Wood Grain is my Muse.  I selected this piece of Oak for the beauty and movement of the grain, and then allow the grain to inspire my composition for the painting.   I use metal paints which react to patinas in this series. I especially like the juxtaposition of this oak's jagged grain pattern with the rusting texture of the metal paint. It reminds the of the circle of life- you can count the years in the rings of the tree, but eventually that wood needs to decay to feed future growth.