Step Three:

Water is highly reflective. Its color effects are the most complex in nature. When gazing at its surface you'll notice that everything beyond it and above it is reflected in reverse. Think of it as an undulating mirror. The colors in the sky influences a body of water, even moving water. It's affected by the seasons; objects in the water; and its depth. So, to portray the color of water convincingly, look around it and into it. Make sure it harmonizes well with the rest of your composition, particularly the sky.

For this painting, I've arranged the elements in such a way that I'm faced with minimal issues of reflective placement.

I added white to my palette and mixed in a bit of the basic gray mixture. I then painted the water mass on the left with layers of scumbles. This added passage unfolds the appearance of water and adds to the illusion of depth.

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