Daily art challenge: how to paint reflections in water
Tackle reflections in watercolour and pastel with artist Ray Balkwill
What you will learn
The characteristic of still water is that it reflects the sky and whatever else is close. Water that is nearer always appears darker, as the depth of the water or the ground underneath is the predominant influence on tone and colour. You will also see that colours become less saturated in reflections.
How to paint reflections in water in five simple steps
1 To achieve wet-looking reflections in whatever medium you choose, you will need to keep your painting technique simple.
2 Watercolour is the most obvious choice and often a few sweeping brushstrokes wet-in-wet can give you an instant impression.
3 Start by choosing a large brush and mix plenty of paint. It is important to paint with a light touch and not to apply too much pressure. I liken the correct handling of the brush to dancing on the paper.
4 Be sure to be bold and keep brushstrokes loose and expressive. Soft pastels when blended with a finger can also be effective. In this painting (above), the reflections were painted in watercolour and, when dry, pastel was applied to suggest ripples caused by a gentle breeze.
5 When painting reflections, make sure they lean to the same side and at the same angle as the objects they reflect. A general rule is that whatever is light will be reflected darker in water and vice versa.