Water is not an easy subject to paint for artists whether they take the abstract or the realistic approach. How do they capture the movement? How do they capture the reflection? How can they convey the suggestion of depth? How do they depict the underwater world?
Probably one of the most iconic water paintings in history is Water Lilies by Claude Monet but other artists from the dawn of arts to today have been inspired and challenged to paint water in various shapes and forms: sea, river, lake, ponds, water drop, water in transparent bottles, waves, rain, etc.
If the challenge comes from its transparency, water gives artists a variety of options as to what to paint and how. En plain air they capture the colours around it reflected on its surface like the movement of the skies and trees by the lakes. In still life painting they try to convey the transparency of the water and the recipient that holds it; in abstract paintings they capture the essence of water whether it is free flowing or stagnant; in mixed media pieces they experiment with various techniques and mediums to capture its texture and transparency.
But no matter what style and medium artists use, water is a never ending source of inspiration that continues to find its place in visual arts today offering viewers a great variety to admire.
