02/05/2026
This is a 7-foot river bench, but the epoxy isn't the star of the show this time.
I decided to hand-paint a spawning Salmon directly into the grain. The challenge with painting on wood is that it fights you. The grain wants to absorb the paint, distort the colors, and hide the details.
I carved out the silhouette and primed it white. That white background is the only reason you see that deep, aggressive red on the flank of the fish. Without it, this would look muddy. With it, it looks alive.
I used Golden Artist Colors to get the blend right, matching the olive head and the red body to the reference photo I kept on the bench.
I am teaching this specific method in my upcoming workshops in Chattanooga.
I want to show you that you don't have to choose between being a woodworker and being an artist. You can be both.
Let me know of you want to sign up; I would love to meet you.
