Calling all woodcarvers! Here are complete step-by-step carving and painting demonstrations for a folk-art Santa, a smiling Angel, and more from Santa Carver of the Year, Shawn Cipa. Patterns and photographs for more than a dozen projects include Moon Man, Cupid Cat, Firewood Santa, and others. Have you ever wanted to create your own nostalgic wooden figurines, perhaps of Santa, snowmen, or angels, but never knew where to start? If so, this collection of expert instructions will help you to find your woodcarving groove. Through detailed but easy-to-understand chapters, you will learn about: *Wood choice. Is basswood, white pine, or butternut the best fit for your project, or should you use a hardwood like black walnut or cherry? *Tools and sharpening. Do you really need to own 70 gouges and countless knives to become a great carver? No, but you do need to have the correct ones for each project and to know how to keep them all sharp. *Preparing wood. With all that in place, you then have to transfer the initial outline pattern onto the wood, and cut it into a manageable size to begin. *Basic Knife Cuts. What are the differences between stop cuts, chip cuts and scallop cuts, and when should you use each? *Painting and finishing. Once the carving is complete, you may then want to add color for decorative flair. Knowing which paints are most effective and which paintbrushes to use is essential. Shawn Cipa, a proponent of the Art of Whimsy, has studied and perfected a blend of traditional and innovative techniques to enable him to render any character he chooses from folktale and myth. He prizes the imagination and has designed original takes on numerous folk figures to inspire you on your creative journey! His advice is all here for you. Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate carver looking for a new challenge, this guide provides adaptive instructions. You can either follow them completely or use them as the basis for your own one of a kind artwork. The main thing is that you learn a new craft and have fun!