Zouaves (Sunset, Tuesday, 28 September 2010)

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

The clouds appeared in so many different styles of dress, they made a most irregular army.

Painted Out by Haze (Sunset, Thursday, 23 September 2010)

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

It was a very quiet sunset, sunken in haze after a very hot first day of autumn (at least 95° at the airport nearby), so it seemed like a good time to experiment. This painting was done in an entirely different way than any of the other sunsets. Not what I had in mind, but I suppose that’s what happens in experiments.

I’ll be traveling tomorrow into Sunday, and may not be able to post the sunset paintings until Sunday or Monday.

Deference to the Moon (Sunset, Wednesday, 22 September 2010)

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

The sun left quietly, with the full moon rising opposite for the Autumn Moon Festival.

Slash & Burn (Sunset, Tuesday, 21 September 2010)

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

I figured a little deliberate vandalism might not hurt. I know the dark blue marks in my paintings in some way are meant to indicate “the other side,” but I’m not sure why I’m driven to make that flying shape, which has been showing up in some form or other for me for at least 25 years.

Gone in 60 Seconds (Sunset, Monday, 20 September 2010)

William Van Doren, GONE IN 60 SECONDS (Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va.) Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

There was color in the sky, I looked down for a moment, and when I looked up, it was gone. Hence the title. I did try to retrieve it. While I was painting, a song by The Black Keys came up with a line I can’t seem to get tired of: “She’s long gone, like Moses through the corn.”

The Rosy Benediction (Sunset, Friday, 17 September 2010)

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

Too bad it’s not Henry Miller’s birthday – that would be the day after Christmas, as he discussed at some length – I might have a better excuse for my title. But, you know, painting a sunset as or just after it’s happening and then naming it – I mean, really ... Anyway, I thought this title better than “The Sun, Rose, Fell.”