How to Oil Paint Dark Water
Water can be one of the most difficult objects to paint in oils. Water has a mercurial, ever-shifting quality that doesn't always translate well to a static painting, and dark water can be especially difficult because of if done wrong it can end up looking like a big black spot instead of a body of water. However, using a variety of techniques including washes, gradation and reflections, you can oil paint dark water that actually looks like water.
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Instructions
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Study the a photo for reference. Notice any nearby reflecting objects such as the moon, rocks or sand close to the dark water. Notice the different colors in the dark water. Though dark water usually isn't as reflective or colorful as clear or pale water, it still contains different gradients of color. Usually dark water is darker at the bottom, where the sand or mud usually rests, and lighter at the top and near the edges of the bank.
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Sketch a preliminary drawing from the reference photo onto the canvas. Sketch lines where the color changes in the water, including reflections and foam that may rest on top of the water. If the dark water is moving, especially in waves or waterfalls, try to sketch lines in the direction of the movement so you know what direction to paint.
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3
Mix a mid-tone color for the dark water on the palette. The mid-tone is the main color of the body of the dark water, excluding highlights, shadows and reflections. Good mid-tones for dark water are purple black or gray blue. If the reference picture includes a stormy sky, the mid-tone of the water should be a gradient of the storm-clouds. After you've created the main mid-tone, mix gradients of the mid-tone in lighter and darker colors on the palette.
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Apply the mid-tone to the body of the dark water using the reference picture as a guide. Use lighter gradients on the top of the water and darker gradients on the bottom of the water. Blend the oils as you go to create smooth transitions between colors. If the water is moving, such as in a storm or river, pull the oil paint with the paintbrush in a certain direction to suggest movement. If there are any objects near the bank of the water, such as rocks or sand, have the water cut into the objects to give the illusion of fluidity.
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Allow the mid-tone to dry on the canvas.
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Mix oils on the palette in the colors of any reflections in the water. The reflections of objects in the dark water will be slightly darker than the actual object in the painting. The reflections in dark water tend to be subdued and not as vibrant as the reflections in clear water. Also, still water tends to reflect better than turbulent water.
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Paint the reflections onto the dark water. Allow the reflections to dry.
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Mix oils on the palette for any highlights or shadows. The highlights or shadows should be white and black, on the gray-scale, or in gradients of the mid-tone color.
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Apply highlights and shadows to the dark water. This includes foam on top of the water and the shadows underneath rocks and other objects along the bank. Allow the highlights and shadows to dry.
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Paint wavy vertical strokes in gradient colors of the mid-tone on top of the water to resemble ripples. Allow the painting to dry.
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Paint the rest of the scene from the reference photo including the bank of the water, sky, celestial bodies, lightning, clouds and nearby objects.
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References
- Photo Credit dark skies image by nutech21 from Fotolia.com
