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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Entries in Woodberry Forest School (9)

Thursday
Sep012011

Meanwhile, Outside the Party (Sunset, Wednesday, 31 August 2011)

William Theodore Van Doren, MEANWHILE, OUTSIDE THE PARTY (Sunset from Madison Mills, Madison County, Va.) Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

I wasn’t able to post last night because I was at a party out in Madison County, near Orange – at Woodberry Forest. Any inconvenience was more than compensated for by their enormous view of the horizon.

Sunday
Feb272011

Blue Ridges (Sunset, Saturday, 26 February 2011)

William Van Doren, BLUE RIDGES (Sunset from Madison Mills, Madison County, Va.) Oil on watercolor block, 13 x 19.

I was standing, finishing a sketch of this when my friend I hadn’t seen since 30 years ago in L.A. drove up and gave me a lift to the gallery, where she toured the exhibit. The show, Moment & Horizon: The 365 Sunsets of 2010, is open this afternoon and all day tomorrow, its final day.

Monday
Feb212011

Last Week (to 2/28) for the Exhibition “Moment & Horizon: The 365 Sunsets of 2010”

Exhibition details here, plus the much-needed directions.

Sunday
Feb132011

Cinema Verité

A brief introduction to the sunset painting series, with excerpts from the gallery talk at the opening of “Moment & Horizon: The 365 Sunsets of 2010,” an exhibition running through February 28th, 2011.

Saturday
Jan222011

“What Do You Do Every Single Day?”

Linda Larson Hogan, a photographer who covered the opening reception for “Moment & Horizon: The 365 Sunsets of 2010,” reflects on implications of the show here.

Friday
Jan142011

Opening Reception, “Moment & Horizon: The 365 Sunsets of 2010”

Tonight’s the night for the opening of the big show.