Woodpeckers - Grayscale

Here is something I have learned this year in the SmArt School classes.  Before committing paint to the canvas, do a map of your value areas in grayscale.  I have used four values here in an effort to plan out an interesting composition.  There is interesting negative shapes and good value contrast to lead the eye to the center of interest.  Next comes the under painting. I did a few color comps also, but on the computer and did not save them.  I am not very good at that yet, so its just as well you don't see that.