Painting reflection in water using oil colors

Painting reflection in water using oil colors is a good idea to understand oil colors better and create something special. There is something about water bodies that really intrigues me. In fact, anyone who has visited a beach in his/her lifetime must have felt a sense of peace and wonder in the surroundings of water bodies. The depth, waves, sound totally captures our attention. Also, when one looks at his/her reflection in a water body, it’s a different feel in comparison to looking at the mirror.

I wished to make a painting dedicated to reflection in a water body and the enigmatic sea. After making several faces in my block style, taking it to another level was the next challenge. A canvas of 24 x 36 inches was chosen this time. However, first I worked on this idea on paper using water colors and made a layout.

Next was the challenge to start making this painting on canvas. It was sketched with utmost attention by me making sure justice was done to each block that was contributing to a larger picture. Idea was that the face of blocks on the right is looking at his reflection of blocks on the left. The background and the space between face and its reflection was all water. Painting reflection in water was an idea that was kept somewhat abstract until now.

The initial coating of oil colors made the painting look like this:

Next, after applying more layers of oil colors and finishing, the painting looked like this:

Giving special mention to the background of water body is important here. Till now, I was pretty familiar with making blocks and using them to create various forms. However, painting a water body and creating those waves was my first attempt. The technique of using brushes to create a feel of waves is different. You have to move the brushes in a certain way to get those perfect waves. Shades of blue, green and white were used to get beautiful waves in the background.

The story of painting reflection in water doesn’t end here:

Above painting was displayed in my exhibition “Colors of India” in the year 2013 and it got lots of appreciation by the viewers. However, when the exhibition ended, it was felt that so much more could be done with the painting and it could be taken to yet another level.

So, I reworked on the painting; re-colored some blocks of the face on the left to define the features like hairs, eyes and lips more clearly. These changes in the face colors took the face to much higher level.

Another major change was made by reworking on painting reflection in water of the face. To make the reflection on the left seem more understandable and realistic that it in fact is the reflection, I covered the whole reflection with waves. After all, you see your reflection below the water body and not separate from it. This change made the painting so much more advanced than the previous version.

The blocks of the reflection were visible but yet not too visible as they were behind the waves. This mysterious nature of reflection blocks in this painting is something that I admire a lot!

The final look of the painting after finishing or rather re-finishing looked like this:

The waves were now a part of both foreground and background and the painting seemed more intriguing than ever before. This painting consists of an abstract face on one side and its subsequent reflection on the opposite side. This painting depicts the various thoughts, desires, confusions and solutions one tries to find when one looks at his own reflection!

P.S.: You can buy this painting by visiting the gallery. Make this painting a part of your home and let every visitor get curious and fascinated by looking at it. Let the depth of the waves evoke emotions and let the reflection of the face make your mind wonder.