‘Henrietta the Highland Cow’ progression photos

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

© 2025 Lauren Parr / https://unicornpostbox.com

‘Fred the winter fox’ amateur Christmas pub painting

Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of a winter fox Christmas amateur pub painting…hope you like 🎄🎄

First of all, we started with the background, bold acrylic blue 💙 at the top, slowly watering down towards the bottom of the canvas. We then used our small paint brush to determine where the white snow mountains would be, and created them swooping into each other. Afterwards, we incorporated little navy blue/black trees in the mountain range and used a very clever ‘Bob Ross’ inspired technique to upwardly ‘dab’ the huge main tree, using a fan brush. Then, using out small brush, we essentially splashed speckles of white everywhere to create realistic snow ❄️ over the whole canvas. Next, we began on the fox, which at first appeared as a bit of an orange blob 🤣 or with the beak an orange duck 🤣 It was then time to add detail. Little speckles of white snow on the mountain range tree branches, and a fan brush again dabbing snow on the big tree. It was really enjoyable to be honest practicing this technique for the first time. Only left to do then was detailing the fox. Oh, and a little more touching up, such as snow shadows. Others at the class didn’t, but I sort of black outlined my fox. Rather than realistic, I am more a fan of pop art and prefer my art to ‘pop’. I think it makes him stand out more, contrasting to the other style. With his tail cuddling round him, his cute little ears and smiley face, I reckon he’s sort of adorable 🥰🥰

I don’t believe I will be posting now until after Christmas. I expect in the new year to start some new diamond arts 💎🎨 and a pub painting in January… so until then…

I hope you all have a fabulous Christmas! 🎄🎄

Thank you for all your support this year, all the best, Lauren xx

© 2024 Lauren Parr / https://unicornpostbox.com

‘Starry night pumpkins’ amateur pub painting

Hi everyone ☺️ My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an amateur ‘Starry Night’ Van Gogh inspired Halloween 🎃 pub painting… hope you like!

First of all, we outlined with watery brown acrylic paint the soon to become pumpkins 🎃 and painted the entire background a deep blue. We then created and built up the white flowing central star swirl, and circular star swirls, in inspiration of Van Gogh’s original dreamlike etheral night sky, stars and moon🌙 We then used neon pain to paint the pumpkins bright neon orange, and neon yellow in the sky / creating detail on the pumpkins 🎃 It was brilliant when we turned the lights off to see the fluorescent colours! We incorporated the black cypress tree, symbolic some say Van Gogh’s mental state (he painted Starry Night in an asylum after he mutilated his left ear) and a little more definition to the pumpkins, white, brown and back subtle strokes, and here is the finished piece:

I really enjoyed this one, I love the effect of the swirling sky in contrast to the bright bold neon pumpkins 🎃

The next pub painting is our Christmas 🎄 ‘Winter fox’ in December. I am also on with a new turtle 🐢 diamond art, and I am going to a few pantomimes in the next couple of months… also, I’m going to see the ‘Nutcracker’ ballet with my auntie 💓 I’m so excited because I have always wanted to see a ballet.. so yes, please keep a look out for future posts…

Many thanks as always for reading/viewing, love Lauren xx

https://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/starry-night.html [Accessed 30th October 2024]

© 2024 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com

‘Busy bees’ amateur pub painting

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

© 2024 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com

‘Georgina the giraffe’ amateur pub painting

Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of a cute giraffe 🦒 Hope you enjoy! 😁

We started off with yellow acrylic paint for the long giraffe neck. Then, we lightly outlined the shape of the giraffe head and ossicones (posh technical term for horns, ha!) We filled this with colour. At this point the painting looked kind of like a yellow ogre! 🤣 Quite a few others, especially newbies, started commenting ‘Oh no, what’s happening here?’ with regard to their painting. Me and my friend Denise just said ‘don’t worry, trust the process’ 😁 We then used brown paint for the famous spots, and ears etc and a base for the eyes. Next, I added watery brown shading to certain areas, and contrastingly defined lines in black. I think the most adorable aspect of ‘Georgina’ however is her gorgeous heavily painted and flicked eyelashes 😍 What a beauty! And here is the finished amateur art piece…

To be honest, this is my favourite of all the pub paintings I’ve done! I think ‘Georgina’ is a very pretty giraffe 🦒🦒 I can’t wait for the next one next month. It hasn’t been announced yet what the theme will be, so just keep a look out 😜

I think my next blog post will be a ‘Stitch’ Disney diamond art 💎🎨 I am doing for my lovely friend Chelsea

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

© 2024 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com

‘Timothy and Tina – two turtles’ amateur pub painting

Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of two amateur turtles, pub painting.. hope you enjoy! 😄😄

We started off with a complete navy blue background 💙 incorporating at the top white and light blue shimmer streaks to replicate the sunlight shimmering down…The ocean floor bed was silhouetted with dark blue/black… Then dark green seaweed was added, highlighted with white… Also fluorescent glow in the dark pink and orange coral/clams/shells were introduced, really cool! 😎 After black silhouettes, hexagonal shapes were outlined on the turtle shells 🐢 the features more defined with dark green / light blue shimmer and white to illustrate where the light touches 🐢… and here is the finished painting…

I realise I’m not the best painter in the world, but I find it very therapeutic. I’m so glad our pub painting art teacher is back! (Since the start of the year, she was teaching art on a world cruise with her fiance, living the dream!) It’s very sociable the pub painting sessions, me and my friend Denise love it 😀

The next pub painting in May is a giraffe 🦒 I’m well looking forward to it because I love giraffes! 🦒 Becca is also going to offer a free oil painting introduction soon too and her fiance, photography lessons, so that’ll be fantastic! 😄💕💕

I also have a couple of diamond arts to start; one of ‘stitch’ (lilo and stitch) for my friend Chelsea and a gorgeous sunset diamond art 💎 🎨 So watch this space!

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

© 2024 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com

‘Reni the robin’ amateur Christmas pub painting

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

© 2023 Lauren Parr / https://unicornpostbox.com

‘Oscar the black cat’ 🐈‍⬛️ amateur pub painting

Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an amateur Halloween black cat with a witches hat! Hope you like 🙂

We started off silhouetting the cat outline, and painting the entire rest of the canvas purple. Two piercing golden eyes, and shabby black fur. The hat then looked a bit like a traffic cone! Orange fluorescent paint really made the painting pop. Two black slits for pupils and grey detailed features..and hey we have a black cat with a witches hat 💜💜.. and here is the finished piece:

It was so much fun painting this Halloween themed painting! I won the fancy dress competition too with my ‘day of the dead’ outfit 😁 and won myself and my friend Denise a woo woo cocktail 🍸 The concept of Pub Painting is fantastic, being creative whilst unwinding with an alcoholic beverage, ha! Becca was brill as ever, guiding us through the entire process..

The next pub painting is in December, with a Christmas robin theme. So keep a look out for that 😜 Also, I’m about to start on a new lion diamond art 🎨

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

Many thanks, Lauren xx

© 2023 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com

‘Philippe the peacock’ amateur pub painting progression photos

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

© 2023 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com

‘Flowery meadow’ amateur acrylic painting

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

© 2023 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com