This is a Yellow Rose from my garden, the one with magenta edges is my favorite color of rose to paint. I thought I would do one in Neopastels on a coarsly sanded piece of raw acid-free hardboard 8×10″. I like this surface it’s like working on sanded brown paper. The different petals show various stages of application.
Try covering the masonite with a white gesso. Gives a nice light to whatever you paint on it. The delicacy of this is very appealing.