Part 3 Wild Rivers Paint Out

Thursday of the paint out, another long day.  Joan picked me up at 7:30 as I recall and off we went.  Another beautiful day with a nice drive from Angel Fire to Red River to meet up with Lou and Jesse.  It was an open painting day.

There were three categories to enter in the show, Wild Rivers, Architecture, and Landscape.  We had the Wild Rivers painting from the first day.  Lou was putting her church for the architecture.  She and Jesse were going to the Upper Valley to work on landscapes.  Joan and I decided to paint the little red schoolhouse.  Again, I found some shade. 

Lou said the log cabin and other buildings were moved in, so I chose to paint without the extra buildings in the photo.

I forgot to take photos of my paintings before we framed them.  Excuse the glare.  This is pastel on Pastelbord, 10 x 8 inches.  The painting sold the first day of the show and was entered in the Architecture category.

Joan and I went to brunch then went out to Fawn Lakes where we found a beautiful camping spot and sat in the shade and sketched and painted at the creek.

 Photo of view at the Creek at Fawn Lakes.

 Pen and watercolor sketch there.

Trying to capture some water and rocks with a pen.  Difficult in black and white.

Joan in her shady spot.  I was sitting at the table sketching.

Creek at Fawn Lakes

11 x 14 inches on Pastelbord

Finished painting, sorry for the glare.  It reminds me of a Bob Ross painting.  Guess that isn't all bad.  

After we rested back to Red River for the demo with Terry Chacon.  She painted with oils on canvas with a palette knife.  She started with bright colors in five major shapes for the under painting.  Then came back with more natural colors and added detail slowly as she filled in the large shapes.  Terry was fun to listen to and sharing with her information.  http://www.terrydchacon.com/

Terry and her painting.

My sketch of Terry Painting, I gave it to her.

Lou, Jesse, Barbara, Sandy, Joan and I got together at the Lost Love Saloon for a drink before the group dinner at the Sundance restaurant.  It was fun to meet other artists and visit a while.  Back home to AXX about 10:30 p.m.

Light Still Life Demo and Other Hints

Maybe if I talk about a still life, I will paint one.  I hope so. 

Still life painting is interesting.  It is much like painting outside, plein air, as you see things in real life, not in a photo.  It is good training for your eyes and how to see values and contrast.  A good deal of my training in still life came from watching Helen Van Wyk, oil painter, on television.  She always explained the "why" of painting.  Why do you tone your canvas?  Why do you use that brush or that color?  I learned a lot.

Anything you learn from a demo or lesson doesn't do any good if you don't try it.  I have been to many workshops and demos and a few students would say, "Oh, I don't like that or that is too hard, I'll just do it my way."  If that is the case, you should save your money and just paint your way.  I think the purpose of seeing someone else paint is to try their method and maybe you will like part of it or all of it.  Don't know until you try.  (I explained my goals when I take a workshop in this post
https://jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/workshop-finishes.html

Artists really need to practice, warm up and have fun.  Try something new.  It doesn't have to end up a masterpiece.  Use small scraps of paper, old canvas, cardboard......  One of the artists on wetcanvas paints on open cereal boxes to practice.  Calendars, paper sacks, even newspaper.  I wipe off pastels and us paper and Pastelbord over and over.

There are many ways to paint, having a high or low intensity, black or dark background, soft, rich, etc.  You can see some demos and read others on my Demo/Video page above.  You can put something in the search box above, too.  I have so many instruction posts that aren't marked as instruction.  Sorry.

Anyway, back to lighting.  Well more the painting light, than the lighting.  I did a demo/lesson on Turning on the Light here:
https://jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/review-of-pastel-class-december-9.html

One of the old adages is that you have to have dark to show light. So, light against dark and dark against light.

So for fun I decided to paint/sketch/practice  my old standby .. an apple still life.

The light was to come from my right.  I tried painting it with the light all on the right except for the shadow.  It is one way to do it.  But to make it more dramatic, I put the light coming from the right and hitting on the left.  In other words, it is darker where the light is coming from and lighter where the light hits .. except for the shadow.  See what you think....  I much prefer the dramatic system.

These two were done very quickly just for fun.

In both, the light is from the right.  I did not worry about composition, the apple was pretty much in the middle of the painting!  Not the best comp.

