‘Sunset and Sunflowers’ pub painting

August 24, 2025August 24, 2025Leave a comment

Hi followers ❤️ My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an amateur ‘Sunset and Sunflowers’ 🌻 pub painting…hope you enjoy! 💕💕

First of all (and definitely no way of getting this stage wrong!), we washed a watery white on the top of the canvas. We then incorporated light blues, pastal pinks, oranges and yellows, blended lightly with watery brushstrokes. This process was for the sky top part of the painting, and an emerald green then created for the meadow at the bottom. We dotted out brown circles where the big sunflowers 🌻 would be (their disc center) and started on the recognisable yellow petals, or ray florets. As the painting progressed, we added smaller sunflowers 🌻 in the distance, to an appropriate scale. To make the painting more 3D, we scooped on thick acrylic paint; yellow, orange and white petals. Also, abstract fluffy white clouds added an artistic touch to the piece. I was not satisfied with the small orange blobs to represent the disc florets, so I brushed more brown back in. The final step was light green and white lovely swaying stalks… and here is the finished piece:

This pub painting was an extra one, not located as usual in a Doncaster pub, but in a coffee shop Friday evening. Evidently, this explains why the progression photos are rather dark, yet the finished painting much lighter. I actually found this one much harder than the previous wonky donkey. I really struggled with forming realistic petals, mine are more round than defined. Nevertheless, even though not my favourite pub painting, it was still enjoyable and therapeutic 😄😄

Coming up, I’ve got two portraits ready to do, one of Keanu Reeves, one of YungBlud 💕 I would imagine maybe a diamond art 💎 🎨 or two also before the next Halloween 🎃 pub painting 💕

Thank you as ever for your support. Lots of love, Lauren xx

‘Sunset Meadow’ pub painting

June 18, 2025June 18, 2025Leave a comment

Hi everyone! 😊 My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an amateur ‘Sunset Meadow’ themed pub painting 🎨 Hope you enjoy! 🥰🥰

Firstly, we loosely painted the top of the canvas pure white, so that the yellow and pink sunset tones would prettily blend. We distinguished with a bold green 💚 curve where the meadow would begin below. To give a 3D effect, the what would be flower rows were likewise curved. This was the most difficult part of the entire painting, getting the proportions right from distant to front. Different sized brown blobs reminded me of ‘Digglet’ from the Pokemon franchise, until they were defined into windmills, with white shade points. I decided on an array of colours for the sunset tulips; red, light pink, dark pink, dark blue, light blue, yellow, white and orange. This part was very expressive, freely dabbing the bottom and dotting the top. A very enjoyable evening 🥰🥰 And here is the finished piece:

Thank you as always for taking the time to read / view 💕

The next pub painting is a ‘Wonky Donkey’ in August, that should be fun 😁 but I am also on with a night sky crescent moon diamond art 🎨💎 and I would also like to do a portrait (I haven’t done one in so long!) of Keane Reeves, I think he’s such an inspirational person ❤️❤️.. so watch this space 😜

Much love, thank you, Lauren xx

‘Bonnie the Bunny’ Easter themed pub painting

March 26, 2025March 26, 2025Leave a comment

Hi everyone ☺️ My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an amateur Easter themed bunny pub painting..hope you enjoy 💕💕

The first step was to outline the shape of the bunny’s body, and apply a beige block base colour. This sounds simple but it was actually quite difficult, and the most technical part of the whole painting. I struggled with the eyes unfortunately being too far up, so I had to alter the bunny cheeks to make the shape look more in proportion. Before this, she looked a bit like ‘Pikachu, from pokemon’ ha 😆 Likewise, I got the nose/mouth area completely wrong and not in proportion either. I left the paint to dry and then rectified. She looked more feminine with cute black eyelashes 🥰 The most enjoyable step however was building up a multitude of bright colours for the bunny’s fur; working very loose and random to ascertain a very abstract style. Moreover, it was so fun splattering the pale background various vibrant colours, it was so unpredictable and exciting 🩷💚💙💜💛❤️ I accidentally splattered her left eye, but this was easily sorted. I incorporated more yellow in the ears (a lighter colour), and created shade with the colours, different light and dark tones in different places. I also created definition with black paint strokes, black fur, and black whiskers. As a little finishing touch, I painted her nose a gorgeous dark pink.. and here is the finished piece:

I must say this was my favourite of all the pub paintings! It was so enjoyable and suited my personal paint preferences, loose and sort of abstract expressionism, free and spontaneous.. I am so pleased with this Easter bunny 🐰

For my next UnicornPostbox blog post, I am on with a ‘Alice in Wonderland’ themed diamond art 💎🎨 .. so watch this space!

