An expert carver's designs for whimsical Santas and snowmen.

Carvers will find this collection of 24 Santa and snowman designs especially delightful because they are both whimsical and classy. A step-by-step tutorial is included and detailed patterns with complete paint charts are supplied for each figure. Any incidental elements such as wooden eggs or cutouts are easily available at craft stores. With the help of this guide, even beginning carvers can create heirloom ornaments they will proudly display at Christmastime for many years to come.

I started carving in 1982 when a course on relief carving was offered through a local community college. Prior to this course, I attended basic drawing classes, decorative art and landscape painting seminars, searching for an art form that truly captured my interest. That first relief course did spark a glimmer of interest, attracting me enough to attend a second quarter and a third.

Soon I was engrossed, attending every carving seminar available. Realistic songbirds, shorebirds, ducks, fish and caricatures have given me more experience. I continue to attend workshops on a regular basis, learning new things, enjoying the fellowship, seeing old friends, making new friends and, above all, sharing knowledge.

Ron Ransom sneaked into my life and introduced me to carving Santas. Soon I was designing and with time have developed a style of my own. Santas became my best seller in the co-op art gallery in which I displayed song birds and relief carvings. After six years of producing Santas for the gallery and other gift shops, I said enough! It was time to attend more wood carving shows and experiment with new designs.