The paper is Canson MiTeintes half sheet from a pad,  making them  8 x 12 inches.

This is the one I like the best with the dark where the light is coming from and the lighter part is where the light is going.

Here is another photo showing the pastels I used.

If you have any questions or comments we can start a discussion of painting ideas.....

Pastel Demo at LPAC

Yesterday was my demo at the Lost Pines Art Center.  It is beautiful and an asset to the community.
http://www.lostpinesartcenter.org/

Painting in the big showroom was almost like painting outside.  Windows and raised roof skylighting.

This was my area.  You are looking at about 1/4 of the room.

I took my iPad with quite a few reference photos on it.  I planned on doing a landscape of our area and maybe add a longhorn or two.  I don't like painting from photos very much so decided to just look out the window.

I took this through the window as you can see.  There wasn't anyone around at the moment and if you go out that door you have to go to the front to get back in.  So, bad photo.  Using the photo is mainly for reference later.  The photo doesn't have to be perfect.  The big tree would be the focus of my painting.  You can see the farmers market in the back, Chestnut street and the new City Hall.  If the photo is too perfect, you can end up just making a copy.

I was working on a 14 x 11 Pastelbord.  This has a nice smooth sand grit.  I put on some pastel and wet it with water and spread with a brush.  It didn't want to adhere for some reason.  I'm thinking now that maybe my brush had oil on it from oil painting??  But you can use oil for under painting, too.

Pastel paintings do not require under paintings, but it saves time, pastels and can add a great deal to a painting.  You can cover it completely or let the color show through.  I put sort of a red and purple as a complement to the green that was to follow.  It adds to the continuity of the painting to keep the darks connected as one shape.

I began to develop the painting, adding some more darks and working on the sky and foreground.  I was trying to just give a feeling of background without any details.

This is about where I was before I packed up to leave.  Very incomplete but an hour and a half or so of work.

The rest of the time was talking with visitors and audience.  I was also checking out other artists.  Mark Bray was doing a drawing of a horse in black and white, charcoal and pencil.  There was a wood carver working on a display for the First National Bank and the museum.  Why did I not get a photo or two?

Just received this photo by e-mail.  Thanks, Pam Hickl.  Nice of her to take the time.  It was her birthday yesterday, but I didn't know, Happy Belated Birthday!  We met through Enid Wood's pastel classes.  Fun!

And a more friendly version without the serious contemplation.

Robin Lively http://www.robinlively.com/  was doing a pastel demo as well.  She was working/painting on an old pickup.  She was using some dark slate color, Colourfix sanded paper.  The paper itself was the underpainting and she left some of that to show through....

I love talking and had a great time visiting with the artists and gallery lookers. Oh, actually enjoyed painting, too.

There is a fine coffee shop in the Art Center that serves all the specialty style coffee and tea, snacks and wine.  They make their own meade and sell honey.  What more do you want?  Latte, wine and art!  Woohoo!

We will see how the painting "finishes" or not.  You will have to stay tuned to find out.

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Baseball note:  I stayed up until about 1:00 a.m. watching and listening to the Longhorns.  We went to dinner at the Roadhouse in Paige and started watching there.  We came home and finished listening on the internet.  The Horns defeated the Long Beach State Dirtbags, 5 - 3 in 12 innings as the visiting team.  We don't have a sports package for TV so don't get ESPN or ESPN2.  Anyway the game was very good and close.  You can read about it here.  (Thanks for the link, Joanna.)

http://www.burntorangenation.com/2017/6/4/15736112/texas-longhorns-baseball-defeats-long-beach-state-5-3-in-thrilling-ncaa-regional

The Longhorns carry on.  One more win at the Regional (double elimination tournament) and they play for the Championship.  Not expected but what fun.  Next up would be the Super Regionals which is next weekend with another Regional winner, best 2 of three games.  Then in 10 days or so after that, the NCAA College World Series in Omaha.  We have never been.  Maybe on our trip the Horns will be there and we could just drop by Omaha on our way home from Montana.  Just a few hundred miles more!

Hook 'em Horns!

Sketch from the Front Room

Last night/evening we went to Smithville for dinner.  I sketched from the Front Room across the street to the Back Door.  Interesting names.

