The Little Artist Beside Me

Fine Art Friday #61

At one of my live paintings, I noticed a little girl watching me.

She stood just off to the side of the tent, clutching a folded napkin in both hands like it was the only thing keeping her still. Her party dress was slightly wrinkled, her curls bouncing as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Every few minutes, I’d glance up from my palette and there she was—watching, wide-eyed, as I painted layer after layer of the ceremony scene unfolding in front of us.

I smiled at her.

She didn’t move. Just tightened her grip on the napkin and kept watching.

Eventually, her mom came over and leaned in. “She’s a little artist too,” she whispered, with that gentle pride only mothers carry in their voice.

And suddenly, I remembered what it felt like to be the little girl on the sidelines — the one watching someone else create something beautiful and thinking, Maybe I could do that someday.

So I asked her if she wanted to help me pick the next color.

Her whole face lit up. It was like someone had turned on a string of fairy lights behind her eyes. She stepped closer — carefully, reverently — and pointed to a soft, dusty rose on the palette. Together, we mixed it. I showed her how I test the pigment with water. She nodded solemnly, as if I’d just handed her the brush myself.

That exact color became the highlight of the painting.

It brought the floral arch to life — added a warmth and softness that hadn’t been there before. A color I might not have chosen on my own, but one that transformed the entire composition.

And as I brushed it across the page, I had this moment of deep, quiet clarity: This. This is why I do this.

Not just to create beautiful things.

But to share the wonder of creating them. To offer someone else — even just for a moment — a glimpse of what it feels like to hold a little magic in your hands.

Art Tip of the Week:

Let someone into your process — even if it’s just to pick a color. Invite your kids into your sketchbook. Ask your partner to choose a shade. Let go of control, just a little.

Sometimes the smallest collaborations bring the biggest joy — in art, and in life.

Here’s to the tiny artists, the curious hearts, and the beauty that blooms when we make space for someone else beside us.

xo,

Courtney

P.S. Have you ever had someone add a little magic to your work in an unexpected way? I’d love to hear about it. Just hit reply.