Tenerife Cactus Pastels

I spent a month during the winter sketching in the North of Tenerife, where the climate provides the perfect conditions for a diverse range of cactus plants. The unique shapes and sizes of cacti never fail to fascinate me. Some cacti have tall slender stems that seem to reach for the sky, while others boast round or flattened stems. Although green is the most common colour, these plants also display surprising hues of blue-green, yellow-green, and even purple. Each cactus possesses its distinctive charm whether it's due to its delicate skin, vibrant flowers, or intriguing spines. The way cacti slowly creep and grow into vast columnar or globular shapes creates a mesmerizing, semi-abstract pattern. Most of my pastels are drawn on pastel card.