Creating a painting with water reflections has some basic rules – based on the real world and some simple physics. (Really simple. No need to run away. Honest.)
Angle of Reflections in Water
Simple answer here. Down. The reflections are heading towards your eyes. The viewer is always at the bottom of the painting.
Size of Reflections
Life size! Whatever the size above the water, so it is in the water. However, this is not to say that both are given equal weight in the painting.
Example one: Standard horizon line, both above the subject above and the reflection in the water are fully visible.
Example two: Only the beginning of the trunks are visible here. Much more of the trunk reflection shows in the frame. However, it is still the accurate sizing (not bigger or smaller trunks).
Next week’s post will be about the ripples in reflections. And, check out last week’s post about Values in Water Reflections.