After the knee is thoroughly dried, I use acrylic paints and my imagination to turn it into a Santa. A bulge on the side might become an arm, or an indentation might suggest a long narrow beard that is suggestive of Dour, old world Santas.

Each Santa takes many days to complete, then it is covered with several coats of a hard, semi-gloss, clear varnish to protect it.

Cypress Santas are collectors' items and something each child or grandchild would love to own (which is what I plan to do with my collection some day).