Sun of Loudoun County – Sunset, Tuesday, 17 June 2014

William Van Doren, SUN OF LOUDOUN COUNTY. Sunset from Route 15, Loudoun County, Va. Oil on Arches, 17 x 23.

My brother Mike and I watched and talked about this very hot, hazy sunset for quite a while as we rode (he was driving) from Leesburg toward Haymarket, Virginia. We talked about the colors, including a strange mix of metallic gray and lavender. In the end it’s all about what happens when the brush gets in your hand, and I’m afraid not all of our colors made the cut! Also, I usually try to avoid “cute” titles, but I'm a native of Leesburg and this was all I came up with.

Words and Pictures – Sunset, Monday, 16 June 2014

William Van Doren, WORDS AND PICTURES. Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on Arches, 17 x 23.

Part of my process, whether I paint five minutes or five days after the sun goes down, is (a) remembering what colors certain notations on my sketches stand for and (b) finding out what pigments may be involved. In this case, we had something called “vague blue.” Also, “swervy curvy cirrus with blue” (represented here and there as “sccwb”) and “roseyish thicker cirrus shield.” Exactly.

Shouldering Toward Solstice – Sunset, Sunday, 15 June 2014

William Van Doren, SHOULDERING TOWARD SOLSTICE. Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on Arches, 17 x 23.

I always know we’re getting close to the summer solstice when sunset starts to slide toward the right (north) shoulder of the ridge.

Surfaces and Deeps – Sunset (Twilight), Saturday, 14 June 2014

William Van Doren, SURFACES AND DEEPS. Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on Arches, 17 x 23.

At the Corner of Sunset & Lightning – Sunset, Friday, 13 June 2014

William Van Doren, AT THE CORNER OF SUNSET & LIGHTNING. Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on Arches, 17 x 23.

Rain on the Blue Ridge – Sunset, Thursday, 12 June 2014

William Van Doren, RAIN ON THE BLUE RIDGE. Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on Arches, 17 x 23.