This detailed colored pencil drawing on toned paper captures the rich texture of a succulent bed. This is the second study I did of a succulent bed. The first was a black and white drawing in ink, but after finishing it, I kept thinking how much I'd love drawing them in color! :) The original drawing is only 5x7 inches, but it took more than 20 hours to draw. 
 
This giclée print is printed on archival Epson Premium Watercolor paper and is virtually indistinguishable from the original! 
 
Did You Know? Africa has the highest number of native succulent species, many of which are in high demand for ornamental use by collectors in America, Europe, and Asia. Because many of these species are endemic to South Africa and Namibia and occur in very small areas, illegal harvesting is a serious threat to many species in the wild. This illegal trade, much of which occurs online, has severely impacted biodiversity in zones such as the Succulent Karoo in South Africa, which supports more than 6,000 succulent species, of which 40% are endemic. Single poaching episodes are thought to have resulted in whole species extinctions. We can all help combat poaching by vetting potential purchases against the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and buy from sellers who are transparent about their plant’s source and cultivation methods.