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Original Creation

Reflective Mountain

MHK 18 Sep 2022

I am just transitioning from oils to acrylics but a few questions for those with more experience than me. Do you generally highlight the mountains that are reflecting in the water? Is the contrast between the sky and the water too severe?

Acrylics

Comments

Hi MHK, details on reflection depend on what you want to achieve and how you want to guide viewer in your painting.
Major thing though sky is usually the lightest object in the painting, water needs to be darker a bit.
So if you turn your painting upside down that will be a more correct distribution of values between sky and water.
Another thing from compositional point of few - yellow sun on blue creates a color contrast that attracts a lot of attention. However position of sun in the sky creates instability in the painting perception. In general anything position too far off center creates this effect. You can play with this effect to create more visual drama intentionally.

Here is the book that explains and guides in reaching realistic relationships in landscape. https://www.amazon.com/Carlsons-Guide-Landscape-Painting-Carlson/dp/0486229270

And the article - https://www.outdoorpainter.com/painting-basics-understanding-value/

I hope it will help you with the structural level and looking at reflections just as part of compositional decisions.

MHK Helpful Friendly User

Very helpful as usual. Thank you

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