ARTISTIC THEME
Colored pencil palettes for nature and forest
Explore 168 colored pencil palettes for nature and forest and continue working with them in the interactive Atlas.
168 palettes · 6 brands · 5 color roles
How colors are organized in nature and forest palettes
Nature palettes combine variety and unity. Greens, earths and blues change with distance, moisture and light, but need a shared value scale to keep the scene from fragmenting.
Light
Describes illuminated leaves, mist, light bark and open spaces among vegetation.
Base
Establishes the landscape’s dominant color and connects different elements within the scene.
Transition
Softens changes in distance and helps separate the foreground from distant areas.
Accent
Introduces flowers, fruit, warm light or a small contrast that prevents monotony.
Depth
Builds gaps between branches, damp ground and masses of vegetation without always relying on black.
Palettes for nature, forests and landscapes
Find combinations for vegetation, earth and atmosphere. Adapt them to seasons, times of day and different lighting conditions.
Rainforest greens · Natural
Five pencils organized around this combination, balancing light, main color, nuance and depth.
Open Rainforest greens · Natural in the AtlasRainforest greens · Natural
Five pencils organized around this combination, balancing light, main color, nuance and depth.
Open Rainforest greens · Natural in the AtlasRainforest greens · Natural
Five pencils organized around this combination, balancing light, main color, nuance and depth.
Open Rainforest greens · Natural in the AtlasRainforest greens · Natural
Five pencils organized around this combination, balancing light, main color, nuance and depth.
Open Rainforest greens · Natural in the AtlasRainforest greens · Natural
Five pencils organized around this combination, balancing light, main color, nuance and depth.
Open Rainforest greens · Natural in the AtlasRainforest greens · Natural
Five pencils organized around this combination, balancing light, main color, nuance and depth.
Open Rainforest greens · Natural in the AtlasRainforest greens · Higher contrast
Five pencils organized around this combination, balancing light, main color, nuance and depth.
Open Rainforest greens · Higher contrast in the AtlasRainforest greens · Higher contrast
Five pencils organized around this combination, balancing light, main color, nuance and depth.
Open Rainforest greens · 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 nature and forest palettes
Simple answers for adapting combinations to your pencils, paper and way of coloring.
How do I avoid using the same green throughout a landscape?
Change temperature, lightness and saturation. Add ochres and yellows in highlights, blues in the distance, and violets or earths in shadows.
Why should the background have less contrast?
Reduced contrast helps create atmospheric depth. Stronger darks and details are usually reserved for the foreground.
Can I use a forest palette for other natural scenes?
Yes. Keep the structure and replace the base or accent to adapt it to meadows, mountains or gardens.
Do I need to outline leaves and branches?
Only in selected places. Masses of value and lost edges often describe depth better than a uniform outline.
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