View to the Gravel Bar

I think this is my favorite painting to date. I made the surface myself with a mixture of gesso and aluminum oxide powder brushed onto a piece of gatorboard with a bristle brush to give it plenty of texture. I first did a brilliant watercolor underpainting, and as I passed my pastel sticks over the textured surface, I let some of that underpainting show. I love how the texture in the light and shade emphasizes the grasses, and oh, there are some cows in the distance - my good luck charms! This piece won an HONORABLE MENTION at Steelville Plein Air, 2018.