Drawing Reflections

The reflection of a subject is created by drawing angular lines that extend from the object in the direction of the surface of the water. The angle at which the lines are drawn is respective to the angle of the light source.

Example: A wooden dock on the side of a river.

From the ends of the dock, project lines at the same angle as the light source in the direction opposite the light source over the surface of the water. From these lines we construct the reflection. Tip: small details fade in the reflection so do not create its mirror image. When shading, keep in mind that the reflection is always a bit darker than the real object. Also, as the reflection extends away from the original source, contour lines will appear more rippled due to the current of the water.


 

Other pages of interest

Expressive sketching
Contour lines
Drawing reflections
Creating depth
Contrast