Supply List for Colored Pencil, Beginner Class with Teri Goetz

Note: links are for examples. You can find similar items at art stores, etc.

— Colored Pencils:

Faber Castell Polychromos Colored Pencils (oil based): These are my first recommendation. Unfortunately, the sets they sell contain colors that are not used often in botanical art. You can buy individual pencils at dickblick.com.

Following is a good starter collection, although we likely won’t be using any greens in the pomegranate class. If you’d like to swap them out for the pomegranate we will be doing, I’d suggest you get a few extra reds like: deep red #223, venetian red #190, caput mortuum #169, pale geranium lake #121, light cadmium red #117. These reds get used a lot in botanical art. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Starter collection:

Cadmium yellow #107
Pale geranium lake #121
Middle purple pink #125
Permanent green olive #167
Earth green yellowish #168
Purple violet #136
Dark cadmium orange #115
Dark sepia #175
Red violet #194
White #101
Ivory #103
Burnt sienna #283
Yellow ochre #183
Earth Green#172

additional very helpful colors:

Cadmium yellow lemon #205
Dark Indigo #157
Warm grey IV #273
Madder #142
Ultramarine #120
Dark indigo #157
Chrome Oxide green #278
Olive green yellowish #173
Dark flesh #130
Burnt ochre #187

Lyra or other “colorless blender” like this.

— Prismacolor pencils

More wax based, are less expensive but softer. Good for pastel colors, which Faber Castell lacks a bit (like lilac). They work well for many things, (and some very famous colored pencil artists solely use these) but are harder to get (and keep) a sharp tip (key to botanical drawing with colored pencil). As they are creamier they can build up and can make it harder to layer. If you already have these, we can make it work!

Other acceptable brands: Caran D'ache Luminance (also softer) or Caran D’ache Pablo

-- Please note that it is key that you use these brands (I prefer Faber Castell) not something you might have at home (like Crayola, student grades, etc.) because they won't layer well and are not lightfast.

— Paper: 9x12 or larger

This is personal choice, but here are recommendations:

Smooth paper: It is easier and quicker to cover the surface of smooth paper without a lot of texture. Also slightly harder to erase than slightly textured. Strathmore is a decent brand. Strathmore Bristol 400 smooth surface. 300 would work as well.

Slightly textured paper: It takes more layers to cover the paper with slight texture, but you can add more layers, giving you a little more flexibility and luminance. This paper is a little more durable for those many layers (my preference for this class).

Strathmore 400 or 500 Series Bristol-vellum surface
Legion Stonehenge White Vellum finish
Hot pressed watercolor paper (140 lb): Fabriano Artistico, Fabriano Classico, Stonehenge Aqua, Arches. Cold pressed paper doesn’t work well for colored pencil as it is too rough and the pencil doesn’t glide on well.

— Pencil Sharpener:

A handheld sharpener: Rapesco 64 or Muji Desktop, or you can also use a small sharpener like this but it can get tedious to use. Plug in electric sharpeners (like Panasonic KP-4A) are fine, too, but the handheld gets a finer point. You can use these with sandpaper to get a finer point, as well.

— Sandpaper Block or 1 sheet of 600/800 grit sandpaper (get the latter at hardware store) for making a finer point. Especially important if using electric or older, dulled sharpener.

— Erasers: Tombow mono zero eraser, a kneaded eraser and a plastic vinyl eraser can come in handy.

— Embossing tool: I will have some to use, but if you want to get one, it’s excellent to have! Err on the smaller side like this.

— Tracing paper: I like Canson tracing calque, initial drawings often done on tracing, then transferred to good paper. If you have a portable Lightbox, bring that to transfer drawing. I will bring mine to share around, as well. We also use this under your hand so you don’t smudge the color

— Ruler: If you can find a clear one, that is best. Used to measure object if using live subject. You can also use dividers if you have them. I will bring some for you to use, as well. You can also use very straight sticks (like chopsticks)!

— Drafting or art tape: to tape drawing to board. (I will bring some if you don’t want to buy).

— Soft brush: (a VERY clean makeup brush or art brush) You can also use a clean feather - to brush away “crumbs” of color.

— Magnifying glass: again, I will have but will be helpful if you have your own to look at details. Not mandatory.

— Graphite pencils: I’d suggest bringing an F and/or HB pencil. F is midrange and good for sketches. A darker (HB or darker) pencil is good to outline the sketch to make transfer easier.

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