Why I Use Tupelo Wood for My Carvings

Tupelo wood (genus Nyssa) belongs to the sour gum family (Nyssaceae) with nine different species. Five species are found in North America in moist or swampy areas, three in eastern Asia and one in Maylasia/ The wood varies in colour from pale yellow to light brown. 

Tolerant of flooding and wet soil, the tupelo trees have hanging or horizontal branches. As deciduous trees, they have beautiful coloured foliage throughout autumn. The trees can grow in height from between 18 to 30 metres, and have an enlarged trunk base.

Tupelo wood is my preferred wood for carving. It is imported from the USA and is a very stable, light, and strong wood that allows fine detail to be carved, and texture burned with pyrography pens to replicate fine feathers.