How to Paint Sunlight on an Object: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide for Artists

Painters paint for many reasons. Some want to express themselves, while others want to depict an object realistically, almost photographically. Some chase a feeling, like joy. Others are attracted to pattern or thick brushstrokes.

If a painter gets excited about sunlight and wants to show it in their work, there are several steps to follow: line, mass, form, and finally sunlight and shadows. The first three apply to the start of most paintings. After that, the painter may want details, which always come last and never overpower the main focus, sunlight.

A painting reads best when one element stands out the most (color, value, line, shape, etc.).

Understanding the Basic Steps: Line, Mass, and Form

Before sunlight can appear convincing, the painter must establish the structure of the object.

• Line gives you good drawing and perspective.

• Mass lays in the overall body tone.

• Form makes the object look three-dimensional.

These three steps work together to prepare the object for sunlight.

How the Red Rectangular Box Example Works

Notice the red rectangular box in the images below. It shows the step-by-step progression:

1. Good line (accurate drawing and perspective).

2. Mass, or the base tone of the object.

3. Form, which shapes the object into something 3D.

4. Warm light, created with yellow and a tiny touch of red, which brings in the feeling of sunlight.

Only after line, mass, and form are in place should sunlight be added.

A Tip About Color Temperature

It’s easier to pull off sunlight on a white or warm object. It becomes more challenging with cool-colored objects. Imagine adding warm light (yellow + a touch of red) to ultramarine blue, that mix gets tricky fast.

Example: Sunlight vs. Just Shadows

Look at the two images of the parrot statue below. One is lit by morning sunlight, and the other, although it includes shadows from two windows, does not show sunlight.

Shadows alone don’t create the effect of sunlight. Sunlight needs:

• Warm highlights

• A directional light source

• Contrast with cooler, darker surrounding tones

Another Example of Sunlight Principles

In the image below, you can see all the main elements that create the look of sunlight in a painting: dark against light, bright against dull, and warm against cool. Notice the difference in the white of the boat. Even though it’s white, it does not show sunlight because it lacks the warm light and strong contrast that sunlight creates.

Photo by Marilyn Archibald

Another Trick: Darkening the Surroundings

Another reliable technique for showing sunlight is to paint the areas around the sunlit subject a bit:

• Darker

• Cooler

• Duller

  
  

This makes the sunlight appear brighter and more believable. Look at the photo of the white mats and folders in my studio. They clearly look like they’re sitting in sunlight because their surroundings are cooler and darker by comparison.

Want to Learn More? Join Our Adult Art Classes in Newburyport, MA

If you’d like to practice painting sunlight, or try new techniques in a welcoming, creative environment, we offer adult art classes right here in Newburyport, MA.

Our classes walk through fundamentals like line, mass, form, light, shadow, and color mixing, all with hands-on guidance and a relaxed studio atmosphere!