Carving Folk Art Figures

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. The book offers complete step-by-step carving and painting demonstrations for a folk-art Santa, a smiling angel, and more from Santa carver of the year (2000), Shawn Cipa. Patterns and photographs for over a dozen projects include a moon man, Cupid cat, firewood Santa and others.

Through detailed but easy-to-understand chapters, you will learn about wood choice, tools and sharpening, preparing wood and basic knife cuts, as well as painting and finishing. A proponent of the art of whimsy, Cipa has studied and perfected a blend of traditional and innovative techniques to render any character from folktale and myth. He prizes the imagination and has designed original takes on numerous folk figures to inspire you on your creative journey. 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.

Softcover, 80 pages, 2002.