Sunset on Bonita Bay x 2. Paintings #75 & #76. A Scene so Nice, I Painted it Twice!

Sunset on Bonita Bay 1 & 2 are paintings #75 and #76 respectively. And no, you’re not seeing double. These are two separate paintings of the same scene, done on different canvas sizes and painted a week apart.

The Inspiration

After an afternoon of kayak fishing, and catching my dinner, which always feels like a small personal victory, I pulled my kayak onto shore and started loading my gear into the SUV. While packing up, I noticed the sun dropping low and a heron stalking its own meal in the shallows. The light, the bird, the stillness… it all lined up. I snapped a photo knowing it would make a great painting. Here’s the reference photo so you can see where I started… and where I took some creative liberties.

Notes From the Easel

The first version, on an 11×14 canvas, took longer than I expected. I often use smaller canvases as a testing ground, a way to see how a composition or technique will behave before committing to a larger surface and more materials. It’s my “proof of concept” phase.

A week later, I painted the second version on a 16×20. I liked the first one so much that I knew it deserved a larger canvas. Honestly, I wish I had started big. It’s harder than you’d think to duplicate your own painting, especially when you forget which colors you mixed or which technique you used. Sometimes you’re just in it the first time. You’re in the zone. Trying to recreate that energy isn’t always straightforward.

On the larger version, my palette knife didn’t want to cooperate when I was adding ripples and small waves. But I surprised myself with the palm tree in the first painting. I used Bob Ross’s palm tree technique: midnight black thinned slightly with paint thinner, blocking in the shape with a fan brush, then pulling out the finer details with a liner brush. Simple tools, but they work beautifully.

Final Thoughts

I really love how the first one turned out. The second one isn’t bad — I just wasn’t feeling the same spark while painting it. Still, both versions have their charm. Which one stands out to you? What do you like about each one? Let me know in the comments.

Version one is somewhat special to me so I’ve kept it around and hung in my work office. The bigger one is now framed and ready for a new home. It’s not up on the site yet but feel free to reach out if it speaks to you.

Follow me on social media to keep up with the studio. Don’t forget to check out my gallery to see more of my work.

Happy painting!