Pizza Islands Galore (or view off Mt. Constitution)

12 x18 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
After painting my field this morning I decided to drive up to the top of Mt. Constitution to see what I could see. Even at 11:30 am this view was glowing. I may have to come back and paint it again in the magic hours.
Color harmony and grand distance were the goals.
The weather is really nice here, albeit a little cold for us southern gals.

New Mexico Lives on in the Studio

Ah.... memories. I am back in the studio equipped with a plan. While my New Mexico visions are sharp I will work up a studio piece from the Rio Grande. So here is a picture of me, bundled up in layers and fingerless gloves painting the canyon.
My main question: when composing this "grand space" scene, how do I deepen the space? Many painters have placed land, trees, people, etc. in the very foreground or in the case of Thomas Moran or Albert Bierstadt creating (with color) distinct levels of space and atmosphere. Not only will my choice effect the creation of space but also the place where a viewer is involved.
Hmmmmmmmm.