass will be added later and won’t fit perfectly inside tight lines. Once traced, lightly sketch a rough shape where the belly will go so your painted color roughly matches the glass size later.

Step 2: Paint the Background Sky

Begin painting the background using Sea Mist mixed with white...