Twilight of a Storm (Sunset,Thursday, 25 August 2011)

William Theodore Van Doren, TWILIGHT OF A STORM (Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va.) Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

Twilight Jailbreak (Sunset, Sunday, 21 August 2011)

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

After sunset the light to the north finally broke through the post-storm clouds and haze.

Do the Continental (Sunset, Thursday, 18 August 2011)

William Theodore Van Doren, DO THE CONTINENTAL (Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va.) Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

Some skies are just very strange.

An Unexpected Moment in the Storm (Sunset, Sunday, 14 August 2011)

William Theodore Van Doren, AN UNEXPECTED MOMENT IN THE STORM (Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va.) Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

Our big storms still had hours to go when I went out to check the sunset horizon, which I assumed would be a wall of gray. This opening lasted for only another minute. The cloud draped over Piney Mountain really was at least that blue.

Surf’s Up (Sunset, Saturday, 13 August 2011)

William Theodore Van Doren, SURF’S UP (Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va.) Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

Storms approaching, enveloping the Blue Ridge – local Piney Mountain’s at right. Surf may have been up, but DSL’s been down, hence the delayed postings, coming to you courtesy of various wi-fi–enabled retail establishments.

Escape of the Crazy Red Ball (Sunset, Friday, 29 July 2011)

William Theodore Van Doren, ESCAPE OF THE CRAZY RED BALL (Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va.) Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

My wife, Laura, called on her way home about 20 minutes before sunset and said, “The sun’s a crazy red ball” – this with the emphasis on red, as in a police drama.

“It is?”

“Yes, it’s a crazy red ball in the sky, all big and red and pink.”

I went right out to see it, but it was gone . . .