‘Portrait of a family friend’ Amateur pencil drawing

June 19, 2024Leave a comment

Hi everyone, my latest blog post is progression photos of an amateur pencil portrait for a family friend, hope you enjoy 😊😊

Unfortunately, one of my dad’s very close friends – his dad has sadly recently passed away 😢 So my dad asked me to draw a portrait of them both…

My first attempt was not up to the quality I would have liked..

This was my first attempt. Although it was nice to have the two of them together in the drawing, I don’t think it was quite up to scratch… As there are two subjects, it’s more difficult to achieve a likeness as the reference photo is smaller and hence you can’t get as much detail. I also bodged up the hands, and the shading just wasn’t impressive enough… here is the new drawing progression photos:

I was much happier with how this turned out. Being able to concentrate on just one subject with a larger reference photo, it was much easier to shade and achieve a likeness. I particularly like the wavy hair and bold eyes…

I would still class myself as an amateur artist. When I was at school (not to blow my own trumpet) I was excellent and my portraiture was so realistic. I feel like I’ve kind of lost my gift over the years, but I have completed this to the best of my ability 😊😊

My dad’s friend was over the moon with the drawing of his dad 😁😁 I am so very pleased he likes it, and will cherish it forever…

My next blog post will be progression photos of a ‘Doorway to Italy’ pub painting, so watch this space 😝😝

Thank you as ever for reading/viewing.. much love, Lauren xx

‘Reni the robin’ amateur Christmas pub painting

December 7, 2023December 7, 2023Leave a comment

Hello everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of a Christmas Robin pub painting…hope you like! 😀

We started off with blue and white acrylic paint, lightly brushing blue at the top and fading into the white at the bottom. We then incorporated white snowflakes onto the blue background. The brown twig was given 3D depth with white highlights. We started off with a kind of oval shape to silhouette the robin. We painted dark green ivy with scarlet berries, and of course Reni the robin had a bright red breast, textured feathers, beady eyes, three toed feet and a black beak 🐦 And here is the finished painting…

I am actually really pleased with this one, it’s really festive and Christmas-sy 🎄 (I adore Christmas) Unfortunately there will be no more pub painting until April next year 😢 My art teacher and her partner are teaching art on a world cruise ship! How amazing is that?! What an opportunity! All the best to them, and see them in the spring 💕

My next UnicornPostbox blog post will probably be of ‘Leonardo the lion’ diamond art 🎨 💎 But I am also going to a few Christmas pantomimes so expect some theatre reviews in the not so distant future 🙂

Thank you as ever for taking the time to read/view… all the best, Lauren xx

‘Tree of Life’ diamond art progression photos

October 1, 2023October 1, 2023Leave a comment

Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of a ‘Tree of Life’ diamond art.. hope you like! 😄😄

I appreciate the photos look fairly similar haha, but I can promise and assure you it took hours and hours, weeks and weeks of perseverance and dedication to complete!

I absolutely love doing my diamond arts… Sat in my little art room, music on, in my own little world 😄

This one in particular I found very enjoyable. I just love the bold colours and how thousands of beads can transform into such a beautiful piece of art 🎨

My next diamond art is a Lion 🦁 So watch this space 😛😛

Thank you as ever for reading/ viewing 😀

‘Philippe the peacock’ amateur pub painting progression photos

September 20, 2023September 20, 2023Leave a comment

Hi everyone! 😊 My latest blog post is progression photos of an amateur peacock painting…hope you enjoy!

We started off with a pale green background. White paint lines then to separate the future feathers. A blue body, complimenting the blue eyed feathers. Gold shimmer to give a little sophistication and a light blue shimmer crest above the head.

It was really enjoyable this pub painting. As always the artist Becca guided us step-by-step.. me and my friend Denise had a cheeky dark fruit or two 😛

The next pub painting is a black cat with witch’s hat for Halloween 🎃 I can’t wait, it’ll be fantastic, I love Halloween!

My next blog post may be a diamond art as I am on with a ‘tree of life’ one, so watch this space!

Thank you as always for reading/viewing.. much love, Lauren xx

‘Flowery meadow’ amateur acrylic painting

June 3, 2023June 3, 2023Leave a comment

Hello everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an amateur flowery meadow pub painting, enjoy! 😄😄

The first step was to paint dark emerald green at the bottom and fade it going up. We then incorporated blues and purples for the sunset sky. Prominent green leaves were added, then purple perennials, white daisies, scarlet poppies and fluorescent pink flowers. To give a 3D effect, the flowers lessened in size going up, then little dots, to give the illusion of fading away into the distance…and here is the finished piece:

As always, artist Rebecca guided us through the entire process. I actually think this one is the most effective ones we have done. It looked quite difficult at first, I thought it was maybe too tricky to achieve – however it all went surprisingly smoothly, and I am over the moon with the result! 😄😄

Thank you as always for reading/viewing 🥰 Catch you soon. Much love, Lauren xx

‘Gentle Joan’ amateur portrait drawing of family friend

April 18, 2023April 18, 2023Leave a comment

Hello again everybody! The latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of a now unfortunately deceased family friend, Joan 💙💙

