title- towards diamond                                                                                                                                       
I liked this scene because it was a beautiful winter afternoon, the clouds were lovely and the sun was popping out randomly across the landscape. Cattle scattered out and peacefully grazing , in February no less, is always calming.    Clouds, space, light.  
 This painting is the first of several in which I am using a toned, sanded pastel paper . I have always used rag mat board with some texture, or 'tooth'. I had started sanding my boards somewhat to add to the surface the would hold the pigment. The sanding helped but I was still not sold. I am learning that pastelists work on all sorts of surfaces and one artist ,whom I very much admire, creates a ground with acrylic medium and pumice. Baahaahaaahaaa! We'll just have to see where this leads!
This piece is pastel pigment on toned , sand coated pastel paper.  8" x 12".