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How to Draw Realistic Water (Part 3): Critique, Refinements & A Successful Finish

Welcome to the concluding installment of our series, 'How to Draw Realistic Water,' following Daryl Cogavin's inspiring artistic journey!

In Part 2, we witnessed Daryl apply Peter Weatherill's expert techniques and make fantastic headway with the challenging water elements in her coloured pencil landscape.

Now, with the main areas of her painting established, Daryl moves into the crucial phases of seeking detailed critique, making thoughtful refinements, and pushing through to a successful finish.

Join us as we explore these final vital steps and discover the remarkable outcome of her perseverance.

New to this series or missed an earlier part?

Start with Part 1: How to Draw Realistic Water: An Artist's Journey Begins

Catch up on Part 2: How to Draw Realistic Water: Applying Expert Advice to the Swirls

A Call for Constructive Criticism when Refining the Flow

After more dedicated work, Daryl reached a significant milestone – all the paper was covered. This is often the point where you step back to assess the overall piece and begins the crucial process of refinement. Daryl shared a closer view and a specific request for feedback:

I'm done as far as covering all the paper, but now it needs tweaking so I'd really appreciate any comments, particularly about anything that jumps out as not quite right.

As usual my photo looks a bit blue. Bear in mind that the paper is actually white. I don't know if I need a better camera or just better skills.

My notes on the Iterative Process and Pinpointing Areas to Improve

Daryl's update touches on some really important stages and common experiences in creating detailed artwork:

  • The 'Paper Covered' Milestone: Getting all the paper covered with initial layers is a significant achievement in coloured pencil work, which can be time-consuming. It allows you to see the piece as a whole for the first time, with all major elements in place, even if they aren't fully developed.
  • Entering the 'Tweaking' Phase: This is where the magic often happens in realism. It involves patiently adjusting values, enhancing contrasts, refining edges, deepening or subtly shifting colours, and adding those small details that bring a piece to life. It’s an iterative process of observation and adjustment.
  • Seeking Specific Feedback: Daryl’s request for comments on 'anything that jumps out as not quite right' is an excellent way to solicit constructive criticism. When you've been intensely focused on a piece, it can be hard to see it objectively. Fresh eyes can often spot inconsistencies or areas for improvement that you might have overlooked.
  • The Perennial Challenge of Photographing Artwork: Her comment about the photo looking 'a bit blue' and questioning her camera or skills is something almost we can all relate to! Achieving accurate colour representation in photographs of artwork is a persistent technical challenge. Factors like lighting conditions, camera settings, and even the camera's sensor can all affect the outcome. It's often more about understanding these variables than a lack of skill.

At this stage, having specific, actionable feedback can be incredibly helpful to guide those final, crucial adjustments.

Peter offered a critique

Peter began his critique with characteristic encouragement before guiding Daryl towards deeper reflection on her artistic goals for the piece:

A closer look at Daryl's progress as she moves into the 'tweaking' phase, with initial layers applied across the water and surrounding elements.

Hi Daryl, looking good! A lovely picture. 

Firstly, I think that you need to decide what sort of an image you are looking for in the completed work. The picture 'as is' is a super version of the original photo in a light, fantasy way.

As I said originally when you were working an early stage, I can image a Unicorn coming out from behind that tree to drink from the steam. 

Now for the weasel word ... however...

If we compare the original photo side by side with the image to date we can see that it lacks something. 

Note: Peter then went on to share more photos to illustrate his points, which we will look at shortly. But first...

Final Touches And Refinements

The true value of a critique often lies in how you digest the advice and apply it to your work. Daryl thoughtfully considered Peter's suggestions and set about making adjustments to her painting.

She shared her thoughts and updated progress:

Thanks Peter, that is very useful to see them side by side like that.

I have spent a bit of time darkening and strengthening a few areas, particularly the foreground water, the mossy rock on the bottom left corner and some of the other rocks. 

Daryl's painting after implementing Peter's suggestions, showing increased depth and contrast in the foreground water and rocks.

