Product Description

Too often emerging artists focus on nuts-and-bolts techniques--form--as the key to creating powerful paintings. Here author Gerald Brommer reveals that emotional content is the most vital consideration. He shows how the grouping of elements, the weight given to each and the way they're depicted influence how observers perceive them.

Part one is an introduction to emotional content. The three subsequent parts guide readers through the steps of Brommer's system:

1. Selecting elements: This section includes two in-depth demonstrations on the selection and editing process.

2. Sketching the scene: Quick one-minute sketches lay out possible groupings for the elements selected in the step above.

3. Using color to evoke emotion: Color's impact on mood, temperature, light, dominance of elements, and sense of place. Full-length demonstrations show how to use color to convey emotional content.

A balanced mix of instruction, in-progress illustrations and beautiful completed work make the concepts concrete for all levels of artists.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1008959 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 128 pages

About the Author
Gerald Brommer is a world famous watercolorist who lives in California.

He has exhibited in more than 300 solo and group shows throughout the United States and around the world. His work is represented in hundreds of private and corporate collections worldwide.

He is a life member, signature member and past president of the National Watercolor Society, a member of the West Coast Watercolor Society, the National Arts Club and many other professional organizations. His biography is included in Who’s Who in American Art, Who’s Who in California, Who’s Who in the West, Contemporary Authors and the International Who’s Who of Contemporary Achivement. One of his paintings hangs in the Governor’s chambers in the California state capitol, and he was selected to have his biography listed in 2000 Outstanding Artists and Designers of the 20th Century by the International Biographical Centre in England.

He has conducted countless popular workshops on watercolor and collage throughout the USA and in Europe. He has also led International Artist Painting Workshop Vacations to Europe and had an art instruction series published in International Artist magazine.

He received his BA from Concordia Teachers College in Nebraska, and his MA from the University of Nebraska. His first book was published in 1968. He helped develop several curricula for teaching high school art and published 20 books for students.

Customer Reviews

A very limited notion of emotional content
The title of this book is at least somewhat misleading, since Brommer uses such a narrow and arguably pedestrian notion of emotional content in painting. This is not to say that this book has no value, but it is much more of a how-to book than the title suggests. The focus of the book is really on painting technique, not emotional content. If you want to be challenged philosophically and creatively about infusing emotional content into your paintings (such as can be found in the emotionally expressive works of painters like Munch, Kollwitz, O'Keeffe, or Pollock, for example) then you'll need to look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you want to focus on how to represent landscapes, townscapes, seascapes, and other traditional painting subjects using watercolor alone or combined with Brommer's trademark collage approach, then you might find the book worthwhile (but much of the material here can be found in his earlier book on watercolor and collage).

Watercolor book
This is one book which I enjoyed reading and putting it to practice. The title really explains it all. If you want pointers to use painting (and collage) to express your feelings and interpret it, see examples from other artists' works - this is the book for you. It's simplified so that it can reach the public (no fancy words). I really enjoyed this book and also his other books and videos like watercolor and collage etc. Gives me a good feeling that I can do it too.

Watercolor and Collage Book
I am not a watercolorist so don't go by me on this one. I would not recommend it for getting info on color and design for emotional impact in general, and not if you are using other mediums. However,I gave this book five stars because it seems to be good book for watercolor and collage for beginners; it has several generous watercolor and colleage how-to sections, and has some wonderful examples and photographs.