The original image that was sent to me.  I was asked to make a piece as close to this as I could, with the grey, weathered look and everything.

I started by gluing 4 - 1"x4"x2' red oak pieces together with dowels and adding a thin plywood backing for support.  I then cut the 11x14" plaque out from there.    

The finished plaque.

The first sketch.

The first burn.

I stained the plaque with "weathered grey" stain, and then re-burned the lines.

First coat of paint.

The is essentially the finished piece, minus clear coat.  This is after three coats of paint and re-burning the lines.

Finished piece with clear coat.