Russ works primarily with standing dead aspen for several reasons. Aspen is associated with Colorado and Colorado has been his home for almost sixty years. It is readily available, hard enough that crisp edges can be created yet soft enough that it does not beat up Russ or his equipment too much. Because aspen wood does not generally have a lot of color nor exhibit highly figured grain, it makes for a great canvas for the carving, wood burning and use of bright dyes that Russ often employs. When a piece of wood does have particularly remarkable grain or color or displays interesting evidence of insect activity or other trauma, Russ is usually of the mindset that beyond sanding and finishing that the piece needs no further embellishment.
Russ is currently sourcing his aspen logs from property west of Tie Siding near the Colorado/Wyoming border.