Daryl’s proactive response to Peter's critique is commendable and demonstrates a wonderful openness to learning:

  • Appreciating the Method: Her acknowledgement that seeing the images side-by-side was 'very useful' underscores the power of that particular feedback technique. Visual comparisons often make abstract suggestions much clearer and easier to understand.
  • Targeted Adjustments: It's clear Daryl focused on the key areas Peter highlighted for adding 'punch' – the foreground water and the rocks. By 'darkening and strengthening' these areas, she would be working directly on improving the contrast and, therefore, the sense of light and depth in the piece.
  • Visible Development: Comparing Daryl's painting after these recent adjustments with the one Peter previously reviewed, we can typically expect to see a tangible difference. The foreground should appear richer, the rocks more solid, and the lighter areas of water should, by contrast, seem more luminous. These are the practical results of applying sound artistic principles.
  • The Courage to Revisit: It takes a certain amount of courage and humility to revisit a piece that you might have considered nearly finished. Daryl’s willingness to go back in and make these changes, even after the effort already expended, is a hallmark of an artist truly committed to growth and achieving the best possible outcome for their work.

This stage of acting on feedback is where significant leaps in understanding and skill can occur. It’s one thing to hear advice, but another entirely to successfully integrate it into your own practice.

Final Adjustments and an Artist's Self-Critique

Even after successfully implementing Peter's advice and seeing improvements, an artist's eye continues to assess and refine. Daryl shared her final thoughts on the piece, highlighting areas she was pleased with and one particular element that still drew her critical attention, along with feedback from her art group appraisal.

She wrote:

My Notes on the Ever-Evolving Artwork and an Artist's Growth

Daryl's concluding remarks on this piece are so insightful and reflect the ongoing journey of artistic development:

  • Developing a Critical Eye: Even when others praise parts of her work (like Jean Canter saying the water was 'ok' – which from a respected critic is good validation!), Daryl herself identified areas she wanted to improve further, like the 'dark speckled tree leaves'. This shows she's developing her own critical judgment, a vital skill for any artist.
  • The Iterative Nature of Art: Her process with the tree – identifying the problem (too solid, wrong green), planning solutions (Blu-Tack, electric eraser, different greens, more light patches), and then executing those changes – is a perfect example of the iterative nature of creating art. It’s rarely a straight line from start to finish.
  • Learning from All Feedback: It's interesting how Jean's critique zeroed in on the same area Daryl was unhappy with. This can be validating, confirming the artist's own instincts and giving them the confidence to make bold changes.
  • Problem-Solving in Action: Daryl didn’t just see a problem; she actively sought solutions. Her willingness to do 'serious erasing' and rework an area demonstrates commitment and a refusal to settle for something she felt wasn't quite right. This hands-on problem-solving is where so much learning occurs.
  • The Importance of Value and Colour Harmony: Her assessment that the tree was 'too solid' (a value issue, needing more light) and 'maybe the wrong green' (a colour harmony issue) shows she's thinking about key artistic principles.
  • The Artist's Satisfaction: Ultimately, her comment that 'I think it looks better now' is the most important outcome. While external validation is encouraging, the artist's own satisfaction with their work and the knowledge they've pushed their skills is paramount.
  • A Note on Reproduction: Daryl’s final comment about the scan quality is another reminder of the practical challenges we face in sharing our work accurately. It’s good she found a way to get a better representation of her colours.

Through this entire process with the waterfall painting, Daryl has shown incredible openness to learning, a willingness to tackle challenges head-on, and the perseverance to see her vision through to a stage she was happier with. The journey itself, with all its feedback loops and revisions, perfectly illustrate how artists develop their skills and learn to 'paint water' – or indeed, any complex subject.

Peter's Concluding Thoughts

To round off this insightful learning experience, Peter offered a final perspective on Daryl’s reworked painting, providing both validation and some timeless advice.

I like it a lot, Daryl.

Jean Canter was right about the tree and leaves. Your efforts to create a more random effect in the leaf cover have succeeded. 

