The back of a sheet of Canson Mi-Teintes is the honeycomb side, and for two years I would not touch it. It felt like the wrong side of the paper, the side for students. Then I ran out of the good side and started a face on the back out of pure frustration, and honestly the tooth grabs the pastel in a way I like more. Softer edges, the smudge stays where I put it instead of drifting.

Now I buy the paper and immediately flip it. My partner asked why I pay for two usable sides and only ever use one, which is a fair question and I did not have an answer. There is a half-finished portrait of my neighbour on the honeycomb side right now, and I have already redone her mouth three times, which is normal for me, but on this paper the mistakes come off cleaner so it feels less like a disaster each time.

I know some of you will say the honeycomb side eats your pastels faster. It does. I accept this. If anyone has figured out how to keep it from going muddy when you build up too many layers, I would like to hear it, because layer six is where mine always turns to dust and sadness.