Between the Sun and the Moon – Sunset, Sunday, 23 June 2013

William Van Doren, BETWEEN THE SUN AND THE MOON. Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

The sun was way way down behind a massive cloud wall in the west, and from where I was I couldn’t see the much-anticipated “super” moon rise, so I split the difference, as they say, to the south.

Under Sail – Moonrise, Saturday, 22 June 2013

William Van Doren, UNDER SAIL. Moonrise from Old Haven Beach, Mathews County, Va. Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

This was the view looking in the opposite direction from my previous painting, on the Chesapeake Bay. The moon became much brighter, of course, but I love this early phase when it just barely seems to emerge from the sky.

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.