Linda Blondheim Art Studio Landscapes of the South

Lone Pine
8x10 inches
alla prima on location

See my paintings HERE

Art Notes HERE

Studio News

Plein Air Monthly Class
March 15, 2008 Saturday
9 AM
Kanapaha Gardens
State Road 24 (Archer Road)
Gainesville, Florida

Studio Monthly Class
Sunday March 16, 2008
Linda's Studio
near Lacrosse off SR 121 North

Email me if interested lindablondheim12@hotmail.com


Painters Tip

Painting Water


There are three basic elements to consider when painting water: color, rhythm and movement.

Water is constantly moving from the influence of wind, waves and direction of flow due to gravity. Creeks and rivers flow according to what is under the surface. Natural breaks occur due to rocks, limbs, shallow areas like sand bars, causing the water to break and flow around them in areas. Deep water generally flows slower with a smoother surface, its reflections mirroring the colors of the sky and of the trees and land elements. Shallow areas flow over stones, sand and debris on the bottom. The result is a series of broken reflections. Broken strokes of paint in various colors pick up the above water elements as well as debris under the surface.

The depth of the water creates its own color. In nature water is almost never simply one color, instead it tends to pick up some of the land colors and is often darker and bluer in the deeper areas. As it becomes shallow, it picks up more of the land colors. The color of the water is subject to the light of the day and the type of water. A clear overhead light creates a dominant blue in clean water. The surf can be gray, blue, or green depending on the light and time of day.

Particles suspended in the water reflect more light, creating an overall lighter tone in fresh and shallow water. On the surface, shadow areas from objects immediately adjacent to the water tend not to reflect the object, but rather offer a view under the surface. This is due to the object blocking the reflection of the sky. The reflection of the sky on the surface of water is often a darker reflection of what you see in the sky, however, often the distant water is a bit lighter than water close to you.

The important thing is to break the water into the patterns and colors you see, rather than simply swishing a brush back and forth to pretend you are painting water. Don't think of water as water. Think of it as patterns value, color, shape and light.