Draw & Paint Rome
with Richard E Scott
September 28 – October 2, 2026
Suggested Gear & Materials
You are welcome to use any drawing and painting gear you like. That said, for those interested, below is a listing of the gear and materials that I will be taking with me on the trip.
Click on the links (underlined text) to view items at Amazon, or even better, you can purchase many of these items at Blue Rooster in Pasadena, or at Jackson’s Art, (in the UK, but they ship fast).
Drawing Gear
Pencil
When I draw in graphite, here is my preferred pencil:
Blackwing Pencil – Natural
Sharpeners
When using a traditional drawing pencil, you will need at least one sharpener. Below are my choices:
This is a good, inexpensive choice for a pocket-sized sharpener with casing to prevent litter.
Afmat Long Point Pencil Sharpener
This is old-style crank pencil sharpener is a must-have for me on a trip. It’s small, lightweight, and fits nicely in my luggage. It creates an especially long and tapered tip. I usually use this sharpener each morning before heading out and then leave it in the room, using my Faber-Castell sharpener during the day.
(Left) Faber-Castell Sharpener, and (right) Afmat Long Point Pencil Sharpener
Erasers
Erasers can be used for erasing, refining values, and even as drawing tools (for making light marks). Here is what I use:
Kneaded eraser — Faber-Castell Kneaded Eraser
Retractable eraser — Tombow Mono Zero Elastomer Eraser with Round Tip
Rechargeable eraser — Foyucool Rechargeable Eraser
Left to right: kneaded eraser, retractable eraser, and rechargeable eraser
Drawing Pad
Quality, heavier-weight paper is key to an enjoyable drawing experience and a better finished drawing. Here is what I will be using on the trip:
Lennox Cotton Drawing Pad / 250gsm / 15 sheets / I use the 11” x 14” size
If you cannot find the Lennox, another very good drawing paper is Strathmore Series 400 Drawing Pad / 130gm (80lb.) / 24 sheets in various sizes / or Strathmore Series 400 Recycled Drawing Pad / 130gm (80lb.) / 24 sheets in various sizes
You can find both of these drawing pads at Blue Rooster in Pasadena
(Left) Lennox Cotton Drawing Pad, and (right) Strathmore Series 400 Drawing Pads, regular (brown cover) and recycled (green cover)
Optional – Charcoal Gear
For the past year I’ve especially enjoyed drawing in charcoal. Here are the materials I use:
Cretacolor Chunky Charcoal (also available at Blue Rooster)
Holder for charcoal / I insert the charcoal into this holder with the charcoal slightly extended out / This allows me access to the charcoal and keeps my hands clean as I draw
Large Tortillions (tapered blending stumps) / I scrub these on the charcoal and use them as drawing tools / be sure to get the large size
Staedtler Pencil Holder / I use this as a holder for the tortillion / I wrap some tape around the tortillion before inserting it into the pencil holder – this adds good grip so it doesn’t slip out of the pencil holder / I will demonstrate this on the trip
Charcoal Pencil / for adding small accents or razor-sharp edges / any brand is fine
I typically have two tortillions and pencil holders with me when I draw – one I use for applying the charcoal, and the other I use for blending and softening edges
I also bring several spare tortillions with me on the trip, as they can damage easily
When drawing in charcoal, I use the same erasers, drawing pads other drawing items listed on this webpage
My charcoal gear
Other Drawing Items
Small brush — I use a compact makeup brush to remove excess graphite or eraser shavings from a drawing
Small microfiber towel — to rest my hand on so I don’t smudge the drawing
Small pouch to hold drawing materials — any type or brand is fine (not shown in photo below)
Small microfiber towel and compact makeup brush
Watercolor Gear
Watercolor Block
Saunders Waterford Watercolor Block / 16” x 12” (or any size you prefer) / Cold-Press or Rough Surface / Regular White Color / 300gm (140lb)
Other good brands are Arches and Fabriano / any size you prefer / Rough or Cold-Press Surface / 300gm (140lb)
My suggestion is to stay away from inexpensive brands or any student-grade paper
The Saunders Waterford and Arches papers can be purchased from Jackson’s Art and Blue Rooster / Fabriano can be purchased at most art supply stores
Saunders Waterford Block – comes in a variety of sizes
Brushes
I use a variety of flats and rounds / some in sable, others in synthetic / bring whatever kinds you like using
Brush holder to keep the brushes protected during transport
My brushes and brush holder
Palette
I highly recommend this palette for travel:
The Portable Painter Palette is excellent and inexpensive / get the “Classic Plus Kit” (it has extra wells for additional paint colors, if desired) / visit Portable Painter and enter promo code SCOTT during checkout to receive a 10% discount on your order (promo code is case sensitive)
My Portable Palette loaded and ready
Watercolors
You are welcome to use any colors and brands you like. Here are the colors I use and how I organize them on my Portable Painter Palette (corresponding to the 15 paint wells shown in the photo above).
Top Row (listed from left to right):
Titanium Opaque White – Schmincke Horadam Aquarell
(Middle well is empty – I use this spot for any new colors I’d like to experiment with)
Ivory Black – Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour
Middle Row (listed from left to right):
Cadmium Yellow Lemon – Schmincke Horadam Aquarell
Cadmium Yellow Deep – MaimeriBlu
Quinacridone Gold Hue – Schmincke Horadam Aquarell
Cadmium Orange – MaimeriBlu
Transparent Brown – Sennelier L’Aquarelle
Quinacridone Red – Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour
Bottom Row (listed from left to right):
Winsor Green (Yellow Shade) – Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour
Viridian – MaimeriBlu
Cerulean Blue – Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour
Utramarine Light – Sennelier L’Aquarelle
Mixed Violet – a mixture of two watercolors: Cobalt Blue – Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour and Quinacridone Red – Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour (I mix 2 parts Cobalt Blue to 1 part Quinacridone Red)
Quinacridone Magenta – Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour
Note: the mixed violet I use will not produce the most intense violet possible. I have found that a mixture of Ultramarine Light and Quinacridone Magenta makes the most intense violet. I prefer my mixed violet in most cases because it mixes beautifully with other colors without dominating the mixtures. 95% of the time this mixed violet is all I need. If I need a more intense violet, I mix together Ultramarine Light and Quinacridone Magenta.
All of the paints listed can be purchased online at Jackson’s Art.
Easel
Be sure to purchase one that is foldable, lightweight, and easy to carry. Below is the one I use.
My easel - a camera tripod with a masonite board attached to the top
Other Items (no photo of gear listed below - any style or brand is fine)
Daypack that you can carry everything in, except for the watercolor block
Sponge or Sham-Wow
Small spray bottle (any brand)
A handful of folded paper towels (I use Viva Select-a-Size)
Extra metal clips (to attached watercolor block to easel, if necessary)
Wax resist – you can use a wax stick, or even a wax candle
Very thin guitar pick – to cut used sheets off of watercolor block
Small fold-up chair – I will not be using a chair when I paint, but some people may want to bring a small fold-up stool that fits in their backpack, or can be easily carried
Water bottle (for you and your watercolors)
Hat and sunscreen
Important
Please order any needed equipment or materials EARLY to avoid problems and stress
To make sure your palette and luggage stay nice and clean, wait until the first morning of class to fill up your paint wells. Then, during our painting days, make sure your palette stays LEVEL at the top or bottom of your daypack.
Some locations may prohibit the use of rolling bags. If this occurs, please be sure you can carry all of your painting items with you (this means pack light).
Feel free to reach out to me with any questions. I’ll see you in Rome.
Grazie mille!
Richard
richard@paintwithscott.com