Wood is warm and the best choice for indoor applications. In the case of supporting pillars, Jonathan will gladly perform his art in wood, or if the piece is in a location where the wood is well covered by a roof from moisture and sunlight.  Jonathan highly recommends Laffrez or Tech stone for all other outdoor applications. He uses Cottonwood, Western Red Cedar, Incense Cedar, Engelmann Spruce, Aspen, Poplar, Doug fir, Alder, Lodge pole pine, and other species of pine in his work. Most of his wood is selected by himself, or one of the artists of his studio, from the local forests that surround his Wyoming mountain home. He obtains permits from the local USFS authorities which include the Bridger Teton National Forests and the Caribou. 

Tech Stone is a simulated stone process that Jonathan uses to create water features, and many times wildlife as well, if a stone look is desired on the wildlife. A figure hewn in stone has a powerful presence, if less detail than wood or Laffrez would have.  Sometimes Jonathan will make the rockwork and landscape out of Tech stone and make the wildlife, such as a grizzly fishing, in Laffrez. The two mediums combine well and complement each other, especially where high detail is desired on the wildlife.