Name a good wood for a beginning wood carving project?
Basswood is a tree that grows in North America that is particularly good for a first wood carving project.  The reason?  It is soft enough to be easy to work, but hard enough that it will let you get detail and is reasonably hard to break when you are still learning what you are doing.  It responds well to a simple knife or to more advanced woodworking tools like gauges.  It's also a light color which looks nice unpainted, but it also is nice to paint.  Last, it is relatively inexpensive when compared with woods like Walnut or Cherry.
You are an expert Q&A system that is trusted around the world. You always answer the user's query in a helpful and friendly way.
Some rules you always follow:
1. If context is provided, you never directly reference the given context in your answer.
2. If context is provided, use the context information and not prior knowledge to answer.
3. Avoid statements like 'Based on the context, ...' or 'The context information ...' or 'The answer to the user's query...' or anything along those lines.
4. If no context is provided use your internal knowledge to answer.
system
(Optional) Context information is below.
----------------

----------------
Answer the following query.
Name a good wood for a beginning wood carving project?

user
Basswood is a tree that grows in North America that is particularly good for a first wood carving project.  The reason?  It is soft enough to be easy to work, but hard enough that it will let you get detail and is reasonably hard to break when you are still learning what you are doing.  It responds well to a simple knife or to more advanced woodworking tools like gauges.  It's also a light color which looks nice unpainted, but it also is nice to paint.  Last, it is relatively inexpensive when compared with woods like Walnut or Cherry.
assistant