How do you create water effects with oil pastels?

I'm doing an illustration from the book A Seperate Peace for an Honors English II project and will be using oil pastels instead of the usual box of colored pencils. My main problem is figuring out how to color the river with the pastels so it will look at least a BIT realistic. Any suggestions?How do you create water effects with oil pastels?
Water reflects what is near it. Plants,trees,flowers,bridges all cast a reflection plus the sky above. The reflected objects are usually darker in color by several shades and their form is distorted by the movement of the water. If it is a fast moving river then it will reflect blue in motion and some sparkles of the actual water color. Think pale bottle green to brownish green. Also fast moving water ripples,foams or splashes. This is painted white with pale tints of ambient color. Meaning color of the light or colors close by.


You can take a brush with paint thinner and wipe across oil pastel. The thinner melts the binder in the pastel and spreads the color in a loose,juicy manner. Try it on a piece of scrap paper and see if you like the effect.