first try at pastels

I wanted to try something new so I am taking a 9 week course in Pastels.  I have never ever tried soft pastels so I feel like a total beginner :(  Last week we mainly talked about the different kinds of pastels and paper, etc.  This week we got to jump in a try an apple...I gave it two tries...neither of which I am crazy about, but it's enough to know that I LOVE pastels.  The first is on cheaper paper and the second is on more expensive sanded paper.  I definitely like the way the pastels went on the sanded paper better, I really could probably do more to this one to consider it finished.

This project reminded me of my very first watercolor painting back in 1999...which was also an apple :)