How to Create Dynamic Reflections in Water with Acrylics

Water reflections are a captivating subject to paint, and when done in a loose and bold style, they can add movement, energy, and depth to your landscape paintings. Acrylics, with their quick-drying time and layering ability, are perfect for capturing the shimmering reflections of light on water. Whether it’s the soft ripples of a pond or the strong currents of a river, creating water reflections allows you to play with light, colour and movement.

Here’s how to approach painting dynamic water reflections in a loose and bold style using acrylics.

1. Start with a Vibrant Underpainting

Just like with the sky, I always start my water paintings with a bold underpainting. This helps set the tone and energy for the reflections. You don’t need to replicate the exact colours of the water—experiment with warm tones like oranges or cool tones like purples or deep blues to create an atmospheric base.

Penny’s Tip:
Apply a watery wash of your chosen underpainting colour and let it dry completely before adding the next layers. This base colour will peek through in areas and add depth to your reflections.

2. Lay Down Broad, Loose Strokes

Water reflections are fluid and constantly changing, so to capture that movement, use loose, confident brushstrokes. Avoid getting caught up in the details—focus on the overall direction and flow of the water. Broad horizontal strokes work well for calm water, while diagonal or wavy strokes can capture movement in faster currents.

How I Do It:
I use a large flat brush for this stage, sweeping it across the canvas in horizontal strokes. I like to blend colours directly on the canvas, letting blues, greens, and hints of purples mix together in loose strokes to create the illusion of water movement.

3. Layer Colours to Create Depth

Water reflections are made up of many layers of colour and light, so don’t be afraid to build them up slowly. Start with darker colours to create the depth of the water, then gradually add lighter hues for the reflections of the sky, trees, or objects near the water’s edge. Let each layer dry before applying the next to keep the reflections clear and vibrant.

Penny’s Layering Tip:
I love using transparent layers to build up reflections. I mix a bit of glazing medium into my paint to create semi-transparent layers that allow the colours underneath to show through. This technique helps give the water that luminous, reflective quality.

4. Play with Contrast for Bold Reflections

To make the reflections stand out, focus on creating strong contrasts between light and dark areas. Reflections often have a mirror-like quality but are slightly distorted by the movement of the water. Using contrast helps define these reflections while maintaining the sense of motion.

How I Use Contrast:
For bold, dynamic reflections, I paint the dark areas of the water first, then use lighter colours to paint the reflected light or objects. For example, if trees are reflected in the water, I use darker greens and browns, then add lighter greens and yellows on top to show the highlights on the water.

5. Create Ripple Effects with Quick, Expressive Strokes

Ripples and waves add life to water reflections, and capturing them in a loose style is all about confidence in your brushstrokes. Use quick, expressive strokes to paint the ripples, and let the paint mix on the canvas for natural transitions between colours. Don’t be afraid to layer ripples in different directions to show the movement of the water.

Penny’s Ripple Technique:
I love using a fan brush or a fine liner brush to create ripple effects. With a light touch, I drag the brush horizontally across the painting, letting it pick up the paint and create natural streaks and patterns. This keeps the ripples looking fluid and spontaneous.

6. Reflections Don’t Have to Be Perfect

One of the most important things to remember when painting water reflections is that they don’t have to be exact replicas of the objects they’re reflecting. Water distorts shapes and colours, so feel free to be more abstract and loose in your approach. Focus on capturing the overall feeling of the reflections rather than worrying about every detail.

Pro Tip:
When reflections look too perfect, they lose some of the magic and mystery of water. I like to intentionally break up the reflection with quick strokes or by dragging a dry brush over wet paint to blur the edges and create a more natural look.

7. Incorporate the Surroundings for a Cohesive Scene

To make your water reflections feel integrated into the landscape, be sure to incorporate the surroundings into your painting. Reflections of trees, buildings, or skies should feel like they’re part of the same environment. Use similar colours and tones to link the reflections with the objects they’re mirroring.

Penny’s Composition Tip:
I often paint the surrounding elements first—such as trees, rocks, or the sky—and then pull those colours into the water. This creates harmony across the painting and makes the reflections feel like a natural part of the scene.

Final Thoughts

Painting dynamic water reflections in acrylics is all about embracing the movement and fluidity of water. By layering colours, using loose brushstrokes, and playing with contrast, you can capture the shimmering beauty of reflections without overworking the details. Water offers a fantastic opportunity to be bold and expressive, so dive in and let your brushstrokes flow as freely as the water itself!

Until next time, Keep splashing colours!
Penny 😊🎨✨