3: Prayer Plant
Prayer plants are one of the most unique and beautiful houseplants on the market today. These plants have vibrant leaves that curl up at night like hands in prayer, hence their name. They come in a multitude of colors and sizes, so it’s easy to find one that fits any aesthetic. Prayer plants are easy to care for and with proper care, they can be a long-lasting addition to the home.
The prayer plant has the ability to bring color and texture to a room. There are several varieties available with different leaf patterns and colors. Some of the most popular varieties are the Maranta leuconeura (Tricolor) and the Maranta leuconeura (Kerchoveana). The Tricolor variety has light green leaves with hues of cream, pink and red, while the Kerchoveana has green, white and purple variegations.
In addition to their beauty, prayer plants are also great for improving air quality. The leaves are capable of removing harmful toxins from the air, such as formaldehyde, xylene, and carbon monoxide. Having several plants in the home may help reduce allergies and illnesses caused by poor air quality.
Prayer plants require a lot of humidity. This can be achieved by misting the leaves regularly, placing the plant near a humidifier, or placing the plant near a tray of water.
Prayer plants need bright, indirect light and should be kept in an area where it will receive some sun throughout the day. Direct sunlight can cause the leaves to burn, so it’s important to keep them out of direct light.
Water prayer plants regularly and allow the soil to dry slightly before watering again in order to avoid overwatering which can lead to root rot. Check the soil with a finger and if it feels dry, then it’s time to water the plant again.
If a prayer plant is not getting enough light, it can become leggy (the plant has grown very tall with few leaves) and the leaves will become pale.
Prayer plant leaves can also act as natural air fresheners by picking up odors from the air to help make the home smell fresher.
The plants can be easily propagated using root division. Simply divide the roots and replant them in new pots.
Prayer plants can grow up to two feet tall, so periodically trim them back to help maintain the size and shape of the plant.
With proper care and attention, prayer plants can make a great addition to any home. They bring color and texture to a room and they also act as natural air fresheners. Just make sure they get the right amount of light, water, and humidity and they’ll be sure to thrive.
2: Anthurium
Anthurium plants, a member of the Araceae family, are popular for their bright and colorful flowers. The plants are native to Central and South America and are easy to care for.
Anthurium plants thrive in indirect sunlight and warm temperatures, preferring temperatures between 60-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Place them near a window or in a bright room.
Anthuriums need regular watering to keep the soil moist. Water when the top inch of soil is dry and ensure the soil drains well.
Using a balanced fertilizer once every two weeks can help anthuriums grow stronger and produce more flowers.
The plants are prone to pests like spider mites and mealybugs.
Anthurium blooms can last for up to 12 weeks.
1: Pilea
My first post for my new 100 plant sketches project. This project is exactly what it sounds like, 100 plant sketches. I’ll release one per day Monday through Friday. This first one is pilea.
Pilea plants, one of the most popular houseplants, have attractive foliage and the ability to propagate quickly. They’re native to tropical and subtropical regions of the world and are found in a variety of colors and sizes. Pilea is a low maintenance plant that is easy to care for and can thrive in average home temperatures and humidity.
The most popular type of pilea is the Chinese money plant, also known as the Pancake Plant or UFO Plant because of its flat, round leaves.
Pilea plants need regular watering and to dry out in between waterings.
Pilea plants do not need to be pruned very much, however, trimming the tops of the stems can promote bushier growth.
The plants are not prone to pests or diseases but can be susceptible to root rot if overwatered.
To propagate a pilea, cut off one of the stems and place it in a pot filled with moist soil.
References:
First TikTok Video
My first TikTok Video based on Lesson 27: Lettering in Two-Point Perspective from Mark Kistler’s book You Can Draw in 30 Days: The Fun, Easy Way to Learn to Draw in One Month or Less. The book has drawing tutorials with pictures to explain each step, making it easy to follow along and improve your drawing skills. This was one of the first resources I used when learning to draw again as an adult.
Here’s the final sketch. Just noticed the date is wrong. It should be 2023. Does anyone else get tripped up by forgetting to change the year after New Years?
Do you have any book recommendations for drawing? Let me know in the comments below!
One-Line Art and Procreate Brush Studio
Class: Level Up Your One-Line Art with Procreate Brush Studio by Attabeira German (Disclaimer: if you sign up through the link, we’ll both get one free month of Skillshare).
This class teaches line art in Procreate as well as an introduction to Procreate brush studio. We start with using three ready-made brushes that come default with Procreate. These brushes are dry ink, monoline, and syrup. Dry ink has a small taper and a rough texture to it. Monoline has a single stroke width. And syrup is a smooth line with a lot of taper so it is pretty sensitive to pressure. These are my first three cats in the image below.
For the second part of the class, we take a look at Procreate brush studio. I was very interested in the stabilization setting since increasing this setting helps keep the lines from being wobbly or jittery. I have this problem with wobbly lines when drawing on iPad, but not so much on paper, so this was really confusing me before. I’m happy Attabeira linked me this class in response to my other one-line art project. I decided to edit the dry ink brush since I enjoy the rough texture of the brush, and increased the stabilization and taper. This is the fourth cat in the image below.
