Candidate Species
Usable species will vary according to the area in which you live. In my region, I favor the following types of found wood:

Cedar roots have great potential for showing movement; the numerous offshoots from the heart give a wonderful twisting jaggedness that only nature can provide. Cedar also offers striking colors—even shades of purple appear when you sand down to the inner bark. Maple has extremely dense bark, which disguises the intriguing folds and creases that become exposed after it is debarked. Walnut, like cedar, offers great color. This dense wood needs extra sanding to remove rogue fibers. Use a sealer between the numerous sanding rounds required to obtain a flawless finish. Be diligent with sanding; if not done properly, fibers will stick out and ruin your finish. Carved from a cedar root, Narrow Escape displays wonderful color and a sense of movement. Ash: I consider this to be the ideal species for rooted tree sculptures, as it has one of the lowest moisture contents.

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