Jessica Palmer

This novel took me a long time to finish, mostly because I was using it as a hobby book (and school and work limits my time for hobbies). This book will NOT take multiple months to read like how I read it, just FYI to anyone reading my review. I simply invested my free time in the book, which was little.

Now, to begin! Jessica Palmer does a fantastic job explaining what papercutting is and some of the history. We start off with a beautifully written introduction that rivals a professional show more encylopedia. She goes over the beginning of papercutting, papercutting in other cultures and some famous papercutting artists. All of these descriptions give a beautiful insight into the world of papercutting.

(At this point papercutting no longer looks like a word. Have I said it enough in this review yet?)

There are many beautiful pictures of the creations of many artists. It is truly inspiring and amazing to see what people are able to do.

This book continues on as if we are in a papercutting workshop. It is almost as if I am in an artist when I'm reading it! It's that fantastic. She takes you through positive and negative space, which can create two very different worlds in papercutting.

Jessica continues to walk you through nature, animals, tone and texture, and overall inspiration.

Our author does get to work in this one! She lists many important materials to use to learn how to papercut - this isn't just an informative book, it is going to teach you a new skill! She takes you step by step on how to cut, with very simple and easy to follow steps. There are even pictures to help you learn how to make a new papercutting project!

There are many examples on how to make papercutting stencils as well, which I found helpful! I don't always just start an art project without inspiration! Portraits, landscapes, fashion, illustrations, still life, text, and shadows are also introduced.

Included in the book are some stencils! They are beautifully made and seem like they would be helpful. Also, many pages have little hints or tips to help you along the way!!

Overall, this book is highly informative. I definitely learned a lot from this book, and it written in a friendly yet educational tone.

Five out of five stars!

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. show less

In Palmer's horror novel, Tiffany Blair lives in a run down trailer with her mother and her mother's abusive boyfriend. Tiffany seeks refuge in the woods only to find a human bone in the ancient Indian burial ground and by moving the bone, she frees a curse. It begins with animals dying which are soon recognized as sacrifices. To end the nightmare, a long-forgotten rite must be performed and that will mean a battle between life and death. Eerie and spine tingling.

A woman reflects on the past of a house....

Review located at http://lupabitch.wordpress.com/2006/12/19/animal-wisdom-jessica-dawn-palmer/