Reflections

I've been asked how I paint reflections. Ducks on a Pond is a 16 x 20 studio piece I painted after my recent visit to Connolly Ranch.

The viewer's eyes are meant to fill in painting details. Too many details robs the viewer of the opportunity to interpret a painting as they see it. Executing loose brush strokes keeps a painting interesting and fresh even after years of daily viewing. In this close up, you see how the duck bill is one brush stroke without hard edges. The combination of thick and thin paint on the duck itself adds depth.  

Reflections are the opposite of what they are on the surface. A dark image is lighter in a reflection.

Another way to create water interest is to vary the paint between horizontal and verticals strokes as demonstrated below in this close up.