Jibbi Little gets creative with a winged unicorn latte art pattern that takes the imagination to new heights.
It’s hard to believe it’s been more than a year since Ross Quail called my name as the winner of the 2019 Australian Latte Art Championship.
For my next pattern in BeanScene, I wanted to offer something creative, fanciful, and that reaches for the skies.
The unicorn pattern features five rosettas, each relatively short and requiring a lot of fine control to pour correctly. It’s also important to nail certain elements like the symmetry of the wings and the subtle curve of the mane and neck.
Dragging is the other key technique for this design. It may sound simple, but you want the legs and neck of the unicorn to curve as shown in the photos for maximum appeal.
Drawing the neck, face, and horn in one movement will take some practice to perform well. Try to visualise it almost like pouring the number 4, leaving a space in the centre for the eye.
Latte art is always growing and changing. Even with my own designs, I am constantly thinking of new ways to add more detail to existing patterns. With this design, I also wanted to provide a canvas that you can work with to create your own flourishes.
There are many ways to pour a unicorn, with plenty of optional features to add character to the design. I’ve added wings to my unicorn to provide more detail in the centre of the cup. Otherwise, the thin body of the unicorn could appear too simple.
When I draw it now, I like to add a tail, or clouds in the bottom left corner of the cup. You could do the same or find other ways to put your own stamp on the design.
This article appears in the April 2020 edition of BeanScene Magazine. Subscribe HERE.
Jibbi Little’s Unicorn
Step 1
With the handle at three o’clock, pour a seven-leaf rosetta from the centre of the cup to two o’clock and drag back along the left.
Step 2
Leave some space to the left for the neck and mane, and pour a seven-leaf rosetta out to 10 o’clock and drag back along the right.
Step 3
Pour a slightly curved six-leaf rosetta from the centre of the cup for the mane, a five-leaf rosetta across the bottom of the first three rosettas for the body, and a five-leaf rosetta along the bottom of the cup for the ground.
Step 4
From the outer tip of the body, drag a curved line to form the back leg. Drag another line just before it to form the inner back leg. These should end beside the ground.
Step 5
From the front of the body, drag the front leg, curving inwards halfway down. Pour the inner front leg over the top of it.
Step 6
For the neck, pour upwards from the body, along the curve of the mane rosetta.
Step 7
At the top of the neck, pour outwards towards the second wing then return to your starting point, leaving space in between as an eye. Pull upwards for the horn.
Step 8
Between the head and first wing, drop a small amount of foam for the moon.
