How to paint water with watercolor - tips and demo, by Café Watercolor - Eric Yi Lin on YouTube. 41 min 7 s.
- Video length
- 41 min 7 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Treat water as a surface, not a flat blue shape. Look at how it reflects the sky, objects and light, and note the color and value changes across the surface.
Decide what type of water you are painting: calm lake, river, ocean or shallow shore. Each has different movement, edges and reflection patterns, so pick one before you start.
Make your own decision about the scene instead of copying every detail. Choose the main shapes, the light direction and the mood you want, then simplify the rest.
Study real water or a photo. Note where the horizon sits, where reflections break up, and how ripples distort shapes. Sketch the main shapes lightly on your paper.
Paint the first wash for the sky and distant water. Keep it light and let the colors blend wet on wet, leaving white paper for highlights and sparkle.
Add the second wash to deepen the water and define the horizon. Build darker values in layers rather than one heavy coat, and keep edges soft where water meets sky.
Paint the reflection below the horizon. Use vertical, broken strokes that match the colors above but are slightly darker and less detailed, and let ripples interrupt the shapes.
Add the rocky shore or foreground last. Paint the rocks with darker, sharper shapes and leave gaps of white paper where water splashes or foam appears.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep some white paper untouched for highlights, since water sparkle is hard to add later.
Make reflections darker and less detailed than the real object so the water reads correctly.
Let each wash dry fully before adding the next layer to avoid muddy colors.
Use a reference photo with a clear horizon to judge values and reflection shapes.
Questions
Do I need special watercolor paints for water scenes?
No. A basic set with blues, greens and earth colors is enough. Mix your own grays and greens rather than buying extra tubes.
How do I stop reflections looking like a mirror?
Break the reflection into short vertical strokes and let ripples distort it. Keep it slightly darker and softer than the object above.
How long should I let each wash dry?
Wait until the paper is dry to the touch before the next layer, usually a few minutes. A hair dryer on cool can speed this up.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
