World Inspired Landscapes: Oman

 

Who would have thought that whales could swim in the desert? Well not exactly, but off the coast of Oman, a mostly desert country in the middle east, there is a resident, non-migratory pod of humpback whales living in the Arabian sea. Oman is technically the oldest country in the middle east, where most of the countries were formed officially in the time of the world wars. There is evidence of humanity in Oman going back for many thousands or tens of thousands of years. The whales were probably around for awhile too. With its economy mostly based on oil extraction, Oman also does well with agricultural exports and tourism which has been growing. Hence the focus on whales, they seem to be a tourist draw for global whale watchers, much like what we have here in the st Lawrence river towards Tadousac Quebec. 

In art there is a myth about warm colour projecting forward and cool colours receding into the background. While it may be true that mountains in the distance are more grey and tinted blue, the myth doesn't help much beyond that. This painting is a good myth-buster example, in the foreground you have the coldest set of blues you can have, with phthalo turquoise (PB17), sapphire (PB15) and indo blue (PB60). The background has really warm, contrasting orange-yellow dunes. There is no doubt about the foreground projecting forward, since you practically have a whale's eye in your face! I think that creating the illusion of distance is more about compositions, although its true that colours are desaturated on the horizon and can take on a blue tone depending on the cloud conditions and time of day.

World Inspired Landscapes: Oman, watercolour 3 x 9" watercolour paper, July 2024 (No. 3854)