I work primarily with wood, metal and paper. Several wood pieces are from piano parts, found wood or locally sourced woods.
I am daunted and amazed at how beautiful materials can be with some attention. Paper usually has to be pristine when I start, but metal and wood can be sanded, polished, cut, joined and made new. Especially wood. Wood is a romance medium. The grain changes with every cut, sanding, staining, dying, and finishing.
And no matter what material I am working in I want to know what the material wants to be. Or what I see it as. I look for posture, desire, and composition. And humor is always pestering me to be included. Sometimes I give in.