Water & Reflections Masterclass: From Realism to Abstraction

Dive into the expressive world of water and reflection in this immersive two-day masterclass with artist Alanna Peters. Designed for intermediate to advanced painters, this course explores how to translate water’s translucence, movement, and mood into powerful visual language—blending realism with abstraction. Discover new ways of seeing and painting one of nature’s most evocative subjects.

Water has a way of inviting us to pause and look a little closer-at shifting light, subtle movement, and the quiet beauty of reflection. Over two days with artist Alanna Peters, you’ll have the chance to slow down and explore these qualities through paint. Together, students will look at water not just as a subject, but as a living surface-one that holds colour, shape, and memory in unexpected ways.

Alanna will share her approach to observing and translating water’s complexity, guiding you through exercises that balance realism with abstraction. You’ll have space to experiment, make discoveries, and find your own way of expressing the translucence, motion, and reflective qualities of water.

Observe and interpret the unique qualities of water and its reflections in various lighting.
Experiment with techniques that blend realism and abstraction to capture movement and depth.
Use colour, value, and brushwork to express transparency and the play of light on water.
Compose paintings that evoke the fluidity and atmosphere of water in motion.
Develop your own visual language for painting water through guided exercises and personal exploration.
Complete at least one painting that reflects your individual response to water as a subject.

Painting support:

Please bring your preferred choice of support in a manageable size no smaller than 8”x10” and no bigger than 18”x24’. I will bring a 14”x18” size

Primed canvas
Primed painting board
My preference is for aluminum ACM panels which is what I will bring

Also bring a painting paper pad 8”x10” or 11”x14” so we can do some smaller colour theory and technique practice.

Paints:

I will be using oils paints but will make suggestions for acrylic users as to how to mimic oils. It won’t however work exactly the same as oil, but you can get good results as well. You are also welcome to try water based oils if you prefer, but some techniques may not work the same as with regular oils.

If you are using oils:

Please bring an odourless and preferably non toxic solvent and linseed oil.

I use Chelsea fat or lavender spike oil https://www.chelseaclassicalstudio.com/

If you are using acrylics:

Please bring a medium like Golden medium retarder (https://www.deserres.ca/products/golden-retarder?variant=39362087551109)

so you can slow the rate of drying which can help with mixing and glazing.

Paint colours:

Basic:

Titanium white
Ultramarine blue
Lemon yellow
Payne’s grey
Naples yellow
Burnt umber
Burnt sienna
Phthalo blue

Nice to have:

Colbalt teal
Radiant turquoise
Kings blue
Radiant blue
Cadmium red
Sap greem

Brushes:

Please bring a variety of sizes and shapes. Ideally having approximately two brushes per size so you can have dark and light brushes on the go at the same time and won’t have to clean them as much.

0 rounds are great for small details
6, 8, 10 filbert are good for laying in the colour
12 rounds are great for blocking larger areas
A very soft blending brush (can just be a soft brush you have). I use Mundy mops https://www.rosemaryandco.com/mundy-mops

Palette:

Bring a palette preferably no smaller than 11”x14” size so you have room to mix. Or alternately bring palette paper so you can have a few sheets on the go.

I use a Sta-wet palette with a glass palette insert https://www.deserres.ca/products/sta-wet-palette?variant=39426320171141

This is great for both oils and acrylics as it keeps the paint moist longer and can be left overnight and used the next day.