Red betel, Piper ornatum N.E.Br, is a plant of the Piperaceae family that thrives in tropical and subtropical climates. Its leaves are widely used for medicinal purposes. Unlike green betel (Piper betle L), which is more commonly sold in markets as a complement to spices or medicine, red betel is often cultivated for its beautifully patterned leaves as a garden ornament.

My mother planted red betel in the corner of our yard because, besides being beautiful, she also used its leaves as a remedy for diabetes, mouth ulcers, toothaches, and itching. Because of this, I was interested in painting this plant as the subject of a botanical painting.

As a climbing plant, the challenge in painting this plant is to determine the right composition so that I can showcase all its parts. Generally, the outer part of the leaves has a shiny green and pinkish-red pattern. Meanwhile, the inner part of the leaves is a dark red colour. However, not all parts of the leaves are coloured like that. Older leaves near the roots tend to be dark green and somewhat dull, while younger leaves have more of a reddish-brown hue. To display all the beauty of its leaves, I trimmed some parts of the stem and removed some roots to maximize the composition as I desired.Next is the process of painting this red betel. I used my favorite medium, watercolour. I employed the dry-on-dry technique to create detailed leaf patterns. This technique takes quite some time, so the painting process is not short. Nonetheless, everything requires patience and precision.

I hope the beauty of the red betel leaf patterns can be appreciated through my painting, and that the utilization and cultivation of red betel become more widespread, both as a herbal plant and a garden filler.