Alocasia ‘Black Velvet’ has beautiful velvety leaves that are a deep rich black and appear very dark green in bright sunlight, with contrasting silvery veins. It is a stunning plant but alas, it can be a bit of a diva!

I found this quite tricky to paint because although the colours are simple, I still had to convey the soft texture of the leaf surface and the multitude of veins. I used a thin brush to lift some of the colour to show the less prominent veins, giving it depth. I also shaded the edges to make the silvery border of the leaf stand out better.

Alocasia ‘Black Velvet’ is available as:

• A4 giclée print (see size guide)

• Pack of five A6 postcards

• Pack of five blank A6 greeting cards with matching grey peel & seal envelopes.