One thing I paid attention to when we were house hunting in Minnesota was light. What kind of light came into the house? Would it have mood-boosting sunny rooms that the camera loves? The house we ended up purchasing had so much light. Too much at times, in fact. But, I basked in it and enjoyed it thoroughly. None of the homes we looked at during our Maryland house hunt had good light. They were all older homes with smaller windows, surrounded by mature trees and landscaping. I am pretty optimistic when looking at a house, though; I felt we could brighten up the 1970s home we purchased. Of course, it felt dark. The curtains were drawn and shades were pulled in all of the rooms since it was summer and the house was empty. There were other things that closed the place in like overgrown bushes in front of windows, soffits lowering the ceiling, dark cabinets, busy wallpapers, and dark, old carpets. All of that could be changed and the house would soon be flooded with light.
Once we lived in the house for a few weeks, though, I realized I had miscalculated how different the light in this house was compared to our MN house. It’s not the sort of thing you could know until you spend full days in the house and maybe even full seasons. I found myself missing the flood of light I had grown used to. I felt challenged when taking pictures in this house and working in the studio. Initially, this challenge was unwelcome.
This challenge pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me feel like a beginner. I had to watch tutorials to figure out how to edit my photos in a new way. I had to adjust to a different sort of lighting when I’m painting. I had to learn to appreciate pools and flickers of light instead of an even flood. And I’m still learning.
But, I am starting to see the beauty in it and those challenges have created new opportunities. I find myself chasing the light, trying to capture and portray it in my paintings. And I’m excited about the work I’m creating. What once felt frustrating is starting to feel like a door that’s been opened, inviting me into an unexplored space.
Of course, the cats find all of this creative exploration very interesting since most of it happens on the floor.
I don’t mind change, but I am very resistant to changes that make me feel uncomfortable and pushed out of what I want. I don’t think many of us like feeling forced in or out of something whether it’s by our own inadvertent making or uncontrollable circumstance. But, I’m experiencing firsthand how challenges and uncomfortable changes can, yes, push us where we’re not excited about going, but also push us into new and exciting places. Challenges are where happy accidents are found. Challenges are where your innovation has a chance to show off. Challenges are where resourcefulness can become a brilliant stroke. Challenges are often where we can find something that is uniquely ours that we can put into words or capture in a painting.
The challenge of learning to decorate, photograph, or paint in a different light is, in the grand scheme of things, a small challenge. But a challenge is a challenge nonetheless. I don’t know what kind of challenges you’re facing – big or small. I do know that those challenges, while frustrating, limiting, and uncomfortable, can be a place of great opportunity and discovery if we let it.
10 Responses
I just moved from Florida to the eastern shore of Maryland, which was obviously a huge change in light as well. I also found myself having to paint at night, and the colors on my palette and painting were so different than what I thought I was putting down. The difference maker for me was buying an Ott light that’s on a stand. The color temperature etc. is very accurate and very similar to daylight.
Wow, one of the first things I thought about with your new house was the light. As a fellow artist, I need to live in as bright a house as possible. Think all white walls/floors/trim and big windows, and then back filled with lots of colorful art and objects. I am glad that you have mustered up some optimism given the big differences you now face, especially with your studio space. I think you will also treasure and make the most of every warm shaft of light that works its way into the house early or late in the day, despite the trees.
Hi Marion,
As a beginning water color artist, I found your blog so helpful and interesting. I had no idea you had played with the light and set up your staging to include the light into your paintings the way you did. Thank you!!
We moved from gray, gray Ohio where I crafted and painted in my dank basement, to sunny Az. I have fabulous NNE light but the trade off is lower humidity. My perfect watercolor puddles dry in a nanosecond in 7-10% humidity. But I’ve learned to deal with it and I’m so happy for all the sunny days we have here.
Hi Marion: the minute I began reading about the light challenges you’ve been dealing with and searching for the shafts of light, I pictured the lighting genius of the Dutch Masters! One light beam in a dimly lit room…so beautiful…I’ll be watching your growth as you master the light!!
you love to learn and I am enjoying your learning process, which you are so generous to share. I love all of your new works.
Your words work for us non artists that are ardent gardeners. My trees grow my veggies must move. A challenge is a challenge nonetheless. You speak to us in many ways and I thank you for it.
Marian, we to have moved to different parts of the country and have experienced the same issues with window size and lighting. We wondered if it was related to the cost of windows when the home was built or weather/utilities. Yet really old houses often have huge windows I assume to allow in more light.
Oh Terry, I know just how your feel! I am moving my raised beds to find better light for my veggies too! Still working it all out on paper though. I have spent several days measuring, studying, and remembering where the problems were last year on a 1/2″ = 1 foot grid map I drew out of my small yard. Moving pieces of paper cut in different sizes and shapes placing to see where the light will fall in the spring thru fall, so everything can grow happily. Have to work up to all the real moving and shoveling!
I wish you and Marian much luck in your gardens too.
We have a ranch-style 50’s home in Kansas, and it’s so interesting how the light changes throughout the year. I wonder if yours will have surprises in store as the sun moves higher in the sky. I am so sensitive to light – I love it – and notice when a room lacks natural light. Our living room is southern facing and currently filled with beautiful light, so we all tend to hang out there in the winter months, but come summer, all of the trees on a neighbor’s property will grow leaves and make it mostly shady during the day. I struggle with our northern facing kitchen – we have been renovating it, and yet it is so hard to make it feel cozy without warm southern light.
Love these photos and your cat!