SAL Challenge: Water

[image_with_animation image_url=”10246″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Water is notoriously difficult to draw or paint, but there are a few tricks.

1. Instead of making the paint translucent or see-through, consider mixing the colors carefully, and applying the color just as opaquely as you would for a solid object.
2. If you have reflections coming in over still water, pull them straight down. They aren’t in angles of perspective – they don’t get larger as they get closer to us. The moon reflection stays the same width as the moon (just a little scattered in the waves), all the way down the canvas. Below: Monet’s Sunrise
3. Choose a tempo. Fredericka Foster talked about the tempo of the water in this post.

Watching water move is a time-honored way of moving into the present moment. My goal is to feel the water move in the painting, but water has rules, and I have to pay attention to motion in establishing the composition. Water is defined by time: the length of time it takes for a wave to pass a set point. At around a second, you have a ripple; over 10 seconds, a swell, and in between a wave. Once I get the composition down, I can begin to pay attention to the rhythm of the painting.  – Fredericka Foster

Today, create water. Materials are artists’ choice.

Please see the call for Salish Sea and Water art in the second post. Sketches welcome. Artworks do not have to be large or fancy to be interesting. [image_with_animation image_url=”10241″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”]

Susan Rothenberg, Bucket of Water

Thank you for sharing your work! I love seeing these artworks online. People who post to Instagram or on Facebook will be eligible to win prizes (see details). No matter where you post, tag us so we can find it. #seattleartistleague #salchallenge #water

The June SAL Challenge: Creative exercises once a day for 30 days. [image_with_animation image_url=”10242″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”]

Pat Steir, Waterfall Painting