LAST EDITED ON 25-Aug-02 AT 07:22 PM (PST)
 
>I am new to fresco painting and have done a
>couple of panels with very good results. The
>sand I used to mix with the lime paste came from
>a mosonary yard and I think it is too coarse.
>
>I have read about "river sand" but have not been
>able to locate where to buy it.

You did is just right - masonry yard is a place to go. They should know where the sand came from, if not find another yard. Also they should have different types/grades from rally coarse to fine plaster sand.
Sand should look brown and make sure you do not get "crushed rock sand"
The selection of the grade - how it looks is posted in the "Albquerque Fresco (400 sq ft) infojournal
" article - "Preparation" there is a same name topic in this forum (text) and text and pics at
http://truefresco.com/albuquerque.html

Final plaster layer (intonaco) should be "like glass" unless you deliberately want it to be different.
(you will find info on finishing of the plaster layers in the same article)

Let me know if that help and other questions you might have.

PS. Post images in our Image Database at
http://truefresco.Net/home.shtml