Cloudy In Formation (Sunset, Wednesday, 13 October 2010)

William Van Doren, CLOUDY IN FORMATION (Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va.) Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

Columbian Summer (Sunset, Tuesday, 12 October 2010)

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

I’ve been thinking about the sunrise, actually, on the 12th of October, 1492, at Samana Cay, now thought to be the first place Columbus landed. What a bittersweet moment, the last sunrise of pre-European America. I’m not wild about the concept of ‘Columbian’ anything, but ... here we are.

Coloratura (Sunset, Monday, 11 October 2010)

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

I don’t know very much about opera, but sunset tonight was so crazy I thought it could have used a great soprano to sing it. I had in mind, of course, Dame Joan Sutherland (1926–2010).

Three Tens (Sunset, Sunday, 10 October 2010)

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

PreColumbian Summer (Sunset, Saturday, 9 October 2010)

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

A third day of warmth added rose, smoke and absinthe to the palette. We haven’t had a frost yet, and therefore can’t call this Indian Summer, so the title is a sort of reverse compliment to the upcoming holiday.

Before Nightfall (Sunset/Twilight, Friday, 8 October 2010)

William Van Doren, BEFORE NIGHTFALL (Sunset/Twilight from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va.) Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.