Well, I am starting this topic as a side discussion from:
http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...&threadid=1345
First, let me say that there is no one way to paint wood, just as there is no one way to paint. But I will start by posting 3 details as examples: one by J. S. Sargent, one by William Bouguereau and the last one from one of my own paintings.