No doubt you see objects made from wood every day, everything from pencils to houses. The wood from different species of trees has different characteristics that make it suitable for different purposes. Many artists harvest their own wood because they know exactly what they need. The usability of lumber depends not only on the species of tree but also on the growing pattern of the individual tree. If the tree has many limbs and burls, it might not produce a long enough section of clear log for splitting into thin pieces for use in basket making. On the other hand, some carvers value burls and other irregularities to produce interesting patterns in their work.

Instrument makers pay attention to the acoustic qualities of woods as well as its beauty and durability.

Sometimes furniture makers use a combination of seasoned and green wood to make tight joints. For example, rungs of a ladderback chair would be made from dried wood and inserted into posts that are green. As the green posts dry around the rungs, they tighten, creating a strong joint that does not require nails.

Other artists like to use wood that has been changed since it fell or was harvested. Mark Lindquist uses only trees or branches that have already fallen, preferring to harvest this wood rather than cutting down living trees. He actually prefers trees that are partially decomposed. Keith Felder likes to work with cypress logs that were harvested long ago and sunk in rivers en route to sawmills. These “sinker cypress” logs are perfect for building the small boats he creates.