>>7620603
>Think of the top plane of water as a flat surface
>Create little peaks and valleys in the surface to simulate the turbulence of the water
>The sharper bolder white highlights represent the apex of those peaks
>The water is blurred and softly painted deeper and darker in the valleys
Check pic related for the method executed in simpler shapes.
Sometimes referencing other art is more useful than a photograph because you can see what the artist has saved and emphasized and see what they've intentionally let go.