Cottonwood tree

I have a freshly cut cottonwood tree stump in the back yard, still attached to roots/ground. What preparation to i need to make? Does the wood has to dry out or can i start carving? How do i finish and preserve the sculpture? I am an ice carver so have no experience with wood.
Happy for any suggestions.
Marcel

Marcel,
You can start carving it now or wait it wont matter much. Cottonwood is fairly soft. Is it a large cottonwood with very thick bark if so are you going to strip the bark off first. Lots of nice small carvings can be made from the bark. The only thing I tell my customers when I do a tree stump is that I cannot control what happens from underneath the ground I can do what I can to preserve it from the weather. Thats why I dont usually go all the way to the ground with the carving that way if it starts to rot at the roots I can cut it off and mount it elsewhere. Wood is not a whole lot different than ice except ice chips easier. Also if you cut off wood it is hard to reattatch it in ice sculpture you can freeze it back on with water. Good luck on your stumo
Colin

the cottonwood will crack badly when it dries.