Most hardware stores have wood that is 2" by 4" but longer than you need so you buy that and cut it down to the correct length. If you don't have a hardware store near by try and see if you have a free to scavenge wood dump near by.
For outdoor use, I recommend using Douglas fir or vertical grain Douglas fir. These woods hold up very well in outdoor conditions over time. For indoor signs, good choices are...
Search up "graphite drawings" or "graphite sketches" online! PEZ is a great pencil artist that sketches very smooth and tightly. Kazuo Oga did background art at Studio Ghibli, and if...
Use a furniture refinisher to dissolve the stain and scrub it away with a bit of steel wool. Although it still involves some scrubbing, this approach is less damaging to...