Introduction to Botanical Art in Colored Pencil with Teri Goetz – Winter 2026

Beginner Supply list: Introduction to Botanical Art with Colored Pencils 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.

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

Light cadmium red #117.

Olive green yellowish #173

Raw umber #180

 

additional very helpful colors:

Cadmium yellow lemon #205 

Deep red #223

Venetian red #190

Dark Indigo #157

Warm grey IV #273

Madder #142

Dark indigo #157

Chrome Oxide green #278

Salmon #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, Derwent lightfast pencils.

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

 – Paper: 9×12 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. Important: 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: 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 across your page. You can also use Saral transfer paper.

– 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.