I sketched in the travel sketchbook, which is almost full!  I used the Micron 01.  It took about 20 minutes and a margarita!

For Scavenger Hunt 498  http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1428184

The Front Room Wine Bar is fairly new in Smithville.  http://www.frontroomwinebar.com/  They have a full bar and appetizer type dinners.  We have tried the Asian wraps, sliders and etouffee.  All good and the margarita was pretty good.  I have to compare them to Gene's and so they are not up to snuff.  Good for a bar, though.

The Back Door Cafe  http://www.backdoorcafetx.com/    in my sketch is across the street.  They are open for lunch and dinner from September or October until June.  They leave during the hot summer and the chef cooks someplace near Lake Tahoe.  Nice for winter and summer!  It is a good restaurant, too.  You need reservations for a limited menu, usually just two main courses an evening.  Our dining out is usually spontaneous, so reservations are not always possible.

You can see photos of both establishments on their websites.  I have not been taking photos.  Sigh....

Our grand-dogs are coming to spend the week with us.  Jennie and Brandon are off on a trip to the northwest.  It will be interesting for sure.  The dogs got her up at 330 a.m. the other morning.  I told Jennie to have a conversation with them.  I am not getting up!

I am painting at the Lost Pines Art Center on Saturday, so Gene will be on his own with them.

The new Lost Pines Art Center will be hosting Artists in Action on June 3, Saturday at 1204 Chestnut Street, Bastrop, Texas.  http://www.lostpinesartcenter.org/artists-in-action/
I will be there doing a pastel painting demo from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  I look forward to seeing you there.  I will be working on a landscape, possibly with a longhorn in it....  Hope to see you there. 
The finished painting will be at Art Connections where you can always see my pastel paintings in downtown historic Bastrop  908 Main Street, Bastrop Texas 512 581-1799 http://artconnectionsgallerybastrop.com/

The Longhorn baseball team is playing in the Long Beach Regional starting Friday.  http://www.texassports.com/news/2017/5/29/baseball-to-open-ncaa-regional-play-in-long-beach-vs-ucla.aspx
Hook 'em Horns!

I'm sending newsletters again, you can sign up above right....

Pastel Painting Live, iPad Sketch

The new Lost Pines Art Center will be hosting Artists in Action on June 3, Saturday at 1204 Chestnut Street, Bastrop, Texas.  http://www.lostpinesartcenter.org/artists-in-action/

I will be there doing a pastel painting demo from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  I look forward to seeing you there.  I will be working on a landscape, possibly with a longhorn in it....  Hope to see you there.

The finished painting will be at Art Connections where you can always see my pastel paintings in downtown historic Bastrop  908 Main Street, Bastrop Texas 512 581-1799 http://artconnectionsgallerybastrop.com/

This is one of the pastels you can see there right now:

Dunes

Pastel on Pastelbord framed in dark walnut wooden frame

10 x 8 inches

$195.00

Art Connections is such a great gallery.  Deborah Johnson is the owner artist and has filled it European style from top to bottom.  You can find such interesting items.  Many types of art that can decorate your home.  Fun gifts in a price range for any budget.  They are having a lot going on Thursday and Friday.  Friday is First Friday Art Walk.  Thursday is Art Talk with cowboy artist Victor Blakey.  His horses are beautiful.  I look forward to meeting him.  Check it out.

http://www.artconnectionsgallerybastrop.com/events.html

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It is a beautiful morning.  I sketched the porch while on the porch.  I used my iPad for Scavenger Hunt 498 http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1428184  This took about 40-45 minutes.  I could have sketched it with pen and ink in about half the time!

Number 1, porch - well my view when sitting on the porch.

Number 2, silhouettes 

When we bought this house the porch had the wrought iron fence and the pillar holding up the roof.  We had the porch screened in with the wooden frame.  It is a great place to sit.  This is my view looking straight ahead.  (Gene was in the right hand rocker, but using my artist's license I just left him out.)

The silhouettes are interesting.  I've sketched them before.  The pair of pistols are actually bootjacks that open to pull off your cowboy boots.  The others are old antique irons for ironing clothes.  The handles burned off in the fire.  To me, they look a little like longhorn cows lying down.  

