Art by Heather Bridge

Stormy sunset II, 2025 (top), Stormy sunset, 2024 (bottom)

Sunsets and sunrises never get old for me as a painter. My original oil painting, Stormy Sunset was an exciting beginning. It allowed me to push deeper into abstraction. I tried to capture the fluid motion of the sky. But after some time, I found myself drawn back to this scene.

There were elements of the first painting that I loved. These included the bold graphic qualities and the thick impasto brushwork. Certain details came together to make a cohesive whole. But I also saw new possibilities. Between painting Stormy Sunset and now, I worked on Hamilton sunset. In that painting, I struck a balance between abstraction and impressionistic brush strokes. That experience made me wonder: what if I approached Stormy Sunset again with a more fluid, unified style?

Why paint the same scene twice?

Every painting is a learning experience, and sometimes a single canvas isn’t enough to explore an idea fully. I had a clear goal in mind for this second version:

• I wanted to push the sense of movement, creating brushwork that felt more expressive.
  
• I wanted to modify the composition, giving it a more traditional sense of balance.
  
• I wanted to keep abstraction, but in a way that felt more fluid and less graphic.

In my first version, the sun’s rays were subtle, woven into the composition. In this second painting, I gave them ta larger presence, allowing them to cut across the canvas with energy. The horizon is positioned differently too, more naturally placed. This shifts the mood from dramatic to something still powerful, but calmer and more balanced.

What I love about Stormy sunset II

I really enjoyed painting Stormy sunset II. One thing I enjoyed was letting the underpainting breathe through more. It has a slightly scruffy, imperfect quality that I leaned into. I chose not to smooth everything out. Instead, I allowed the raw, layered brushwork to fuse together. This formed the image in an organic way. Up close, the strokes feel abstract. It seems like they shouldn’t make sense. But when you step back, the sunset emerges with clarity. I love how this balance between detail and abstraction creates movement and energy in the final piece.

The value of revisiting a painting

I see painting as a process of growth. Revisiting a subject isn’t about “fixing” something, but discovering where a spark of an idea can take you. The first Stormy sunset has its own identity, its own energy: dramatic, bold, and full of striking contrast. Stormy sunset II continues that journey. It brings more fluidity and balance while maintaining the expressive movement of the sky.

Both paintings offer something unique. One leans into graphic abstraction, the other into impressionistic flow. Depending on what speaks to you, either brings a powerful presence to a space.

Whether you’re drawn to the energy of the first or the harmony of the second, both paintings hold a piece of my journey as an artist.

Purchase Stormy sunset II

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