I want to talk about something that’s been on my mind lately—morning light and how it’s completely transformed my painting process. This might sound a little niche, but hear me out, because it’s been a game-changer.
Okay, let me set the scene. I used to paint at all hours, whenever I could squeeze it in. Sometimes at night, sometimes in the afternoon—it didn’t matter. I’d just flip on whatever lights I had and go for it. And honestly, my results were… fine. They were fine. But something always felt a little off, you know? Like, I couldn’t quite capture the vibrancy or the mood I was aiming for. I’d think, “Why does this look flat?” Or worse, “Why does this feel kind of lifeless?”
It wasn’t until I started painting in the mornings that everything clicked. And when I say mornings, I mean early—like right after sunrise. The light is softer, it’s warmer, and it has this beautiful golden quality. And the way it interacts with colors? It’s magical. Reds feel deeper, blues feel richer, even shadows have this warmth to them. It’s hard to describe, but once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
The funny thing is, I didn’t even start doing this on purpose. It kind of happened by accident. I had this one morning where I couldn’t sleep, so I got up early, set up my paints, and just started working. And oh my gosh, the way the natural light hit my canvas—it felt like I was seeing my own work differently for the first time. Like the light itself was collaborating with me.
And it’s not just about how the light looks. It’s how it makes me feel. There’s something about those early hours that’s so quiet and still. The world hasn’t fully woken up yet, and it’s like all the noise—the emails, the notifications, the distractions—it just doesn’t exist. That quietness changes the way I approach the work. I’m calmer. I’m more focused. I feel like I’m painting with the day instead of fighting against it.
Now, I know not everyone is a morning person. Believe me, I get it. But if you can carve out just one or two mornings to try this, I promise it’s worth it. Even if you’re not a painter, just observing morning light can change the way you think about color and texture. Go outside and look at how the light filters through the trees, or how it glows against a building. It’s not something you notice in the same way at any other time of day.
Another thing I’ve noticed—my paintings hold up better over time. Colors that felt vibrant when I was working at night sometimes look garish or off-balance in daylight. But when I paint in the morning, it’s like I’ve already accounted for that natural shift. The work feels more alive, more connected to the real world.
So yeah, morning light. It’s not just light—it’s a mood, a collaborator, a whole vibe. If you haven’t tried it, I really hope you do. It’s a small change, but it’s made a massive difference in my process. And honestly, it’s brought me a lot closer to the work I want to make.