I was looking for the sketch of the irons and bootjacks and found this from Scavenger Hunt 134 which was done at the burned out house.  I really liked the little monks that are playing cards.  I don't get to play cards very often and sometimes miss that.  This post should make you smile:

https://jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/scads-of-sketches-pen-and-ink.html

OK, then, hope to see you on Friday or Saturday!

Pastels All Around

I went to the meeting of the Austin Pastel Society yesterday. (There is still time to enter the Annual Juried Show, deadline January 31 see "Juried Show" at austinpastelsociety.org)  Rae Andrews, President, gave the demonstration.  It was about using an abstract under painting of acrylic and finishing in pastels.  It was fun and informative.  Rae works in pastels, acrylics and watercolors.  If you get a chance to see her or take a class you will be educated and entertained.  She is from Australia so talks a bit funny!! 

Rae Andrews, APS meeting

Look at her blog to be inspired and find out about her classes including a painting trip to Spain!
http://raeandrewsgallery.blogspot.com/

It was good to see old friends and make a couple of new ones.  Guess I should get back in the habit of attending meetings.

This morning I  was inspired to get out the pastels to sketch for Scavenger Hunt 436.  I had already decided to do the spheres and stacked rectangles so didn't even look at the page.  I busied myself for about 50 minutes including time to find a piece of used paper.  I was so happy to find 3 small boxes for the rectangles that I forgot to stack them.  Then I went to post them and Hunt 436 ended yesterday.  Ah, well, I got in some practice.  Now Hunt 437 is underway, you can join in here.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1397326

 The boxes are cute.  The navy blue one is Gene's Bulova watch box.  The green held a little glass elephant for my collection and the red and black held some pastels.

Gene had some fruit for snacks so that filled the spherical slot.  I didn't number them as it was too late to post.  Now to think of something for the new list.  Lots of food items.... that means lunch time!

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This post by John P. Weiss on FASO caught my eye.  John was a policeman and paints, sketches and writes.  He does police related cartoons.  This is a sentimental story and brought tears to my eyes.  Be prepared.  It is about putting value on yourself and your art.

http://faso.com/fineartviews/102562/memories-are-roses-in-our-winter

This Painting Could Be Yours and Events in Bastrop

The Bastrop Fine Arts Guild is having their annual fundraiser for the new art center.  I am a founding member but not an active one at this time.  I can help with a donation of a painting for a raffle for the Artful Afternoon Gala.  You can help by buying raffle tickets and attending the Gala. 

Mishmash

Pastel on Pastelbord in gold frame under plexiglass

14 x 11 inches

Value $400

This painting is being raffled for the Bastrop Fine Arts Guild fundraiser, Artful Afternoon, on April 19, 2015.  Tickets are $5 each or five for $20.

You can purchase tickets at the Guild Art Gallery at 815 Main Street, Bastrop, Texas 78602
512-321-8055

Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Friday - Saturday 10:00AM - 10:00PM
Sunday 11:00AM - 3:00PM
First Friday Receptions 5:00PM - 8:00PM

The gala is:

 Spring Gala & Garden Party

in Bastrop’s Historic District

 

Sunday, April 19, 2015  3:00 - 6:30 p.m.

 

Hosted by T. Jay & Maxann Collins

~ Hors d’oeuvres ~ Specialty Desserts ~ Wine ~ Beer ~
~ Live Music ~ Silent Auction ~ Live Auction ~

Dress: Spring Garden Party (hats encouraged)

 

For further information,
call Karol Rice at 512.565.6912 or Jeanette Condray at 512.576.1100

 

It would be great if you would go to downtown Bastrop and pick up some raffle tickets.  While you are there go across to Art Connections where you will find my paintings along with beautiful work by other area artists.

 

Art Connections is having a trunk show on Sunday, April 26.

 

 

Also Yesterfest is coming up that weekend, starting April 24 with El Camino Real Music Festival.  You can get all the details here.  http://www.bastropdowntown.com/#!yesterfest/ctwk  There are 4 stages with different types of performances on Saturday.  Some of my favorites witll be the Peterson Brothers from Bastrop, Susan Gibson, and Karen Abrahams both from Austin.  Many, many others with folklorico and American Indian performances. 

 

I will be painting with my pastels on Saturday, April 25, at Art Connections  from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.  Yesterfest is a fun time in Bastrop.  There will be artists painting and many artisans presenting "how to" with their talents.