I might have added darker areas where leaves overlap more densely, but there's always room to adjust.

Set the picture aside and look at it occasionally as you pass by. Within a day, you'll either be satisfied enough to sign it, or know exactly what needs changing. Take your time with the decision.

My notes on The Wisdom of Pausing and Reflecting

Peter’s final comments here are wonderfully insightful and encapsulate some profound truths about the artistic process:

  • Validation of Effort: His clear appreciation for the piece ('I like it a lot, Daryl') and his specific acknowledgement that her 'efforts to create a more random effect in the leaf cover have succeeded' provide really positive reinforcement. It’s always heartening when specific improvements you’ve worked hard on are noticed and validated.
  • Art is Never Truly 'Finished' (And That's Okay!): Peter’s gentle suggestion that he 'might have added darker areas where leaves overlap more densely, but there's always room to adjust,' is a comforting reminder. It implies that a piece of art can always be developed further, but it doesn't necessarily mean it has to be. The artist can choose their own stopping point.
  • The Power of Fresh Eyes: His advice to 'Set the picture aside and look at it occasionally as you pass by' is perhaps one of the most valuable tips any artist can receive. When you've been intensely focused on a piece, you lose objectivity. Stepping away for a while – hours, days, or even longer – allows you to see it with fresh eyes. This distance often makes it much clearer whether you're truly satisfied or if specific areas still call for attention.
  • Trust Your Gut: Ultimately, Peter empowers Daryl to 'take your time with the decision' and trust that she will 'either be satisfied enough to sign it, or know exactly what needs changing.' This places the final judgment back with the artist, where it belongs.

This entire exchange, from Daryl’s initial challenge to Peter's guidance, the community's support, and Daryl’s diligent application and self-critique, has been a fantastic illustration of how artists learn and grow.

It shows that tackling a difficult subject like water, or any complex element in a painting, is a journey of observation, experimentation, seeking and implementing feedback, and patient refinement.

What a wonderful and relatable process to witness!

Postscript: A Successful Outcome

And just when we thought Daryl's journey with this particular painting had drawn to a close, she shared some wonderful and surprising news that truly highlights the rewarding nature of artistic endeavour.

My husband tracked down the original photo of this on his computer and remembered it was taken in Ireland, near Glandalogh (not Wales as I had thought). 

I entered it into the art group exhibition last week, and it SOLD!

The Rewards of the Artistic Journey

What a truly brilliant outcome for Daryl! This news is the icing on the cake of her impressive artistic journey with this piece.

  • A Tangible Reward: For her painting to be selected for an exhibition and then to sell is a fantastic achievement and a wonderful piece of external validation for all her hard work, learning, and perseverance. It speaks to the quality of the finished piece and its appeal to others.
  • A Touch of Serendipity: The discovery of the photo's true origin in Ireland, near Glendalough, adds a lovely personal footnote to the story, reminding us that our inspirations can have their own histories waiting to be rediscovered.
  • The Journey's Culmination: Daryl's success beautifully underscores the value of the entire process we've followed on this page. From her initial apprehension about painting water, to seeking and thoughtfully applying Peter's expert advice, to engaging with community feedback, and her own diligent refinements – every step contributed to this successful outcome.
  • Inspiration for Others: This real-world success story serves as powerful inspiration. It shows that by embracing the learning process, being open to critique, and dedicating oneself to practice and improvement, aspiring artists can indeed achieve impressive results and the kind of recognition that comes with creating art that resonates with others.

Daryl’s journey in 'Learning to Paint Water' is a vivid reminder that dedication and a willingness to learn can transform challenges into triumphs. Congratulations, Daryl, on a well-deserved success!

We hope following Daryl's detailed journey has been inspiring and packed with useful insights for your own coloured pencil adventures!

Over to You!

Painting water is challenging but rewarding. Practice different techniques and learn from feedback to improve your work. Each piece you create helps you develop as an artist.

We’d love to see how you interpret these techniques! Feel free to use the Contact Us page to get in touch. 

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