Perhaps unsurprisingly, there has been a huge increase in the popularity of house plants in recent years, as an increasing number of us seek to get closer to nature, and bring the outside in.
Succulents are particularly popular thanks to their hardy nature and relaxed temperament – they have their origins in dry, desert environments, and this makes them perfect for inexperienced or nervous plant owners!
Whether you are a green-fingered plant fan, or taking your first foray into the world of plant ownership, kick things off by drawing your very own version of a stunning succulent.
Tutorial Video
Step-By-Step Images and Instructions
1.
Begin with a smooth, curved line – almost like a “C” laid on its side – around an inch from the bottom of your page, just to the right of the center line.
2.
Add another, parallel line just below this first one, and join the two lines with short, vertical lines.
3.
From the bottom of this shape, move to just inside the edges, and draw two vertical lines, one on either side, which angle down ever so slightly as they reach the bottom of the page. Join these at the bottom with a curved line. Your pot is beginning to take shape!
4.
Return to the top of the pot, and draw a large, balloon like shape emerging from the gap at the top. Leave a slight gal on either side, between the plant and the edge of the pot.
5.
Next, add two more slightly smaller balloon shapes, coming off of either side of the main plant. These will form the arms of your succulent.
6.
These need a little detail – add two curved, horizontal lines to each arm, so that you have three “sections” on each side.
7.
Next, add two round circles to the center of the main plant…
8.
And fill these with curved, semicircular lines from the top to the bottom, so that you have three lines in total, curving inwards and decreasing in size as they do so, and a larger gap towards the top.
9.
Fill in the larger section at the top with a clear, solid black, leaving small dots of white to add character and reflections.
10.
Now, add some long, luscious lashes to the top of the eyes…
11.
And a pair of slightly surprised eyebrows just above the lashes!
12.
Now, draw a line down the very middle of the main plant shape, dividing it into two equal halves. Add a small, corners up semicircle in between the eyes to let your succulent smile!
13.
Working from the center line you just drew, continue to draw lines down the shape, curving with the main outline of the plant. Be careful to avoid the eyes!
14.
Every cactus needs some spikes! Create these by drawing small, spiky clusters all over the body of the plant – these can be very short lines to emphasize the sharp nature.
15.
Fill in the top off the pot with a bold black, leaving small gaps of white to show the pebbles and details of the soil.
16.
Now for the color! Choose the boldest, most vibrant green in your collection, and get to work bringing your succulent to life with a stunning emerald shape.
17.
Add some bright, mystical blues to the pebbles in the soil, giving you a great mix of bold black, bright white, and an eye-catching blue.
18.
Now, add some color to your pot with a bright brown – you can also mix things up and try your favorite color here!
19.
Now, add the same vibrant shade of blue you used earlier to the eyes – fill in the ring around the black pupil with the blue, leaving the outside ring white.
20.
Show your succulent some love by adding happy love hearts all around the shape.
21.
And fill these in with a romantic red or pink shade.
22.
For a final touch, add two black circles to the cheeks of your succulent, just below the eyes.
Voila! You have now successfully brought a stunning succulent to life – in the world of paper at least, even if you are still struggling with real life plant parenthood! Why not go one step further and select your own succulent to raise – this is a hobby you certainly won’t regret!
