New Heaven from Old Haven – Sunset, Saturday, 22 June 2013

William Van Doren, NEW HEAVEN FROM OLD HAVEN. Sunset from Old Haven Beach, Mathews County, Va. Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

From Old Haven Beach, near Mathews, Virginia, where my family used to go camping in fairly primitive style every summer. Now called South Haven; maybe someone didn’t want an “old” beach. My parents also honeymooned there, so ... it’s old enough.

A Midsummer Night’s Scene – Sunset, Friday, 21 June 2013

William Van Doren, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S SCENE. Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

Painting proved difficult to photograph; colors actually blend much more gradually than this.

Turn Left at Twilight – Sunset, Thursday, 20 June 2013

William Van Doren, TURN LEFT AT TWILIGHT. Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

Waited a little longer, and looked a little farther south.

Open Late – Sunset, Wednesday, 19 June 2013

William Van Doren, OPEN LATE. Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

The difference between 8:37 and 8:41 p.m. was remarkable, as the sky opened up, although the mountains were still mostly covered. This was a case where the practice of doing a smaller oil sketch at sunset and letting the experience of both the sunset and the first painting sort of ferment helped create something that felt both more conscious and more spontaneous.

Open Late (Oil Sketch) – Sunset, Wednesday, 19 June 2013

William Van Doren, OPEN LATE (SKETCH). Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on watercolor block, 11 x 15.

A first oil sketch for a painting that will post tomorrow. Wanted a title for James Gandolfini, but the only Tony S. thing I could think to say is that I “dweigned” to paint this.

Myriad Harbor – Sunset, Tuesday, 18 June 2013

William Van Doren, MYRIAD HARBOR. Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

The New Pornographers, “Myriad Harbour”: I said to Carl, Look up for once/ And see just how the sun sets in the sky.