Black and White

Today's self portrait is not in color.  I watched a video on how to mix black watercolors so I decided to do my portrait painting in black.  I also tried using the grid method for sketching so I could see the proportions better.  I enjoy the painting more than the sketching. 

Today I got stuck in a snowbank and sketched Lucien's sippy cup while I waited for my neighborhood hero to come with his truck and pull me out of the snow.  Lucien napped the whole time.  I feel truly blessed.  

I am reading about blocking in & layout, value and value scales and using negative space.
I am having fun with my new learning.