Potomac Gorge and making use of old paintings

pastel over oil, 32"x37"

 A huge sheet of gatorboard (pure plastic, not like gatorfoam) was sitting in my studio. It had a base of marble dust with gesso and some pastel on it, but the pastel was not worth keeping. I rubbed it down, then used gamsol to reduce it. Now it had a resemblance to the Potomac gorge, Great Falls, MD. So I started with thinned oil paint and because of the rubbed pastel underneath, beautiful neutrals developed. Next, I layered those with fresh pastel. The Potomac Gorge is a place I visit often..a majestic place. I looked back in my files at paintings I had done of the gorge and other photos I had taken. I wanted to see the shape of the major land forms.
The most important thing was- I felt that nothing was precious. I was totally free. I have to remember that for next time.