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

Amateur Amy Winehouse portrait drawing

June 29, 2024June 29, 2024Leave a comment

Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an amateur Amy Winehouse portrait drawing – drew as a gift for my lovely sister 💕💕 Hope you like! 😊

I started with famous lyrics of Amy Winehouse’s popular song ‘Back to black’ placed around where the portrait of her would be. I focused on the darker shading first, and spent quite a while trying to perfect her iconic beehive hair. I am quite proud of the likeness of the face I have managed to achieve of the wonderful late singer. I cut up some flower and butterfly 🦋 outlines from an art therapy book, using my light box to transfer onto paper. I used multiple promarker pen different colours to colour the butterflies and flower. I then used a black marker to draw around and intensify the subjects. I am a big fan of pop art 🎨 and I definitely feel this is of the style 💕 To make it ‘pop’ I contrasted the grey shading with bright pink lips 💋 And here is the finished piece:

I am really happy with the end result. I am trying to get back to the standard I was capable of years ago at school. I definitely think that practice is improving my art 🎨

My sister absolutely loves it! ❤️ Having watched the new biopic at the cinema 🎥 she has practically become obsessed with the late songstress 🎵 Watching loads of documentaries of Amy’s up and down lifestyle, the joys along with the addiction battles, and the tragic love affair with Blake. Amy, a musical icon, part of the cursed ’27 club’, authentic, relatable, and a beautiful troubled soul.

My next pub painting class ‘sun-kissed river’ is next month, and I have a ‘sunset’ diamond art 💎 🎨 to start… I may draw some more celebrities I like/admire – Keane Reeves maybe (what an incredible person), the late Robin Williams, Muhammad Ali, Simon Pegg, Joan Jett, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Norton? Any suggestions??

Thank you as always for taking the time to read/view, all the best, 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

‘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

‘Gladiator’ drawing – 27 progression photos

January 6, 2021January 6, 2021Leave a comment

Happy new year all UnicornPostbox blog followers! My latest blog post is 27 progression photos of an A2 size amateur art drawing of Joaquin Phoenix and Russell Crowe from ‘Gladiator’, the iconic 2000 Ridley Scott film. Hope you enjoy! 🙂 🙂

And below is the finished drawing 🙂 🙂

[SPOILER ALERT] Ridley Scott’s 2000 ‘Gladiator’ is one of my all time favourite films. It tells the story of Maximus, a brave and moral man, a respected General who is enslaved as a result of the deceitful Commodus’ chicanery. Reluctantly at first, Maximus fights as a gladiator to the Roman crowds and at the Colosseum; to win his freedom, and ultimately seek vengeance on him who has wronged him;

‘The general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an empire’ (Commodus quote – IMBD)

I shall not spoil more of the plot for you in case you have not seen it but ‘Gladiator’ a brilliant and superb film in my opinion, and I would highly recommend viewing!

I have drawn using Derwent sketching and Boldmere colouring pencils. I positioned both subjects Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) and Maximus (Russell Crowe) facing one another with a famous quote from the film arching overhead;

‘What we do in life echoes in eternity’ (Maximus quote – IMDB)

This is to emphasise my interpretation of the meaning behind the quote; that the choices we make and actions we take in our life not only define us as people but have a lasting impact on the world even when we die – our choices and actions do matter. Obviously in the film, Commodus and Maximus are arch-enemies, who completely contrast one another in personalities and integrity – I wanted this to be visually symbolised in my amateur art drawing.

For future drawings, I think I would like to keep to the film theme at the moment and draw other characters from my other favourite films – possibly Jack and Rose from ‘Titanic’ and Baby and Johnny from ‘Dirty Dancing’ 🙂 🙂

Thank you very much for taking the time to read/view my latest UnicornPostbox blog post. Please do keep a look out for future drawings 🙂 🙂

…I would also however like to take the opportunity to wish all my followers well. I understand how difficult life is at the moment with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. I myself am caring for my mum who is in the later stages of Alzheimer’s so I know how hard the current restrictions imposed on us all are. Please do stay safe and take care…

Much love, Lauren xx

More information:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/ [Accessed 06th January 2021]

(Please visit my Facebook and Instagram page ‘UnicornPostbox’ to ‘like’ and ‘follow’)

‘James & Gina – Forever in Love’ – 30 progression photos

October 17, 2020Leave a comment

Hi blog followers, my latest UnicornPostbox blog post is 30 progression photos of an amateur art portrait drawing of my auntie Gina and uncle Jim. Hope you enjoy!

I used my A3 light pad to outline my auntie and uncle, and shaded using Derwent sketching pencils. For the border, I printed off paw print templates (they affectionately call each other ‘cub’, so I thought the paw prints would be a nice touch, hehe) and again I used my light pad to outline these. I also used a template for the love hearts so they were all identical. I coloured with Boldmere colouring pencils; I believe the contrast of baby blue and pale pink works pretty well. I used a black ballpoint pen to make the images really ‘pop’.

Overall, I am really happy with the end result 🙂

I am only an amateur artist drawing for fun as a hobby, however I feel as though this is one of my better ones – not the most realistic drawing ever obviously (I bodged up a bit on the jacket for instance!) but not bad for an amateur 😛

I chose a diamante sparkly frame to display the drawing, which is very much to my auntie Gina’s taste, hehe 🙂

And here is the end result!

