Tips for Painting Water
There are two things I have learned that I believe will help you paint better water. The first thing is simple: keep it simple! I often see people putting way too many brush strokes in the water. The second is to make sure your reflection is always the opposite value of the source. What I mean by this is if you have a white tree, then the reflection in the water has to be darker in value. It cannot be the same value or the same color white, but maybe an off-white instead.
“Generally, I see too many artists putting too much detail into the reflection”
Let’s say the tree value is a 1, the reflection has to be right around a 5 or 6. So, if you have the opposite of that, meaning if the tree is black or a 9/10, then the reflection has to be about a 6. It is always flipped. If you have a dark source, you have to have a light reflection, and vice versa. I see people painting the same exact value as the reflection, almost making it look like a mirror. But, you need to have that difference in the reflection.
Back to the first concept: overcomplicating the water with too many brush strokes. Try to keep your brush down on the canvas without picking it up and dab so much or block it in. Don’t mess it with it too much. If you do, it can steal the thunder from the source. If you have a high horizon line, you might want to add more detail in the water since this would be your main focal point. Generally, I see too many artists putting too much detail into the reflection. But, again, make sure you have the opposite value in the reflection. These are both important concepts, and simple enough so you can use them right away in your next painting with water!
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