Whin-swept as much as windswept the slopes of the Mournes are scented and brightened by the common gorse for much of the year but especially now in the spring. Thriving in poor soil and harsh conditions the whins provide a valuable support for wildlife. In the past whins had many uses, even pulped on a whin-stone to condition horses, today its no longer crushed for fodder but cursed as a nuisance. Categorised as a fire climax plant the seedpods are stimulated to open following a fire. Its highly flammable nature is often exploited but it vigorously returns and defies any attempts to eradicate it. Whins also have a tendency to clump together and form impenetrable barriers drawing in unwary hikers until the choice of going forward or backtracking are equally painful. In the countryside the clumps of gorse stand out sharply against the hillsides, enriching the view. The same is true in a landscape painting; rather than trying to faithfully reproduce every colour in nature, a painting works better when variations of a single colour are allowed to dominate the composition. Cool greens and blues, used to paint the sky, water, foliage and distant hills are often chosen as the dominant colour in a landscape composition. The choice helps to give a greater impact to small areas of contrast composed of warmer reds and yellows. The splash of yellow spilling over the stone walls was certainly welcome when I was asked to paint this green roofed cottage and helped prevent the foreground areas from merging into the surrounding foliage; in addition the red markings on the backs of the sheep enliven the painting because they are surrounded by so much green. Whins are no longer used to shine a horses coat but for landscape painters the whins still have their uses, doubtless easy on the eye but certainly painful everywhere else
If you are interested in the sketches you can contact Eamonn by ringing 07962 189132