Thank you very much for taking the time to read / view my latest art blog post! I really appreciate your support!

My next UnicornPostbox blog posts will be photos and a description of a caravan holiday to Skipsea Sands as well as another trip to Yorkshire Wildlife Park 🙂 🙂

So please do keep a look out 😛

Stay well, stay safe, much love, Lauren xx

(Please visit my Facebook and Instagram page ‘UnicornPostbox’ to ‘like’ and ‘follow’)

‘Twit Twoo’ owl drawing – 30 progression photos

September 2, 2020Leave a comment

Hi, welcome to my personal amateur art and travel / theatre blog, UnicornPostbox. My latest blog post is 30 progression photographs of an amateur art owl drawing. Hope you enjoy!

dav

dav

mde

dav

dav

mde

dav

dav

dav

dav

dav

dav

dav

dav

dav

dav

dav

mde

mde

mde

mde

mde

mde

mde

mde

mde

mde

mde

dav

dav

I took inspiration for my owl drawing from my art therapy and adult colouring books. The title obviously was chosen because of the distinctive hoot noise owls make i.e. twit twoo, so is onomatopoeia. Two of my owls were drawn freehand, original drawings taking inspiration from the books, however I traced the outline of my middle right-hand side owl using my A3 light pad. I tried to incorporate intricacies to the design of my owls, making them as detailed as possible. I printed off star templates and again used my A3 light pad to create a starry night background. I coloured using Boldmere colouring pencils and outlined with a black ballpoint pen. Overall, I am quite pleased with the way this one has turned out. I do not think it is my best, but neither the worst in my opinion (like I keep reiterating, I am only an amateur artist, drawing for fun, as a hobby). The array of bright bold colours make it a pretty art piece methinks, hope you agree 🙂 🙂 … and here is the finished result:

And there we go! Hope you like my latest post! 🙂 🙂

So sorry it’s been so long since my last blog post, I’m going to definitely try now to keep being creative and draw regularly! I very much doubt I’ll be posting any travel and / or theatre blog posts anytime soon with the current situation regarding the coronavirus pandemic 😦 😦 Hasn’t it been such an awful year! I sincerely hope all my followers are as well as can possibly be, and adjusting to the new normal. Stay safe guys! And yes, please do keep a look out for new amateur art posts coming soon. I intend to draw a portrait of my auntie and uncle next, and then I have a few ideas in the pipeline, so watch this space! 😛 😛

Thank you as always for taking the time to read / view my latest blog post! I appreciate your ongoing support, means a lot.

Take care, all the best, Lauren xx

(Please visit my Facebook page ‘UnicornPostbox’ to ‘like’ and ‘follow’)

‘Beth and Josh – Forever in Love’ drawing, 27 progression photos

April 17, 2020Leave a comment

Hi, welcome to my UnicornPostbox blog, this blog post offers 27 progression photos of an amateur art drawing of my beautiful sister Beth, and her lovely boyfriend Josh. Hope you enjoy 🙂 🙂

I used my A3 light pad to draw the outline of Beth and Josh, once I had cut the reference images so that only their heads were being traced. I did this because I made the decision to draw Beth and Josh inside a big red love heart, in keeping with the ‘forever in love’ theme. I sketched as usual using Derwent sketching pencils and the colouring pencils I drew with this time were Boldmere premium artists colouring pencils. The background I incorporated block colour squares, similar to my previous drawings; all images were outlined using a Pilot FriXion pen.

I am really happy with the way Beth has turned out. I believe I have been able to achieve a very good ‘likeness’. I accentuated her lips to make them bigger, as this is her personal preference, and made her eyelashes more prominent also so her eyes ‘popped’; moreover I contoured her face nicely with shading. Josh was much harder to draw for some reason. The amount of times I rubbed out his eyes and redrew, haha! 😛 I think he’s got a bit of a look of Freddie Mercury and Cristiano Ronaldo amalgamated, ha! Admittedly, I am only an amateur artist, drawing as a hobby! Therefore, I don’t believe I have been able to achieve as much as a likeness with Josh, however overall I am pretty pleased with the drawing. Beth and Josh are both over the moon with it, and it shall hang pride of place on their wall when they move in together soon, so that makes me very happy 🙂 🙂

I am not sure what I will draw next. I would still like to do a few family portraits as I would say I feel most comfortable practising portraiture, I have promised to draw my auntie and uncle at some point… however I would also like to experiment with different subjects and styles of drawing. I have purchased quite a few art therapy / adult colouring books, with mandalas, flowers, animals, paisley patterns inside etc, and a fantasy Art Nouveau colouring book, so I think it would be good to use them to inspire my own unique original amateur art. I would furthermore like to get some inspiration from famous artists and art movements, have a bit of a play about, so watch this space!

As me and mum are self-isolating due to the coronavirus pandemic, I’m afraid I will not be posting any theatre / travel blog posts for some time, as you may have guessed. I do have a couple of wooden stools however stored in a cubbyhole which I may upcycle outside on a sunny day. I haven’t upcycled in a very long time, so now would probably be the perfect opportunity, so again, watch this space!

I do hope you are all well during these unprecedented and extremely difficult times. Sending a huge social distancing hug to all my UnicornPostbox followers, I very much value your ongoing support. Thank you so much for taking the time to read / view.

Take care, all the best,

Lauren xx