I finished the carved panels for the door. I used a pickling stain on the trunks and branches of the trees to keep them lighter, (like birch bark), and then finished everything, including the backs of the panels, with a satin finish marine varnish. Now I can get back to work on the door itself.

Here, the carving is basically done. It is hard to see well in this light, even though the relief is fairly deep. I'm going to enhance things a bit, though I'm not sure how. Probably give a slight white wash to the birch bark and then do some enhancing with a wood burner.

These pictures were taken a few weeks ago as I was just getting started on this carving. These are relief carvings on panels for a door I am building.