poppaGator! (I got your name slightly incorrect last time!)
I read through your message and got an idea.. If you wanted to go ahead with the design, for a flat paintable surface and some way of covering the bare-bits you could get a clear pickguard and a sheet of veneer that either matches the soundboard or compliments it . paint the design on, glue the painted veneeer on and then the guard on top. Just an idea, painting on to the bare area just sounds so tricky!, let me know how you end up dealing with the bare problem.
Muhkuhpuh.
Sorry, walking eagle for digressing a bit, we diddn't go way off track but still wandered.