This example is called "The Way Home" and I have created this image previously by working on LaCarte sanded pastel paper and creating the underpainting with pastel.
I'm working on Uart sanded pastel paper which accepts oil washes as well as watercolor washes without warping.
The first step is to draw in the basic shapes and then add a very thin layer of oil paint, thinned with turpernoid. I use Mona Lisa turpernoid because it is low odor. Be sure to keep the wash very thin and fluid allowing unexpected shapes and textures to emerge. Later, you may want to keep some of these colors and shapes or cover them completely with pastel. Don't be too concerned about the underpainting. It's purpose is to get the image started, shapes determined and values decided.
The second step is to add pastel after the oil wash is dry which will take about 1/2 hour. I like to work on the point of interest area which in this example "The Way Home" is the driveway. It's the star and the other areas are the supporting actors.
The third step is applying more pastel but proceed slowly so you don't cover up some interesting oil washes. Not all of the wash has to be covered and my goal is to create an interesting mix between the two but allow the pastel layers to dominate.
The final step is to add the lightest colors and be sure that the values support the point of interest. In this example I'm still unsure if the top part of the drawing should be darker which would keep the viewers eye on the driveway. But I also like it this way and the blessing and curse of pastel is that you can always go back and change it. Knowing when to quit is the challenge.
