In a Drought, the Rain Begins (Sunset, Sunday, 26 September 2010)

William Van Doren, IN A DROUGHT, THE RAIN BEGINS (Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va.) Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

The Containment of Overcast (Sunset, Tuesday, 24 August 2010)

William Van Doren, The Containment of Overcast (Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va.) Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

After looking at last night’s attempt many times, as I kept passing by it, each time I had to admit: Yep, definitely airbrushed custom van material. However, I do think the experiment broke a little something loose that helped in the subsequent painting, shown here.

Clouds Over Piney Mountain. Sunset, Wednesday, 18 August 2010

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

My vantage point here is a few hundred yards to the right, or north, of my usual spot, so that I could look toward the sunset and also get nearby Piney Mountain. Clouds are low – Piney Mountain’s only around 1100 feet, or less than 700 feet higher than where I’m standing – and the patch of blue is about the only break there’s been in the clouds all day. Light rain and mist.

Sunset, Sunday, 15 August 2010

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

‘Sinister Kid’ Sunset, Wednesday, 4 August 2010

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

This was one of the craziest sunsets I can remember. Fifteen minutes earlier we were drowning in a violent thunderstorm and heavy downpours. Just at sunset, with rain and lightning still happening here in the foreground, the horizon lifted. I had a difficult time believing it, much less facing how to handle it.

I needed music. The I-Ching (iPod) was obliging, starting me with Van Morrison’s “Tore Down à la Rimbaud,” which pretty much describes my psychological starting point. Next, “Smoky Places” by The Corsairs – exactly. By the time I was finishing and signing, “Sinister Kid” by The Black Keys was somehow really the signature for the piece, not in a literal way, but better, in the energy.

Then, while wrapping up, it was nice to have Clarence Carter, “Slip Away” ...

Sunset, Saturday, 31 July 2010

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

Overcast, light rain.