This one I just completed on 5 Feb 2001.  The one I titled "Freedom" with the horse and the woman has been hanging above our couch, but we got rid of our black couches and got maroon.  I needed something for the new color scheme.  The photo looks like the border is not even and slants off, however this is just an illusion the camera gave it.  The border is actually straight.  It was done with different colors of paint and a common spounge.  I then put some veins in it with the edge of a mixing knife.  The background I did with brushes ranging from 1 1/2" to 4".