This is an experiment in using blue ultramarine acrylic (synthetic lapis) instead of liming wax on oak plates. Wipe on and off and re-sand with 400 grit (& wax). The angle of the grain is clearly important - you are looking for the opposite of (that is at right angles to) quarter-sawn - but the openness seems to vary too (as so often the first example small bowl works best!). I think the application technique is consistent but may try again on one plate.
A similar technique on the pens.
The plate bases are 'limed' using commercial liming wax.