Should I apply a sheet of fondant around my four layer cake, then "carve" in the wood grain and paint?

Should I try to do the wood grain and painting while fondant is flat, then apply the sheet?

Or, should I cut out the planks, grain, paint, let harden, and then apply?

Which would you do or how have you done it?

Thank you!

TabbieCakes, I am pretty new at all of this, but I cut my planks, grained, painted and let harden for just a little before I applied mine. That way it doesn't flop down at the top, but still flexible enough to curve with the cake. That is what worked for me. HTH

Thanks VickeyC. Yeah, that sounds right to me. Hard enough so they don't flop, but soft enough to get a little curve and good appliability. Thanks I suspect I'm too new at this to try and apply a whole sheet vertically!