Thank you as always for reading/viewing. Kind regards, Lauren xx

‘Henrietta the Highland Cow’ progression photos

January 19, 2025January 19, 2025Leave a comment

My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an amateur Highland Cow pub painting… hope you enjoy! 😄😄

We started off outlining a circle for the cow’s head on the canvas, and another oval shape within to outline its snout. The horns and neck were next, with then a dark line to distinguish the cow’s body from the background. The entire background was painted dark, with initially only navy stripes. Afterwards, white brushstrokes lightened it. As the acrylic paint was still wet underneath, the white strokes blended to make nice shades of soft blues and some almost greens. The cow was then painted entirely brown. Lighter shades of brown and bright orange started to create swaying strokes for the cow’s furry hair. The snout was then painted completely a dark pink, the snout itself then formed with various black lines. Shades of pink and gold shimmer continued to build up the cow’s beautiful hair, with a sort of emo fringe, lol 😆 For the one visible eye, it was made more feminine with gorgeous lashes, and outlined with white paint to, as many of my paintings, make it ‘pop’. More shading was added and I gave her a little sort of goatie chin 😄😄 Here is the finished result:

The very first pub painting I did was a Highland Cow. Henrietta looks different however, she has more brown tones, and the other does not have a background. I think she is rather cute to be honest 🥰

I never claim to be a professional artist, I am only amateur. However I very much enjoy going to pub painting with my friend Denise 💕 I am very much looking forward to the next one as it is ‘paint your pal’, nothing we have ever done before, painting each other. We have decided to go all abstract, haha! 😄

Last weekend I went to London with my boyfriend Aaron, so please keep a look out for a future travel/theatre blog I am planning on writing soon. I am also on with another diamond art 💎 🎨

Thank you as ever for reading/viewing. Many thanks, Lauren xx

‘Busy bees’ amateur pub painting

September 21, 2024September 21, 2024Leave a comment

Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of two bumble bees in a meadow…hope you like! 😀

The first element we focused on was the lightly brushed orange to green faded background, washed with white. Next, the green flower stalks/leaves with white shading. We then circled with brown where the stamen of the flower would be, with dots of white, and a yellow blob above it which would become the first bee. Painting the petals was my favourite part; gorgeous purple, white and blue shimmer. After this, we concentrated on the bee. Defined orange and black stripes, white wings with a dash of blue shimmer, and tiny black features. I then decided my bee looked a little bit lonely and so I painted him a friend 😄😄🐝🐝

And here is the finished piece! I think this one was one of the easiest pub paintings, still enjoyable though. The next Halloween theme one I’m super excited about, I can’t wait! 🎃 It’s inspired by Van Gogh’s starry night, but with pumpkins 🎃 I am also on with a very time consuming peacock diamond art lol, so watch this space 😜😜

Thank you as ever for taking the time to read/view. Very much appreciated, Lauren xx

Amateur portrait of Robin Williams

July 14, 2024Leave a comment

Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an amateur Robin Williams portrait.. hope you enjoy! 😄😄

Firstly, I used my light box (cheater ha!) to outline Robin Williams’ head, then started to shade around the eyes, ears area, etc. I love the film ‘Dead Poets Society’, so I incorporated a very poignant famous quote into the design. I then created a square grid, and used blue, purple and green promarker pens to brightly colour the background. Also, I used a black marker to differentiate the squares, the quote and Robin. A yellow bubble around the quote, and a space at the bottom for my artist signature…I very much like pop art and I feel this has a resemblance to the movement..and here is the finished piece:

I am very pleased with the way this one has turned out! I think I have captured a likeness 😊 I intend to draw more celebrities/ actors/ actresses/musicians I like etc, and build up a portfolio 😊

I have a gorgeous Peacock diamond art to start 💎🎨 and a new pub painting at the end of the month, so watch this space! 🥰

As always, thank you so much for reading/viewing..take care, Lauren xx

‘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

‘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

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Tag: amateur art