Sketching for #396 and APS Note

 I am the host of Scavenger Hunt 396, March 2-10.  http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1374037  I sketched this morning in my large sketchbook with the Micron 05.  You are welcome to come sketch with us.

Number 1, potato masher - The black masher is synthetic plastic of some sort.  It came with a set I bought when I needed all kitchen gadgets.  About the only thing it will mash is something already mashed.  The holes in it are too small and the plastic too soft.  The other is an antique I bought so that I can actually smash something like potatoes or avacados. 
Number 2, serving bowl - I don't have any interesting serving bowls so sketched the glass Pyrex set.
Number 3, iron - an iron Dutch oven

I painted at Art Connections Gallery http://www.artconnectionsgallerybastrop.com/
on Saturday.  It was cold so I painted inside the gallery.  There were more visitors than I expected in the bad weather.  Thank you for coming by.  It is always fun to demo and talk about painting.

This is my travel/plein air set up.  My easel, pastels, wipes, painting (in the foamcore), and other gear are in the bag.  I take the folding table and the orange cloth for the floor.  I took these photos when I got home.  It was packed more neatly on the way, but as you see, everything fit back in the bag.  You see my camera on the side.  It stayed there and I took no photos.  Shame on me.

This is the painting I worked on.  I intended to show the work in progress (WIP).  I started on a piece of sanded paper I used before for teaching.  It had some blobs of pastel where I had demonstrated strokes and colors.  I wiped it down and wet the pastel and went over it with a wet paint brush.  It is fun to see how it came out, still unfinished but fun to watch it develop.  I hope to remember next time to take photos.  I think others will agree that when you get going it is hard to stop.

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The Austin Pastel Society exhibit and competition for 2015 is up and running.  The show was judged by Mike Beeman http://mikebeeman.com/ and his workshop is this weekend. His art has really improved over the years.  I first saw him on wetcanvas.com  His dedication and hard work have paid off.  I would like to meet him, but it is a long drive and the expected high for the day is about 37 degrees.

However, you can go to the demo on Friday night, info on the Austin Pastel Society website.  www.austinpastelsociety.org

You can view the selected entries here.  Winners announced at a reception later.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/austinpastelsociety/sets/72157650779744891/

Painting at Art Connections, Bastrop, Texas

My paintings are up and featured at Art Connections Gallery in Bastrop, Texas, for the month of February.  You can see the paintings that are there on their website at http://www.artconnectionsgallerybastrop.com/jo-castillo-2.html   The gallery is very special and you will find other well known artists and their work there.  The website looks great, but the art is even better in person. 

And, speaking of the gallery, I will be there painting outside, set up on the sidewalk.  I will not be painting the sidewalk, I will work on a pastel painting.  Stop by, we can visit and you can see my work and all the other unique artworks.

Painting in person:

Saturday, February 28

12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Art Connections Gallery
908 Main Street
Bastrop, Texas
512 581-1799

That day is the Empty Bowl Project benefiting the Food Pantry, at the Bastrop High School, 1614 Chamber Street, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  $20.00 per person includes a handmade bowl and soup provided by local restaurants.  They have a silent auction with artwork and items donated by local artists and businesses.  I plan to stop by and have lunch on my way to Art Connections.  You can do the same!

Painting by Art Connections on Veterans Day.

Review of Pastel Class, December 9

This post is a review of the class I taught at the Bastrop Fine Arts Gallery, December 9.  I alternate months with Enid Wood enidwood.com 

The coming schedule:
January, watercolor under paintings with Enid Wood
February, how to edit pastel paintings, they are more durable than you think, with Jo Castillo
March, pastel underpainting fixed with Gamsol with Enid Wood
April, landscape paintings from photos with Jo Castillo
May, pan pastel under painting with Enid Wood

More info on the tab for Pastel Classes above.

Turning on the Light

How to turn on the light in a painting:

Class notes:

• Start with pure color, no gray (reserve gray for the distance and some shadows, it makes the brights, brighter)

• Use dark against light, light against dark, values
  Squint to find mid-tones, they are darker than you think

• Natural light is cool with warm shadows and softer edges
  Close to sun the colors are warmer and lighter
  As you move away from the light it goes warm to cool and light to dark

• Artificial light is usually warm with bold cool shadows and harder edges
  Fluorescent light flattens your objects

• Still life is more dramatic with the dark where the light is coming from and lighter where the light is going.  This puts your light against dark automatically.

