Should You Repeat a Painting?
This question came up in my classes over the years and I have always said: yes! By repeating a painting, I have learned that it is never really the same painting. You are going to discover new things in it each time, even if it’s the same scene. You do not have to paint it the same size and you can always paint larger or smaller as long as it is still in proportion. I see nothing wrong in doing this. If anything, it is very helpful. We get to see what we may have been doing wrong or what we can improve on from the previous painting. I think it is a really good learning tool.
You could also paint the same scene but with a different shape of the canvas so you are ending up with a different design. For example, if your original painting was 8 x 10, you could try 11 x 14. Or, you could do a vertical 8 x 10 rather than a horizontal 8 x 10. Just test it out and see how the design fits into your painting.
I do believe painting the same scene is helpful and there is nothing wrong with it. If you want to paint it even 3 or 4 times, go right ahead. You will learn new things each time you do it. It will never be the same painting. Every moment is different and if you are going to repeat the painting the next day, your mood might be what makes the difference. You may be seeing things differently within the image or source photo that you have not seen before. I encourage you to repeat the painting if you are inclined to do so.