ARTISTIC THEME
Colored pencil palettes for flowers and botanicals
Explore 168 colored pencil palettes for flowers and botanicals and continue working with them in the interactive Atlas.
168 palettes · 6 brands · 5 color roles
How colors are organized in flowers and botanicals palettes
Botanical palettes are organized around the shape of a petal or leaf. A dominant color holds them together, while small temperature changes separate planes, veins and shadow areas.
Light
Preserves the translucency of petals and the soft sheen of leaves and stems.
Base
Defines the flower’s or foliage’s main color without completely covering the paper texture.
Transition
Connects folds and changes of plane so petals do not look like cut-out pieces.
Accent
Adds flower centers, edges, veins or a complementary contrast that guides the eye.
Depth
Concentrated at the base of petals, overlapping leaves and the inside of the flower.
Palettes for flowers, leaves and botanicals
Explore soft, intense and natural combinations. Use them as a guide for a particular species or as a starting point for an imagined composition.
Old rose · Natural
Five pencils organized around this combination, balancing light, main color, nuance and depth.
Open Old rose · Natural in the AtlasOld rose · Natural
Five pencils organized around this combination, balancing light, main color, nuance and depth.
Open Old rose · Natural in the AtlasOld rose · Natural
Five pencils organized around this combination, balancing light, main color, nuance and depth.
Open Old rose · Natural in the AtlasOld rose · Natural
Five pencils organized around this combination, balancing light, main color, nuance and depth.
Open Old rose · Natural in the AtlasOld rose · Natural
Five pencils organized around this combination, balancing light, main color, nuance and depth.
Open Old rose · Natural in the AtlasOld rose · Natural
Five pencils organized around this combination, balancing light, main color, nuance and depth.
Open Old rose · Natural in the AtlasOld rose · Higher contrast
Five pencils organized around this combination, balancing light, main color, nuance and depth.
Open Old rose · Higher contrast in the AtlasOld rose · Higher contrast
Five pencils organized around this combination, balancing light, main color, nuance and depth.
Open Old rose · Higher contrast in the AtlasHow to read and apply these palettes
First observe relationships between lightness, temperature and depth; then adapt pressure and layer order to your paper.
Frequently asked questions about flowers and botanicals palettes
Simple answers for adapting combinations to your pencils, paper and way of coloring.
How do I make luminous petals without too much white?
Preserve the paper, apply thin layers and darken around the light. White works better as a final adjustment than as the answer to all luminosity.
Why do my greens look artificial?
They often lack variety in temperature and value. Mix greens with ochres, blues, violets or soft browns according to the light and the plant’s condition.
Can I use one floral palette for several flowers?
Yes. Keep the value scale and change the base or accent color to suit the species without rebuilding the whole combination.
Where should I put a flower’s darkest shadow?
Usually where petals meet, beneath overlaps and near the center. Avoid outlining the entire edge with the same dark shade.
Turn the combination into a useful palette for your drawing
Open the Atlas, check the exact pencils and substitute each color with another that performs the same visual role.
Open this theme in the Atlas