Irises beside a Garden Pond

Purple irises lean over the near bank of a garden pond, with long sword-shaped leaves crossing in front of their stems. Pink water lilies sit on the calmer water to the right, and tall reeds rise beside a small wooden bridge in the distance. Moss-covered stones and a few ferns fill the lower left corner.

The pond reflects leaves, bridge rails and patches of blue sky, but ripples break each image into uneven pieces. Start with the large violet petals, using their yellow markings as small anchors. The leaves are narrow and overlapping, so the direction of each blade matters. Once the bank is together, the lilies, stones and repeated bridge boards give the reflective water a useful frame.