Introducing my new Pastel Challenge..50 Wildflowers

'Claret Cup Cactus - New Mexico' 7x5 pastel

I am excited to share the first painting of my new challenge. My plan is to paint 50 native American wildflower paintings...one for each of the 50 states. They will all be 7x5 inches and will be pastel. Like my landscape variation challenge I will use different types of paper and techniques to make it interesting. Some states have an official wildflower but many don't. To help me choose the wildflowers for each state I will be using the wildflowers chosen for the USPS Wildflower Stamp series of 1992. I will paint them in no particular order and I hope to finish the project before Spring. My first painting of the series is the state wildflower of New Mexico..the Claret Cup Cactus. This painting was done on Uart paper that was toned with green gouache.