I have a hollow form made out of poplar. When I tried to use graphite to transfer a pattern to it for carving or burning, the poplar absorbed the graphite into the grain and made a mess of the whole piece. It's so deep, I'll have to cut it out, and I'm not even sure that's going to work. Any good way to prevent this from happening? I haven't tried sand-n-seal or shellac. I want to paint with water colors afterward, and I also might use a poly top coat, or grain filler, etc. Basically, I don't want to add anything that's going to preclude whatever embellishments I choose to add.
Maybe the answer is to choose a different species of wood. But that's what I have turned and ready, and I see it as a practice piece anyway.