• Use a consistent direction of light

• Using a color wheel, a value finder and other tools can be helpful.
  
   

Johannes Vermeer - Young Woman with Water Pitcher

In Black and White

You can see that the Vermeer painting is just as dramatic in black and white.  It comes from the use of light and dark as mentioned in the notes.  Usually is helps to keep the dark areas connected.  If you squint you will see that in this painting.  If you take her hand off the window the light of her cape is against the light of the wall and it is not as dramatic.

I used the apples I painted in the last class for my demo:

 My original painting.

In black and white.

You can see that the values of the red and blue are very similar.  They stand out in color, but disolve into each other in black and white.

I used my Photoshop Elements to change the blue background and that helped some.  It is still not too dramatic.

I then used a dark green behind the apple on the left and a bright green on the right.  Quite a difference it makes.  In real life it was fun to see the immediate change.  The body shadows on the apples should be darker.  We ran out of time.

We then worked on a painting in class.

The models.

The start of my painting.  I will not finish it, but it was good practice.

I like this painting I did plein air this past summer.  My values are just about right!

Pump House

Pastel on U-Art paper, 17 x 13 inches

If you can, check a few of your paintings on your computer or put a value finder over them and see how they pop!

Painting "rules" help you get started in painting. They are really just guides.  Practice, practice, practice will help you find your style and your own rules.

Pastel Values Class Review

The pastel class was good for me yesterday even though it was small, a one on one experience.  I always learn when I teach.

Still life painting gives you a good foundation for all painting.  You can "see" more when you paint from life.  It is very much like painting outside (plein air).  Photographs hide or distort light, especially in shadows.

Egg 'N More

Pastel on Pastelbord, 12 x 9 inches

If you don't usually paint still life, this is a good practice lesson.

To give a realistic look to your items you can start off with the five value system:

5 values:

• Body color or mass color
• Body shadow
• Highlight
• Reflection
• Cast Shadow

You might see the different values easier in black and white.  Check the egg.

The easiest way to start a still life is to look at your subjects and decide how much of the surface you want them to fill.  If you start drawing without a "frame" you might run off the edge of the paper with your drawing.  I recommend a toned paper or an underpainting.  White paper is daunting!

Make your drawing including the shapes of the highlighted and shadow areas.

Then with your colors fill in the body mass, the body shadow and the cast shadows.  The highlights and the reflections are added near the end of the painting.  The side of the painting where the light comes from is the darkest with the area where the light is going or hitting is the lightest.  It is a good idea to have the corners each different and darker than the table to keep the eyes from wandering out of the painting.

This was my demo which I worked on about an hour.  (Everything leaning to the left, hopefully that comes from standing to the side while talking and painting so people can see what I am doing.  I would not finish a painting with the drawing so "off".)  I used the rough side of the Canson paper, so you see the light color of the paper coming through as well.

You can see the five values in this crop a little better.

Then after an hour we did another painting just for fun and practice.  I did not work on a background or the table top in this one.   I recommend you do practice paintings using just use a few items.  I don't use glass or shiny metal for this practice because the shine is a bit different to paint.   This is on Canson Mi-Teintes paper as well, but the smoother side.  It won't take many layers of pastel which makes me plan the strokes.  Both paintings are about  9 x 13 inches.

 Can you pick out the five values easier in black and white?

You can pick a day and do some quick paintings.  Try a still life, plein air or from photos.  Try a new underpainting or technique.  Watch a video and do the lesson.  Maybe get together with a painting buddy.  It is a mini workshop for a minimal cost.  Don't make your practice work too precious as Richard McKinley http://www.artistsnetwork.com/category/art-blogs/pastel-pointers-blog  will tell you. McKinley's blog is filled with instruction and hints.  Check it out.

You can use good paper or Pastelbord and then just wipe it off when done and reuse the surface.  It will have a tone or underpainting to start a new piece of art.  Using smooth paper will not give satisfactory results.   A brown paper bag will give you a couple of layers.

Most of all have fun!