Painting Reflections in Watercolor - Three Easy Steps

▶︎Free Video Lesson: 8 Ways to Avoid Overworking Your Watercolor Painting www.learntopaintwatercolor.co...
There is something about water that attracts us, something about it that begs to be painted. It's such an exciting subject for watercolor painting. But when the scene you choose includes water, you also face the challenge of depicting reflections.
In this week’s video, I show you the 3 tips that have helped me the most when it comes to painting reflections. It is these tips that have made the difference in my paintings.
Check out my recommended watercolor brush collection.
www.amazon.com/shop/m.white.art

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

▶︎Free Video Lesson: 8 Ways to Avoid Overworking Your Watercolor Painting www.learntopaintwatercolor.com/opt-in

[@michaelrussell220]

I like your calm, unhurried, stress free style of presentation. So much better than trying to listen to a motormouth where the important points get lost in in a torrent of words. I think you have a winning formula here.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Thank you Michael. I appreciate that!

[@oliverhill113]

Many thanks Matthew. Your videos are really helpful. I was an oil painter but am now spending more of my painting time using Watercolours, thanks to artists like you!😊

[@christinetrappenfortes7761]

Awesome video! You really simplified painting reflections.
Thanks

[@rebeccatompsett3442]

Practice on a separate piece of paper to paint cleanly and confidently in single shapes is a helpful tip. In general it really helps me to understand how to approach a landscape.

[@kellydanson2121]

I like the tip you did with turning your paper. Doing the reflection first I thought was a great idea for me. Thanks Matt! Looking forward to painting my vacation beach pictures!

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Glad it was helpful!

[@susanmerila4958]

Thank you. Talking through how to see the way forward in simplifying a scene is most valuable to me.

[@marybryon8854]

I enjoy Matt's tutorials the most. He is so helpful 😊The tip that helped me the most was the reminder to paint in layers, loved the effects.

[@govindmatondkar7502]

The first painting is actually good one

[@amyspring8367]

You are so helpful! I think most helpful is to paint confidently and cleanly. I am spent 30 years doing plaster and acrylic murals, and now am playing with watercolors. I am so glad I found you...you are a wonderful teacher, gifted artist, and always pleasant. My best to you!!

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the kind words!

[@carlycharlesworth1497]

Wow, as a complete newbie to watercolour, I found this information, so, so helpful! Thank you for this video Matthew, much appreciated. God bless you and your family.

[@alysonevans5469]

I love how clear your instructions are.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

thanks!

[@user-mc4if2ku9b]

Thank you very much.

[@awatercolourist]

Very informative video. It’s interesting that you painted the reflections before completing the boats.

[@daynamclaughlin6470]

The best tip was to make the reflections seamless but I will need to practice a lot as I still paint like your first one too! Thanks so much! Love your instruction.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

So glad you liked it!

[@lucasmyint8140]

Thanks a lot. You explained well and painted masterfully. Your English is very clear.

[@elainethompson3845]

Big help, thank you. I’m looking at all your tips now.

[@joyparsons7224]

Great tips…like the step by step approach and encouragement Thanks !!

[@susanrose6502]

I love how clear your tutorials are!!

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

I'm so glad!

[@sharondempsey9329]

Thank you so much for sharing your skills, I live in a country with no English speaking teachers so I am so grateful!

[@bensongoh9789]

I like the very first tip on layering, and what each layer seeks to achieve in the entire process. Very enlightening and practical. Thank you!

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jerrymckay5786]

Good tips. I need to sincerely work on "quit fiddling", just messed up one this morning because I wanted to "improve" a shadow.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

I know the feeling!

[@juliabroadley8411]

Calm cool collected your easy to follow and it's easy on my ears thankyou for sharing your knowledge

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

So nice of you. Thanks!

[@colorfulwater5070]

I loved doing the reflections first!

[@1Skymed]

Thanks Matt. As always your videos give us all something to reflect on.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

I appreciate that!

[@michaelcody3829]

Thanks Matt, a great video and yes I find painting reflections difficult, but I like your tips and look forward to trying. Thanks for how you encourage everyone too. Greetings from Australia 🇦🇺 mate.

[@damienessemusic5108]

Thinking of the reflexion as onde big shape was a great advice for me ! Thanks !

[@barbaramain6381]

I truly gained soo much from your reflection tutorial, sincere thanks!! Warm regards, Barbara from Australia

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Diego_SanCA]

Great content. Matching reflections. Overworking.

[@maryannegunter115]

I really enjoy and appreciate these videos. I'm especially interested in water reflection and shading in paintings.

[@billmeadus4343]

Thanks. Those are much appreciated tips.

[@eldoretsykes]

Thanks so much. Beautiful painting

[@hellovicki6779]

You are very good at teaching these elements of water colour painting. While familiar with these tips, you were able to teach me a fuller understanding. I am off to have a go now, I am sure your video will help me. I wish I had seen your video at the beginning of learning water colour.

[@annedanielarodgers8830]

Hi Matt, I really like your teaching style, so concrete and calm 👍
Could you make a video of the real time brushwork? How you’re mindful about the speed, concentration, how to lure out different brush marks or whatever else you can think of. I’d be delighted 🙂Thanx a million!

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

So glad you are liking my videos! I will keep these topics in mind.

