Columbian Summer (Sunset, Tuesday, 12 October 2010)

William Van Doren, COLUMBIAN SUMMER (Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va.) Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

I’ve been thinking about the sunrise, actually, on the 12th of October, 1492, at Samana Cay, now thought to be the first place Columbus landed. What a bittersweet moment, the last sunrise of pre-European America. I’m not wild about the concept of ‘Columbian’ anything, but ... here we are.

PreColumbian Summer (Sunset, Saturday, 9 October 2010)

William Van Doren, PRECOLUMBIAN SUMMER (Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va.) Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

A third day of warmth added rose, smoke and absinthe to the palette. We haven’t had a frost yet, and therefore can’t call this Indian Summer, so the title is a sort of reverse compliment to the upcoming holiday.