It’s a Blast – Sunset, Wednesday, 7 May 2014

William Van Doren, IT’S A BLAST. Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on Arches, 17 x 23.

Sometimes watching a sunset will inspire a title, then that title tends to drive the painting. For several nights my sketches have included the notation that certain colors have been “blasted” by the intensity of the sun.

Semi-Permeable – Sunset, Tuesday, 6 May 2014

William Van Doren, SEMI-PERMEABLE. Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on Arches, 17 x 23.

Two-Timer – Sunset, Monday, 5 May 2014

William Van Doren, TWO-TIMER. Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on Arches, 17 x 23.

Descender – Sunset, Monday, 21 April 2014

William Van Doren, DESCENDER. Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on Arches, 17 x 23.

Make-Up Test – Sunset/Twilight, Tuesday, 15 April 2014

William Van Doren, MAKE-UP TEST. Sunset from Stony Point, Albemarle County, Va. Oil on Arches, 17 x 23.

So, I was out in the field sketching the sunset on Tuesday for around 20 minutes, and the sky could be described as this gray, that gray, another gray, plus ... gray. The difficult decision many evenings is when to stop looking; I decided it wasn’t going to change. A while later I get a text from Laura, my wife, as she's headed home from town: “Gorgeous sunset!” WHAT???! Apparently, I missed a spectacular change that sometimes happens with multi-layered cloudy skies at twilight. OOPS. But, based on my notes and things Laura told me, I've made up for missing the sunset ... by making it up.

Picture at an Exhibition – Sunset, Friday, 11 April 2014

William Van Doren, PICTURE AT AN EXHIBITION. Sunset from Woodberry Forest, Madison County, Va. Oil on Arches, 17 x 23.

Sneaked away from the lingering visitors at my show's reception to sketch sunset and rain over the Blue Ridge. Some music by Mussorgsky (see title) might work with this. THANKS to the wonderful people who came out last night and made my opening not only successful but fun — two qualities that don't always go together! Show is up til May 3rd.