The bright light of Berowra Waters

Capturing the feeling of a sunny day on the water is all about getting your values right. In my online workshop yesterday, we looked at this beautiful spot near Sydney. The scene has a wonderful mix of dark green trees and bright white boats. To make those boats pop, I had to be brave with the dark shadows in the background and the reflections in the water. It is the contrast that tells the story of the Australian sun.

I started with a very light wash of yellow ochre and cerulean blue for the sky and the base of the buildings. The greenery behind the houses is a mix of viridian green and ultramarine blue. By using a cooler blue in the shadows, the trees look deep and thick. I like to let the colours bleed into each other while the paper is still damp. This creates a soft look that feels more natural than hard edges everywhere.

Someone in the workshop asked me how to make the water look like it is moving. The trick is to use horizontal strokes and leave small bits of white paper showing through. These little white gaps look like sparkles on the surface. For the dark ripples, I used a thick mix of neutral tint and cobalt blue. You must work quickly here to keep the brushwork fresh. If you go over it too many times, the water starts to look muddy and heavy.

The red roof on the right is a small but important detail. I used cadmium red to give a splash of warm colour against all those greens and blues. It draws your eye into the village. For the very final touches, I used a tiny bit of white paint to sharpen the masts on the boats. It is a simple scene, but it teaches us so much about balance and light. I really enjoyed painting this with my students.