A lot has to do with the artist's internal vision. What was the overall 'feel' of the painting? Water, especially, can take many forms... it's dynamic. Personally, I love some of the Victorian paintings with turbulent green ocean water with huge plumes of spray. Lake or river water can be as reflective as a mirror, clear as glass, or anywhere in between, with currents, or perfectly still. It depends on the body of water, the angle of the light, and weather conditions, all of which set a mood.

Skin textures can be even more complex. The texture used for a poor, down-trodden figure would be much different from that of a heavily made up celebrity. Some artist prefer the bare, flawed realistic textures, others the look of smooth perfection. The trick is to breathe life into both.