Emotional Content: How to Create Paintings That Communicate

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.

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.