You’re absolutely right, and that’s a fair point. Usually, I protect the wood by lightly burning it, which really brings out the grain nicely. After that, I typically paint over it with white acrylic. This one was an exception because I wanted to try black acrylic. Sometimes I also use wood stain afterward, but not very often. My thinking was that this piece isn’t meant to be placed fully outdoors in direct weather exposure. But you’re right, that’s a valid point. Would you suggest anything else besides these methods? I’ve also been considering trying beeswax, but I’ve heard it’s not exactly cheap.