The Artists Fungus, Ganoderma Applanatum, grows on dead or dying hardwoods, such as oak.
The top of the fungus is hard and woody, protecting the soft and tender underside. The underside is where the artist creates his magic. It is porous, which allows the artist to etch or burn the image. Before the artist begins, he must see the finished product. The challenge in doing the work is, no errors can exist, since erasing or covering is impossible. On top of the difficulties already present, the artist must incorporate any natural blemishes or flaws into the finished product.
The unfortunate thing is, to permit the best possible product, the harvest of this mushroom can only be done in the colder months. If harvested from December thru February, the image placed will last indefinitely. One can only imagine the time and effort involved in obtaining a years supply of the Artist Fungus.
