Teil Duncan is a popular artist known for her vividly-colored paintings. Her beautiful works are immediately recognizable, and usually feature the female form or beach scenes that perfectly encapsulate a summer day (which can be mood-boosting during the chilly months). Since 2011, she has used Instagram as a tool to successfully market her art, which caught the attention of big names like designer Christian Siriano, who used her paintings as inspiration for his 2015 resort collection. The artist’s popularity has since grown exponentially–she has released a coffee table book, The Color Teil, and her pieces are treasured by thousands of fans across the globe. This Wednesday, Teil launches the latest installment of her popular “female nudes series,” which are beautiful studies of the female form with an updated color palette and poses. And, like most of her collections, the originals are expected to sell out by the end of the day. We asked this creative to tell us about a morning in her colorful life. She shares her morning routine below.

6:00 A.M. My husband and I set our alarms to wake up one hour before the baby wakes up. This is our cherished quiet time before the day gets going. We both start with coffee and enjoy reading together. This early part of our morning routine is so important for me as it sets me up for a productive day ahead. I think about what I want to accomplish in the studio and the time I want to spend with my family.

7:00 A.M. My son wakes up and we prepare breakfast for the three of us. We are BIG breakfast people! We usually make a smoothie along with some eggs, peanut butter toast and fruit. It is really important to me to know my family has had a good breakfast to begin the day. I love this time when we are together the three of us, the energy is of course quite different once he is awake, but it still is just as important for me before diving into the day ahead.

8:00 A.M. We usually let this be playtime for my son, which can mean a lot of different things! We dance together, sing songs, read books, and often go on a long morning walk near our house. I am inspired by sunlight and how it plays against various subjects, so the morning light is particularly impactful for me. My early morning walks with my family definitely help clear my mind, but also influence my work. 

9:00 A.M. My husband takes off for work, the baby goes down to sleep, and I heat my coffee up and get to work! I am fortunate to be able to work out of my home studio and get a fair amount done during his long morning nap. I begin by calling my sister (who also doubles as my best friend and studio manager) to discuss what the painting priorities are for the day. From here, I get my hands dirty and start mixing colors. I am currently working on illustrations for an upcoming children’s book project. There’s always LOTS to be done in the studio.

11:00 A.M. I get myself and my baby ready for life outside of the house! I feel refreshed when I use my SkinCeuticals regimen- the SPF, Phloretin with Ferulic Acid serum, vitamin C drops, followed their daytime cream. From there we are out the door and ready for the day’s activities. I usually like to dine out for lunch with my son around our neighborhood. As much as I am inspired by my travels and elements of nature, I am also inspired by local architecture and people I meet in our community.