Wood grain is often my muse. I carefully select each piece of wood for its unique beauty and movement, letting the grain inspire my composition. The movement in this piece of ash wood reminded me of the ripples that appear in a still swamp when a visitor approaches. For this series, I used midnight navy and golden oak stains to capture the dark, mysterious mood of the swamp.
 
I didn't have a clear notion of what this piece would become, until I tried a certain effect over the gold leaf, and it became an alligator eye.  Then, it became very clear to me what I saw in the swamp!