Sunset, Tuesday, 12 January 2010

William Theodore Van Doren. Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on watercolor block, 16 x 20.

At an intersection today when a massive bassline erupted from a car behind me. I think everyone had their windows up (35°F), so it wasn’t at any sort of pain threshold, but it was all the more impressive for that reason. It was a deep rolling subterranean temblor that traveled right up your brainstem and out your follicles. It was a bass that could style your hair.

I had just been listening to Robert Johnson and wondered what Bob would think if he were at the crossroads and heard this. But now on another channel I had Conway Twitty singing “It’s Only Make Believe,” and at times the oncoming waves of bass broke perfectly underneath the lines of the song. I have to tell you: It was fantastic. “It’s Only Make Believe” with a huge bassline could be something truly awesomely fine.

Sunset, Thursday, 6 August 2009

William Theodore Van Doren. Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on paper, 16 x 20.

So I’m chopping some really potent onions from Integral Yoga, and this doesn’t usually happen but tears are flooding down my face, the sunset (meaning the image I will want to paint) is happening unexpectedly early and is one of the strongest sunsets it seems like we’ve had in weeks, and the iPod has decided to throw down one of Don McLean’s major I’m-killing-you-softly ballads (“Crossroads,” as it happens), but I’m actually laughing because the tears have nothing to do with the beautiful sunset, or the song, or even with the following:

Oh, I’m scared of the middle place
Between light and nowhere.

                        “Hope There’s Someone” – Antony & The Johnsons

The sun goin’ down, boy
Dark gon’ catch me here.

                        “Cross Road Blues” (Take 2) – Robert Johnson