Photoshop Water Effect?

[Neobot]

Hey I have to paint a giant 4ft by 8ft painting for school and I have made this preliminary study
here (http://tn3-1.deviantart.com/300W/fs7.deviantart.com/i/2005/269/8/b/Hands_by_NeoBot.jpg)
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I have to paint the condemnation of Jesus and was thinking of The hands of Pilate washing his hands in water which turns into blood half way down the picture and spills onto a crown of thorns......
Just wondering how to paint water spilling over hands...
If someone could point me in a direction that isnt mucking about with filters (I actually need to paint this)
I'd be very thankful
:)

[Datameister]

You're right that you should avoid "mucking about with filters." It can stick out like a sore thumb.

My advice to you--take some photos of water running over hands and water falling. Study the way the light hits it and goes through it. I don't have any specific advice, though...anyone have experience with painting water like this?

[Dirk]

Mightbe this is a useful thing to read about?

Tutorial on Raindrops in PS 6 (http://www.photoshoptechniques.com/texp2/dropsptk.php)

[Datameister]

I think that qualifies under "mucking about with filters"...

[Dirk]

I'm not really sure, it doesn't involve much stuff that goes it's way with filters (except for the text that was used as an example in the end)

I think its not filter heavy for raindrops.

[Atreides]

A quick fix I always use for painting tears is just to imagine the water streak as a raised bump on the surface and use white to define it's lit edge. If you look at water drops on your shoulder in the shower it's a lot more complex but this does the trick if you don't overdo it.

http://www.gazler.com/users/atreides//factoryalice_closeup.jpg

If you really want to paint water better learn to paint translucent gems because it's a similar setup of deep shadows and specular highlights. And it's easier to do studies with coulour.