Lake Como, watercolour, 211⁄4x291⁄4in (54x74cm)
There is nothing more beautiful than a body of water. As a matter of interest, 71 per cent of the earth is covered in water, about 97 per cent of which is saline. Of the remaining three per cent, only one per cent is in lakes and rivers – maybe that’s why we value these so much.
The beauty and attraction of fresh water, or any water for that matter, is that the light of the sky is reflected from it and bounced back to the viewer. The additional fascination of a still body of water is the mystery of what lies below the surface and this intrigue causes the viewer to stare at it, mesmerised. The light reflected can be morning or evening light, a sunset or sunrise, overcast or misty light. The fascination with painting a body of water is in trying to capture this magic light and the consequential reflections, colour, movement or stillness, its breadth or intimacy, its warmth or coldness and its wetness!