More fall colors in pastel

Just finished, and another based on a photo taken on our hike 2 days ago.  This looks to the north, as the trail crosses an open meadow in the valley.  A still-green stand of cottonwoods on the left lead to Coal Bank Hill and Potato Mtn. to the right - a cloud-cast shadow on its lower slope.  A stand of yellow aspen defines the northern boundary of this attractive meadow, which still has a surprising number of wildflowers.

Along purgatory flats

7.5 x 11 inches

320# sandpaper on matboard

It's always nice to return to sanded papers after working on a low-textured paper like Strathmore.  This piece was done almost entirely with Nupastels, with my favorite dark green Sennelier and some others for the sky.  No finger blending at all here; just layering and scumbling.  

A few more photos from that same hike:

 

"Late arrivals"

An unknown species of butterfly feeds on a late-season daisy in the meadow

"Not all is golden"

This backlit sumac (I think) branch shows off its brilliant orange leaves against the forest of aspen