When I started carving I was learning from books and trial and era. For quite a while it would take me two or three days to do a basic wind spirit in a walking stick. Then I order a how to DVD. The carver did a basic face in about an hour and half. It was the all in his technique. It took some practice but with in a short while I was able to complete the basic face in about the same amount of time. I am a big fan of good how to DVDs. Sadly there are some really bad ones out there and it is hard to tell if one is good until you have spent the money.