A carver is someone who shapes material by cutting away pieces of it. Wood carvers use sharp tools called chisels and knives to transform blocks of wood into sculptures, furniture, or decorative objects. Stone carvers work with marble or granite to create statues and architectural details. Ice carvers sculpt elaborate designs from huge blocks of ice for special events.

When you carve something, you're removing what you don't need to reveal the shape you want. Michelangelo, one of history's greatest artists, said he saw the sculpture inside the marble and just carved away everything that wasn't part of it.

At Thanksgiving dinner, one person often becomes the turkey carver, slicing the cooked bird into portions for everyone. That same cutting-away principle applies whether you're carving a jack-o'-lantern from a pumpkin, carving your initials into a desk, or carving a path through deep snow.

The work requires patience, skill, and vision. A carver must see what others can't yet see and have the confidence to keep cutting, knowing each chip removed brings them closer to something beautiful.