Happy New Year!

Here's one I started in December. I had to put it down after a few hours, after receiving a last minute commission for Xmas.

I'm trying out a new surface, velour. Its got a soft feel, and the pastel glides onto it. Its a big change to my usual pastelmat paper, which is like a fine sand paper.

I'd read it gives a soft effect to the painting, so I thought this lioness would make a good subject. I think I will have to use fixative on the finished work as it seems to fall off the paper!

I have some seascapes planned next and a possible oil painting of a Richmond deer, however I've had the festive season off, and not picked up as much as a pencil, so thought this lioness would be a nice way to ease myself back into my art.