[@lindaevanoff1883]

You explain it so well. ❤Thank you

[@holly_kay5570]

Helpful tips. Thank you!

[@paint_me_blue-art_watercolors]

Thank you for your beautiful tips and advice, I just subscribed to your mailing list and watched the video about overworking a painting, have been struggling with this. 🙂Cheers ♥️

[@biogalera8480]

Eu gostei bastante destas dicas, não tinha noção de como fazer reflexos na água .

[@karlab9557]

Very helpful tips...all three.

[@js8703]

New subscriber. I'm a newbie learning heaps from your fantastic tutorials. Thankyou for all your time and work. It is greatly appreciated.

[@armandosrd.l9610]

Thank you Matt for the Tips….I always struggle with thin línes…. Loved the tip of practicing in another piece of paper before. Looks fwd for more videos. Thks

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Glad it was helpful!

[@artbykcappadona5166]

Thank you Matthew. It was helpful seeing the stages of how the painting progresses. In other words which step to do first.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Glad it was helpful!

[@DavidMiltonJones]

Marvelous! Thanks, Matt.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@reginafernandez8827]

Matthew, thank you for this fantastic video. It is inspiring and exciting. It's beautiful, wonderful, how you paint incredible how well you explain. Congratulations and many thanks.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Thank you! Glad you liked it!

[@hArtyTruffle]

Thanks. You keep it nice and simple. I struggle with all aspects of painting an actual painting but this is very helpful. ✨🙏✨

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Glad to hear that!

[@MrsJones-qw2yo]

That's really helpful! Thanks a lot. I have a tendency to overwork my paintings.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Glad it was helpful!

[@crowbabies]

Thanks for this! I am really struggling to understand how much the paint will lighten as it dries. Great tips!

[@lindathaxton1994]

Nice! Thank you

[@donnareval8687]

Amazing

[@carolluery8042]

So beautiful! I am new to watercolor and new to painting. It was so helpful when you named the colors you were using at the beginning, but then you stopped. It would have been helpful if you continued specifying which colors you used. Thank you!

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Good feedback. I’ll try to do that more.

[@manetch6943]

Thanks so much, matt..cant wait to give it a go.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Glad to help!

[@maryvernau9500]

Thanks Matt! Beautiful painting!

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

You're welcome! Glad you liked it.

[@maggiew5483]

So helpful! Thank you! Beautiful paintings.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

You are so welcome!

[@luisaavelar4134]

Excellent helpful advices! Thanks for sharing 👌😊

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

You're welcome! Glad you liked it.

[@jamessaretta8278]

Thanks Matt - good tips here!

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

You're welcome. Glad to help!

[@donaldnorlie3773]

Great lesson Matt, do you have a way to determine the color of the reflection, like using the color of the boats, or a darker color of the water ? Thank you, for your time, and a good video..

[@yunzers]

Great video thanks. I’m having trouble knowing how wet the paper is and how thick the paint should be, trying to keep water out of my brush. This was helpful!

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Glad to hear that. Best of luck in your painting!

[@mcwombat73]

Thank you! Great tips and - like all your videos - very practical and down to earth! You are quickly becoming my go-to-resource on waterpainting :).
Two questions, though (and maybe you have covered them elsewhere):
1) How do you avoid "blotches" when painting wet on wet? When I paint darker values on a lighter background, the colors have a tendency to create blossoms that - when dry - have sharp and ugly edges?
2) I noticed that the horizon is darker near the bottom than near the top. Why is that? In a another video you said that usually you paint the horizon dark near the top and lighter near the bottom.

[@abdlatifsirim4299]

Thank you very much. Its a good lesson and tips. I really appreciate. May I know what colours you used in this painting especially for the reflection? Tqvm

[@ferdopiano7372]

Excellent instruction.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Thank you!

[@lisarusso6746]

Thank you!

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

You're welcome!

[@ArtistJiban]

thank you so much sir😊

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Most welcome

[@zenaschristian3626]

Great lesson 👍

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Thanks! 😃

[@robertnelson2486]

Thanks Matthew

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

You're welcome! Glad you liked it.

[@justinwr092]

Are you using neutral tint for the darks?

[@IcaroBenjamin]

Very tnks! Brazil lol

[@samuelbrynolf]

Thank you so much! Great tips and a such a great painting!
I’m interested in the brush you are using for the most thin lines, applied last the brush that held more water and gave a sharper edge. I’ve been looking for it since I saw you paint birds in distance and branches…. But when I Google it I always end up with the more common rigger. Can I have the exact brand and version because I have given up finding it myself 😄. If you want to. Thank you!

[@pamelahulland8439]

He called it a sign writer’s brush, it is also known as a sword brush. Hope that helps.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

You can find on my link here. www.amazon.com/shop/m.white.art Hope that helps!

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Here is a direct link to that brush. www.amazon.com/dp/B07K8T2LX6?ref=exp_m.white.art_dp_vv_d

[@samuelbrynolf]

@@learntopaintwatercolor Great!!! Thank you 😀

[@donotsmudge]

Hi Matt. which paint manufacturer are you favouring today. I don't recognise all the colour names. Thanks.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

I use primarily Daniel Smith.

[@standox2]

!!

[@1aliassmith]

Are you using 300 lb paper?