Quick Geishia sketch on newsprint

I am currently wanting to try something bold...(gasp) showing a human like face in my work. So being the careful person that I am, I've decided to sketch it out on newsprint paper first before I dive into either an Art Spectrum or paper that I have to spend some time prepping. So while in class, I worked this composition out. I was using charcoal and cheap - super cheap pastel chalks....so not to waste my Sennelier pastels.<;0)
And came out better then I thought.

(thus this post)
So I "might" try this on real pastel paper. Yes, there's a ghosted outline of my lunar moth.

Lunar Moth

The Lunar Moth of N. America...once it becomes an adult... from the caterpillar stage, it only lives for one week (or two at best). There's a sad beauty to that.
Note: Drawn on black pastel paper, and I have to admit it was sort of tough to work with, I have been getting used to making my own paper background or buying expensive pastel paper. But luckily it came out better then I thought :0)

Three Koi at the Gallery in...

Santa Cruz Art League! A Big Thanks to our teacher Joan Hellenthal<;0) Yay! A step forward, got a piece on the wall there <;0) We are located in the lobby portion of the Gallery but there's a wonderful show there "Prints Galore". Please check out Santa Cruz Art League for more info.

Fallen Monarch Wings

I've titled this "Fallen Wings" My son (when he was 7 years old) came home from school with a butterfly that had been deceased for a while and was still intacted, expect for the head and legs. He had carefully put it into his lunch box, so it wouldn't get smashed and was excited to show me the moment I saw him after school (..it's a good thing...because I would of jumped and screamed upon seeing this in his lunch box!)
A Bit of Fact: The Monarch Butterfly migrates along the costal area of California and we are lucky enough to have them stop by not to far from where we live. Once a year they arive in the Santa Cruz area and cluster in the eucalyptus trees.
Anyways, I was impressed how vibrant the wings were even after it's death. Although I am no expert in butterflies, it looks like it had a full live and even parts of the wings were weathered and worn. Thus my inspiration for this piece. I had put in the kanji word for "aura" or "one's spirit" in a boxed formation on my piece...I think one can put together their own interpretation of death and aura and that's there's beauty in that concept and connection.

Note: I experimented with making my own "paper" background for this piece. I had no intention of something that I would get attached to, but turned out better then I thought. The background is a method that I've learned in Joan's Pastel Class at the SC Art League, using pastel acrylic grounds, acrylic paints, and BFK Paper. I will put together some photos of that method in the near future.