Painting a sunrise on location like this Oman Watercolour Sketchbook is one of the hardest challenges as a watercolourist. The main problem is that the colours change so quickly. By the time you have laid your first wash and waited for it to dry. The rising sun will have brought a complete change to the scenario before your eyes. One can quicken the process by working on a paper which you have already tinted. This will allow you to skip a step and crack on with the next wash.
For this particular scene in Oman contained in my Oman Watercolour Sketchbook. I went with a friend who took me to a remote spot early in the morning whilst it was still dark. Before the sun rose, I anticipated what the initial colours were going to be and started painting in semi darkness. It was very hot, temperatures already in the high twenties, so the paint dried quickly. Just before the sun came up over the sea, it was already starting to tint the sky. It was a fugitive pink which I was able to lay in along with the gentlest touch of Winsor and Newton Manganese Blue for the sea. I allowed parts of the first wash of Cadmium Lemon to show through which helped to create further mood and atmosphere.
Oman has some very distinctive rock formations throughout it’s stunning coastline. The rock on the top right of the page reminded me of the profile of the Egyptian Sphinx, hence the title Sphinx towards Muttrah. This is one of 40 paintings which feature in my signed limited edition Sketchbook of Oman.
The sketchbook is now available online or at my Studio and Gallery and Gallery in Ponteland.