Welcome to The Very Rich Hours, where you can find postings of each day’s sunset. I’ve been painting every sunset since January 1, 2006.


This journal is named for the 15th-century illuminated manuscript The Very Rich Hours of the Duke of Berry (Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry).


Most of these sunsets are seen from the same vantage point, facing the Blue Ridge, north of Charlottesville, Virginia. Even when I’m traveling and the sunset has to be done later from sketches, all of these works are painted “alla prima” — wet in wet, without later revision or overpainting, in about the same time it takes to watch the sun go down.


Thanks for your interest in this work. To receive each day’s sunset painting in your Facebook timeline, “Like” The Very Rich Hours.

 

William Van Doren

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TABULA ROSA (THE RED SERIES)

VAN DOREN ON THE SUNSET SERIES

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TWEETS ILLUSTRATED

Wednesday
Jun192013

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, another painting from tonight’s sky will post tomorrow. Wanted a title for James Gandolfini, but the only Tony S. thing I could think to say is that I’ve “dweined” to paint this.

Wednesday
Jun192013

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.

Tuesday
Jun182013

Myriad Harbor (Sketch) – Sunset, Tuesday, 18 June 2013

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

An initial oil sketch for the painting of tonight’s sunset.

Tuesday
Jun182013

Rumble Jumble – Sunset, Monday, 17 June 2013

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

Thunder, some rain, and a little bit of everything at sunset, including a fragment of rainbow almost directly overhead.

Sunday
Jun162013

Prelude to a Slow Rain – Sunset, Sunday, 16 June 2013

William Van Doren, PRELUDE TO A SLOW RAIN. Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

Saturday
Jun152013

Brights and Flats – Sunset, Saturday, 15 June 2013

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