Customer Reviews

Emotional Content: How to Create Paintings That Communicate

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

 

 

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).

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.

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.