I increased the size of a standard photo at the library, to A3 size. I then used my A3 light box to outline Joan on paper. Working from photographs, I carefully sketched and shaded.. I also incorporated some paw prints, with a purple border – Joan absolutely adored dogs, they were her life 💜💜

Joan was my mum’s best friend who unfortunately died suddenly three years ago 😢 She was an incredible kind woman, and helped me so much when I was looking after mum, she was a god send 💕 I’ve kept in touch with Joan’s husband Merv, and visit him regularly, this is who the portrait is for.. He has a bullmastiff Spencer, who mum loved, and I always say to mum I gave Spencer a big kiss from his Auntie Debbie 💕

Merv was very happy with the portrait 😊 I am only an amateur and I know I’m not the best in the world, but I think I am improving with practice..and it’s the sentimental value too isn’t it..

Here is the finished piece, framed:

Thank you as always for taking the time to view/ read.. I might start another diamond art soon🎨 💎

Much love, Lauren xx

‘African animals’ amateur marker pen original art

April 14, 2023April 14, 2023Leave a comment

Hi everybody! My latest blog post is progression photos of an amateur ‘African animals’ amateur marker pen original art 💙💙 Hope you enjoy!

I started out sketching the outlines of my African animals; giraffe, elephant, lion, rhino and buffalo.. the style of drawing is like subjects from art therapy books; pretty, brightly coloured, patterned and detailed 😀 As well as colouring the animals vibrantly with marker pens, I bordered the subjects with a black marker pen to make them stand out and ‘pop’ 🥰

I would love to visit Africa and do a safari/ construction and renovation volunteering in Zambia.. I feel like Africa is really special 💙 hence why I decided to do this artwork 😜

My next project is an amateur portrait drawing of a wonderful woman Joan who passed away three years ago.. she was my mum’s best friend and a god send, helping me look after mum (my mum has early onset alzheimers) 😢 I have stayed in contact with Joan’s husband Merv, that’s who the portrait is for..I will maybe draw her dog too Spencer, she adored dogs..I thought that would be a nice thing to do 💕

Thank you again for taking the time to read/view.. lots of love, Lauren xx

‘Seaside and starfish’ amateur pub painting

April 14, 2023April 14, 2023Leave a comment

Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an amateur ‘Seaside and starfish’ pub painting…

We started out with orange sand before beginning the water. We used light and darker shades of blue to give a more realistic ocean 💙 Then for great effect, we dabbed white with a sponge to give a softer wave, and created a cute little pink starfish in the right hand bottom corner. Also, we tried to give the beach more texture..

Becca is a self taught great artist who guides us through the entire process, a group in a pub setting which is a fab atmosphere..therapeutic but a lot of fun too! I look forward going every month with my friend Denise 💕

Coming up next, I’m on with an amateur Africa/safari theme original artwork I’ve completed with my colour pens…so keep a look out! 😄

As always, thanks for viewing reading.. much love, Lauren xx

‘Grandson and Grandma’ amateur drawing

March 30, 2023March 30, 2023Leave a comment

Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an amateur family portrait drawing for my lovely friend Sue, who has unfortunately just lost her grandson in a tragic road traffic accident 😢

I printed off a photo of Sue and her grandson with my printer, and enlarged a copy to A3 size at the library. I started using my A3 light pad to get an outline of them both, then took my time shading. I included calligraphy ‘Torn apart, but together forever in heart’, as I felt this made a nice sentimental quote.

I realise my drawing is amateur, and not so professional as it once was while I did my art A-level many years ago, I’ve kind of lost it…however, the most important thing for me was for Sue to like it, and she is absolutely over the moon, which makes me very happy 😁 She can cherish it forever, as another friend said

And here is the finished drawing…

Thank you so much for taking the time to read/view my post…

Next, I might use my specialist marker pens to create something colourful, but I’m not quite sure yet, so please just keep a look out 🥰

All the best, Lauren xx

‘Jacqui and Jesus’ amateur drawing

March 25, 2023March 25, 2023Leave a comment

Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an amateur drawing of my priest Jacqui, and Jesus christ..as a gift for helping me through my confirmation preparation 😊

I obtained an outline of Jesus off of the Internet, and printed alongside a recent photo of Jacqui..I used my A3 light pad to trace these outlines onto A3 sketching paper..I sketched and shaded my two subjects..one of Jacqui’s favourite quotes in the bible is from psalm 139: ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ to which I added calligraphy at the bottom of the portrait.. and when Jacqui thinks of God she has told me she visualises the great light of God’s love, hence the sun..I used tea bags to give the background a distressed look.. lastly I framed with a black frame…and here is the end result:

I think I may do a couple more amateur portaits as gifts to family/friends, that would be a nice thing to do 😄

Thank you as ever for taking the time to read/view!

Lots of love, Lauren xx

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art / craft, travel / theatre

Category: original art