Learn to draw by Tissa Hewavitarane:

Landscape with reflections on the water

To become a skilled landscape painter takes years of practice. However, starting from a few basic steps it is possible to paint acceptable landscapes. In this topic we have studied some of the most common elements of landscapes, the majority of which like creating skies and trees in the distance, can be applied in general landscapes.

Painting reflections naturally forms part of river scenes and sea views. In this exercise, a landscape which seems complicated at first sight has been chosen. Really it is not so difficult. All the techniques used are explained here.

The principal shapes are drawn with precise strokes. First the line is drawn that separates the water and the vegetation. Above this line the principal volume of the trees is sketched. In the water zone the same drawing is made, but upside down, as if it were seen in a water mirror.

Following the process explained in the technical section, the reflection in the water can now be painted. Starting from the shore, long brush strokes are applied with dark green. In the upper part of the reflections these brush strokes almost touch the surface.

Further down the paper, the finer and more spaced out the strokes become. If you carefully observe, on the right-hand side of the reflection the tones are painted darker, the lighter greens are on the left. The artist has used long fine horizontal brush strokes repeatedly on the dark part of the reflection and sweep several times across the darkest colour of it.

In this way the two tones are mixed, although the first has dried. Once the light part of the reflection has been painted the lines of the lower part of the reflection has also been painted, the lines of the lower part are laid down in a somewhat darker tone.

Notice that the part of the reflection which is illuminated coincides with the illuminated part of the trees. The reflection on the water must be similar in size to the trees that make it, for they are at the water's edge. If they were further away the reflection would be smaller.

On top of the green leaves of the trees, paint in new brush strokes that help to make its shape clearer. The principal part of the reflection is finished in the same luminous tone as the trees. Once dry, the reflection of the background trees is painted in quite dark green and with horizontal brush strokes.

The reflection area on the left is completed with numerous sweeping strokes. To complete this painting the artist has used tube watercolour paint, medium-grained watercolour paper brushes used flat brush to depict the reflections and brushes Nos 2, 5 and 6 for general use.