Learn to Carve Wood

One of the coolest gifts I received for Christmas this year was a misshapen lump of wood, a profiled lump of basswood to be more precise. What, you may ask would I do with this lump of wood? Carve it into an overweight man wearing a hat of course. I have never carved before and this is going to be my chance to learn. The wood came with a book about carving called Art & Technique of Scandinavian Style Woodcarving. As soon as I finish the carving project I will post some pictures.