DEMONSTRATION blending reflections in water

Reflections in water are a fascinating subject. Whether the reflections are a crystal-clear mirror image, or whether gentle ripples distort them, they add depth and dimension to a landscape painting.

Unlike a shadow, which can cross the water at an angle, reflections always come towards the viewer. Assume the viewer is standing in front of the center of the painting, and paint the reflections accordingly.

Also, note that very light colors tend to reflect darker, and very dark colors reflect lighter in value.

Color and depth of water also affect reflections. Very shallow water will pick up some color of the sand or rocks below; very deep water will likely pick up the deep blue reflection of the overhead sky.

materials list

White Wallis Sanded Pastel Paper

pastels

middle-value cool blues; light, middle and dark values of yellow-green; middle and dark greens; dark blue-green.

1 Paint the Trees and Their Reflections
At the same time you paint the land mass to be reflected, paint its reflection. Pay attention to how much or how little of the land mass is reflected. The angles of hillsides, the distance of the trees from the edge of the water and the angle of view all help determine what is and isn’t reflected, so careful observation is important.

2 Blend the Reflection
Using the side of your finger or the side of your hand, blend with a quick, firm downward stroke, beginning at the edge of the water. It’s OK if you need to make a second blending stroke in a particular area, but don’t overblend or the colors will get muddy.

3 Add a Horizontal Stroke
Adding a horizontal blending stroke makes the water lie down flat. Use a light touch to avoid losing the effect of the vertical stroke.