Mountain Summit 1 Year Later. My First Ever Painting Repainted.

Looking Back, Moving Forward

It started with a Christmas gift. I didn’t know it at the time, but under the tree that year was the first step toward a journey I never saw coming. When I opened the Bob Ross Master Kit, I figured it would be a passing hobby. Something to try once, maybe twice, or until the paint ran out.

But something clicked on that very first canvas.

A year later, I found myself standing in front of a blank canvas again, ready to repaint the mountain scene that started it all. This time, I had better tools, a steadier hand, and a simple goal: see how far I’d come since that first stroke.

How It Started

I completed my first-ever oil painting just before the new year in 2016. December 30th to be exact. At the time, I had no idea that behind those first strokes was a long-term passion waiting to be uncovered. You can read that story in Mountain Summit.

I figured painting might be just another hobby I’d try out and soon forget. But I caught the bug. It felt good—good enough to buy an easel, order the extra colors, and keep going.

Not long after, I sold a painting. Then I tried my first original. That turned out nice, too. I was getting a lot of positive feedback and before I knew it, requests to do paintings for people. So the train just kept rolling. I was selling a painting here and there and trying new things. I slowed down a bit when life happened but I’m still here two eight years later craving more artistic knowledge and skill.

How It’s Going. One Year Later

On the 1 year anniversary of that painting, I was on vacation seeing my family in New England. So the first opportunity I had when I got home, I did a one year anniversary repaint. This time I did it on a bigger canvas. I even did it on Facebook Live on my Facebook Page. This is Mountain Summit part 2, painting #36.

How It Felt: The Brush Meets Memory

Sitting down to repaint that scene was a reflective experience. There was some nostalgia—“Wow, been doing this for a year”—but also excitement to see just how much I’d progressed. The mindset shift was real: more confidence, more trust in the brush, more rhythm in the palette.

Back when I painted Mountain Summit for the first time, I was just testing the waters, following the instructional foldout. No YouTube or the included DVD. For this anniversary version, things had shifted. I can’t remember exactly how I prepared—whether it was YouTube or revisiting the original—but the approach felt instinctive rather than instructional.

Here’s what you need to replicate this classic Bob Ross piece.

Materials

Getting started is easy with Bob guiding you. The best and easiest way to give this a try is to get the Bob Ross Master Kit. The kit includes everything you need to paint this painting in particular as well as many other spectacular Bob Ross masterpieces. It’s how I got started.

Colors

• Alizarin Crimson
• Bright Red
• Cadmium Yellow
• Midnight Black
• Phthalo Blue
• Sap Green
• Titanium Hwite
• Van Dyke Brown
• Don’t forget the Liquid Hwite!

Additional Colors

If you’re using the Bob Ross master kit, these color don’t come with it. You don’t need them but they add a little extra color variety.

• Yellow Ochre
• Indian Yellow
• Dark Sienna

Equipment

• 2 Inch Brush
• 1 Inch Brush
• #6 Fan Brush
• Large Palette Knife
• Script Liner Brush

Comparing Two Mountain Summits

So a year later, here’s how far I had progressed.

How do you think I did? I think my evergreens came out stronger in the second version. There’s better use of color in the vegetation highlights, and the sky definitely feels more refined. Funny enough, I prefer the water in the original—it had a smoother flow. But the mountain shadow tones in this one? That’s an upgrade.

Mostly, I see refinement. And not just in technique—I see evidence that I stayed with something long enough to learn. That I stuck with it, kept moving forward, and never got bored. This isn’t just another hobby. It’s something I’ve made my own.

As Bob used to say: Talent is a pursued interest. Turns out he was right. I had the spark, but it was the pursuit that fanned it into a flame.

Final Thoughts

Have you ever revisited the first thing you created? Held it up next to your progress and reflected on the distance traveled?

I’d love to hear about it. Drop a comment or shoot me a message. And if this story resonates, feel free to share it with someone who’s finding their own rhythm.

Want to follow along with more painting sessions, behind-the-scenes updates, or live streams in real time? You’ll find me on Instagram, Twitch, Etsy, and YouTube—each space adds a brushstroke to the bigger picture.

Until next time,

Happy painting!