Binnian

lower square Boirche looked down on his cattle and kin from the summit of Binnian. But to my mind the track leading into the mountains from the Oldtown road is more reminiscent of a western than the setting for a Gaelic saga; rock strewn, flanked by steep cliff faces and capped with high tors, John Wayne wouldn't look out of place riding up through the Annalong valley. I had planned to climb Binnian via the North Tor and despite consulting two guide books and a map I still managed to choose a route that was steeper than I had intended. I was relieved when I eventually managed to get up on to the ridge and finish the walk; finishing a painting can prove even more problematic. Simply knowing when to stop can cause a great deal of anguish and often results in an overworked piece. WB Yeats remarked that his father painted well in the morning but spent the afternoon ruining his work. The problem often stems from not having a clear or perhaps any idea of where you are going from the outset. In this painting I wanted the horse being steered through the street to create a strong focal point; I also wanted to use subdued colours and loose washes to give emphasis to the more controlled work. I worked out the composition using a sketch, concentrating on the shapes and the placement of the figures in relation to the building; I then added a monotone wash to resolve the dark and light areas. After transferring the drawing to watercolour paper I was able to take more risks with the actual painting and produce a loose feel. I could have worked up other areas like the buildings or the old man in the foreground but this would not have added anything to the painting and more than likely would have ruined the overall effect. I signed the painting and put it behind glass to curb any temptation to fiddle with the image at a later date. Before leaving Binnian I spent some time exploring the granite tors, the weird rock formations which would be perfect for a Wild West shootout; indeed there are plenty of horses grazing on the lower slopes of the Mournes and it shouldn't be too hard to find a few cowboys.
If you are interested in a painting you can contact Eamonn by ringing 07962 189132

From the summit of Binnian
Boirche looked down on his cattle and kin from the summit of Binnian. But to my mind the track leading into the mountains from the Oldtown road is more reminiscent of a western than the setting for a Gaelic saga; rock strewn, flanked by steep cliff faces and capped with high tors, John Wayne wouldn't look out of place riding up through the Annalong valley. I had planned to climb Binnian via the North Tor and despite consulting two guide books and a map I still managed to choose a route that was steeper than I had intended. I was relieved when I eventually managed to get up on to the ridge and finish the walk; finishing a painting can prove even more problematic. Simply knowing when to stop can cause a great deal of anguish and often results in an overworked piece. WB Yeats remarked that his father painted well in the morning but spent the afternoon ruining his work. The problem often stems from not having a clear or perhaps any idea of where you are going from the outset. In this painting I wanted the horse being steered through the street to create a strong focal point; I also wanted to use subdued colours and loose washes to give emphasis to the more controlled work. I worked out the composition using a sketch, concentrating on the shapes and the placement of the figures in relation to the building; I then added a monotone wash to resolve the dark and light areas. After transferring the drawing to watercolour paper I was able to take more risks with the actual painting and produce a loose feel. I could have worked up other areas like the buildings or the old man in the foreground but this would not have added anything to the painting and more than likely would have ruined the overall effect. I signed the painting and put it behind glass to curb any temptation to fiddle with the image at a later date. Before leaving Binnian I spent some time exploring the granite tors, the weird rock formations which would be perfect for a Wild West shootout; indeed there are plenty of horses grazing on the lower slopes of the Mournes and it shouldn't be too hard to find a few cowboys. If you are interested in a painting you can contact Eamonn by ringing 07962 189132

McCroryArt.com				Email	*