I observed the moon from 1:45 AM ~ 3:00 AM July 15th. Roughing in the entire half phase moon and the crater Plato, while seeing conditions were a near 10. Balmy temperatures allowed a comfortable observing and sketching session, yet I never finished the work till yesterday, referring to photos I took through the eyepiece.
It was not my original intention but I thought that I should pay some homage to the fact of the moon landing anniversary. I had a million ideas floating around. I guess I could get more productive and put them all onto the paper soon? Expect to see much more work ahead I had intended for it to turn out more abstract but my surreal/representationalism got in the way :tonofbricks:
It was also my first use of this Italian paper that I am not accustomed to or practiced with as yet. I thought it was similar to Strathmore Artagain or Stonehenge paper. I took it as a second choice as the large sheets of Strathmore Artagain were out of stock. It has cotton fiber like the Stonehenge (which by the way I find now as the ultimate choice in pastel paper) and blue dye in it, and I was not aware that it is not color-fast until I wiped some smudges off yesterday with a dampened paper towel. The towel bled indigo blue. Yet this is black paper! There is also a pressed or embossed fine lines into one side; the back is smooth like Artagain paper. I also just learned that while reading up on the Fabriano product that Stonehenge pastel paper (made in the US) is 100% cotton fiber. I will never complain about the high quality of American made art products again.
I would recommend that anyone of you, regardless of your personal perceived level of sketching, try these professional papers. You may find that paper quality can have a great effect on your sketching quality as the surface imparts a different level of how it holds the chalk; how it blends, etc. It is more like making a fine oil painting on a canvas. Your sketching quality may be so enhanced as to aim for the stars!
A large sheet of Stonehenge (100% cotton fiber) in 22" X 30" runs about $2.80 where the Fabriano (40% cotton fiber) in 19" X 25" is about $1.80.
Paper description sites >
Company site>
http://www.fabriano.com/uk/_prodotti.html
Art Supply Site for Stonehenge >
http://www.dickblick.com/products/stonehenge-paper/
I had intended for it to turn out more abstract but my surreal/representationalism got in the way 
:tonofbricks:
