Customer Reviews

Polish Wycinanki Designs (International Design Library)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It was this wonderful book by Frances Drwal that truly brought this art form to life for me. These papercuts, some white on black and some black on white, are wonderfully done.

I happened across this litle gem just before publishing my novel PUSH NOT THE RIVER Push Not the Riverand immediately decided I had to use a few in the book. Ms. Drwal was more than willing for me to choose a number of her little masterpieces, thus greatly enhancing a story based on the actual diary of a Polish countess in the 1790s.

For this tiny investment, you'll reap a treasure of art in these painstakingly and perfectly done wycinanki designs!
(...)

I was also a bit disapponted by this book. It has a beautiful front cover and also quite interesting, although a bit short introduction by Frances Drwal. The introduction talks about the history of Polish paper cuts (wycinanki) and the regional differences. It also explains the most popular types of paper-cuts.
The patterns inside are interesting although black and white. But the real problem is to find a right design according to the list. The list groups the patterns according to the design type. The pages of the book do not have numbers although the list has the numbers. Moreover, the design numbers according to the list do not match the presented design in any way we will try to count the designs. Some designs are missing from the list, some are listed twice as two different pattern designs - the majority are just misplaced - and it is all quite chaotic since as I mentioned earlier - there is no any numbering at all!

I still think the book is worth to buy but I wish the author and the publisher would number the pages or the design and improve the listing.

This was the first book I bought on paper cutting and I'm so happy I did. The patterns and designs are outstanding!
If you only own one paper cutting book, please let it be this one! First I traced the patterns,then I cut out 9 different patterns from this book. I'm now enjoying them on my backdoor window. Put your cut-outs in plastic page protecters and tape them up. I used plain, old construction paper for mine and they are beautiful!

front cover is in full colour and gives the impression that the wycinanki will be from a variety of regions. Sadly they are all Kurpiowskie (single coloured) and not the multi-coloured layered Lowickie wycinanki as seen on the front cover. Still, a reasonably good buy.

This book is really disappointing because none of the images are in color. I'm not sure how a publisher can create a Black & White book on art that is based on color -- Polish Folk Design is completely based on color. All art books sold on Amazon should clearly mark if the book is Color or B/W.

I bought this book because I make quilts and wanted to have some patterns from the book. As it turns out, I will most likely use the pattern from the front cover, but there are many inside that would work as well. It is all black and white inside, but with quilting, it doesn't matter; indeed, it might be better than color, so a quilter could imagine her own colors. Lovely book.

I guess I was expecting some color images, I learned more about design and concept by googling wyncinanki images. The images are way too primative for myself. Personally not worth the money and anticipation.