Before painting the waterdrop, observe the reaction of water
on the plant surface. Different surfaces hold different shaped drops and some surfaces repel water so no drops form. Take some water and drop it on to the leaf surface and observe the shape and size of the drop the water forms.
Think about suitability. Some flowers and leaves are not associated with waterdrops, while others such as camellias or roses are often represented with drops.
The drops should not be too focal. The outline should be darker than the surface colour and the initial outline should be very fine. If the colour is too dark, or the final drop is too dark, the area will become very focal and the eye will be drawn directly to the drop.
Waterdrops should blend in with the subject, and the subject colour should be seen through the centre of the drop.
NOTE: The examples have hard edges only to distinguish the different tones. When painting, these edges will be blended.
Outline the droplet shape in a darker colour to the surface area. If painting a droplet on a leaf, the outline will be a darker shade of green than the leaf. The addition of a minute amount of Indigo Blue to a green leaf colour is useful.
To outline the drop, use a very fine brush such as a size 0 to paint a thin, even line. The use of a magnifying glass at this stage is helpful.
Using the droplet examples above, paint the upper section in a darker surface colour, as well as the underneath shadow colour. The shadow colour is what makes the drop appear rounded and three-dimensional.
Paint the lower section in White (Gouache or Titanium white).
Blend the edges of the upper and lower sections and allow the surface colour to remain the centre section.
Add a small dot of White for the circular reflection in the upper section, and more white if required on the underneath edge just above the shadow.
To show the drop is transparent, paint a very tiny amount with a more transparent white application just under the drop, in the shadow.
STEP ONE
Outline where you want the drop to appear.
STEP TWO
Paint the upper third of the drop darker than the leaf colour. Paint a shadow under the drop.
STEP THREE
Blend the darker area into the leaf surface colour.
STEP FOUR
Add white opaque paint for the underneath highlight.
STEP FIVE
Blend the highlight.
STEP SIX
Add a highlight from the light source at the top of the drop.
STEP SEVEN
Add a tiny highlighted reflection in the shadow area. Note the vein is seen through the drop.
