Lost / On Burlap 3 Part 4

I'm reading a field guide for getting lost (not sure of exact title). I'm taking the parts of the book slowly, digesting it for ideas and imagery as I go. A few passages already resonate with me and one has provided inspiration enough for one of my next paintings, which is already in early development and process. The passage is relayed through the author but from Virginia Woolf. To summarize, what we see of the woman/mother/devoted parent (or more generally, the person) is only the cicada emerging periodically whereas the person is actually a 'wedge of darkness' that spends most of their own time in the depths.

I started with gessoed burlap (about 4'x2') and have applied the first of several layers of acrylic which will create the background.

My large scale burlap picture (tentatively titled, "Have to") is further developed. I'm nearly done with the background production work. I'm currently working out the process of stencils for feathers. I have some ideas that should work but I 'm not sold completely on a single design and so I'll continue sketching. I'm also developing my ideas for a human model/study for the painting. I want the person to be male and to silently speak of desperation and ferocity, the cornered rat the will do what it needs to in order to survive.

The strings are held at even intervals by small nails in the edges of the plywood. The will serve as a guide for the stamp I made to be applied as part of the background.

This is the background after the first round of printing.

The background after the stamp highlights were added. This will be the final background (unless I decide it needs more).

Background detail of Have to (working title). Note: stamp itself is only 1/4 of the 'sunburst.' Acrylic paint was rolled on piece of acrylic plastic before stamp was pressed into spread ink and then pressed onto background.