I took pictures of these samples by Jenna Goldberg, furniture maker, this summer in Philadelphia at the Furniture Society Conference. She frequently uses basswood for it's light/white contrast when she carves through the surface of the paint. She likes to use this Rosco brand paint, often blending the ground colors of her compositions from top to bottom with a soft, wide brush. No surface left undecorated! (Click on a photo to enlarge).To see more of her work: http://www.jennagoldbergstudio.com/