How to paint water drops on a horizontal surface in four easy steps. By Karin Wells
This little 8″ x 10″ painting has a lot of water drops. I like to add fun (and fast) details to a dry painting surface at the end.
I posted the largest file allowed for this so you could see better detail if you click on the above picture.
Here’s how to do it when the light source comes from the upper left:
DROP STEP 1
I use a dark color – raw umber works for me but any transparent dark will do. You are making the shape of a drop. A cast shadow will be on the lower right (i.e., Darker).
This particular view is from the side on a horizontal surface. If you had a top view, for example, you would draw it differently of course, but the principle is exactly the same.
Detail (above)
DROP STEP 2
You will be looking through the water and it creates a soft shadow on the top left and the harder, sharper cast shadow on the lower right.
More detail (above)
DROP STEP 3
Light will be reflected on the top right and will define the top of the drop.
I use Zinc White so the original color shows through. The light does NOT touch the shadow and the color of the surface shows through between the light and shadow.
DROP STEP 4
Add a highlight in the shadow area. I use Titanium White for this as I want it to be clearly defined and opaque.
Painting drips and drops is really a piece of cake, isn’t it?
Above detail from Cherries Still Life.
And bugs are fun too.
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Lynn Marlowe on Mon, 25th Aug 2008 9:57 pm
You make it look so easy. I will get to trying it altho not on my painting agenda right now. Just learning. Great painting.
sara on Tue, 26th Aug 2008 4:37 pm
That tutorial contained so much great information not only about how to represent light and shadow through a drop of water, but with regard to light direction and the casting of shadows as well…Such small and apparently obvious details, that I have found it nearly impossible to get anyone to explain with such simplicity and clarity.
Thank you!
I will paste here one of my favorite Zen poems to comment further:
“Enlightenment is like the moon reflected on the water.
The moon does not get wet, nor is the water broken.
Although its light is wide and great,
The moon is reflected even in a puddle an inch wide.
The whole moon and the entire sky
Are reflected in one dewdrop on the grass.”
Dogen
mehtab singh on Thu, 4th Sep 2008 5:53 am
Such lessons are encouraging to “the aspiring Artist” hidden in every human being of course you have to be lucky to find such lessons,
Grateful
water artist on Tue, 30th Sep 2008 8:59 am
It helps really for newcomer like me. I am always fade up with paining natural objects. But this shows some way.
Bhavna on Sun, 5th Apr 2009 1:04 pm
Could you please inform me about your painting classes in Dubai. I am interested in joining on regular basis, rather learning about painting via email or on the net. Kindly guide me at the earliest. Thanking you & hope to hear from you soon.
Rozela on Mon, 31st Aug 2009 5:41 am
i am a teenager interested in oil painting would like to know abt the affordable painting classes in Dubai with the transportation facility if possible.
thank you very much for these very helpful tips. i just saw them today…will definitely try!
Sanaa on Tue, 6th Oct 2009 12:57 am
hi can u pl suggest some oil painting or water painting classes in dubai for beginers at an affordable price.
you make art seem so easy and interesting.