Like the thangka painting and sculpture, the foundation of woodcarving lies in careful drawing and mastering the repertoire of images, symbols and motifs. A woodcarver begins a project by planing the surface of the wood he is going to use and transferring his drawing to it. The lines of the drawing are carved out using the traditional bamboo fret saw and a wide range of freshly sharpened chisels. A woodcarver is responsible for making and maintaining his own tools according to his needs. Many of the structures produced and decorated by the woodcarvers such as altars, cabinets, religious thrones and a variety of tables are made of carved panels that are assembled with a series of strong and complex joints. After assembly, the finished piece is carefully sanded and polished or painted with colour.