Art Lighting as Art with Illuminations Lighting Design.
Can lighting be a form of art?
Yes, but in order to make Art lighting a form of art in and of itself, you must first understand certain scientific and aesthetic qualities of light. Light functions as the supreme universal constant, because the speed of light is the fastest attainable velocity that can never be altered nor exceeded. Because light always travels in a straight line, any obstruction in its path casts a shadow. To some degree as well, light always reflects off any surface it strikes, and this is what makes it possible for us to see any work of art. Light also can fill a space without consuming it, making it possible to use any form of lighting as art provided the angle of incident is aimed correctly at the piece. Improper angles will not only create shadows resulting from light spillage, but they will create glare as the beam reflects off the surface of the work back toward the viewer’s eyes.
How do I completely eliminate glare and shadow?
You can’t completely eliminate glare and shadow in artwork lighting, because no matter what you do, some light is going to reflect off the piece, and sooner or later, the light will encounter some sort of obstruction that casts a shadow.
What a skillful are lighting designer can do is create an angle of incident (the angle at which the light strikes an object) that will position any resulting glare and shadow outside of the viewer’s line of sight.
The old cliche “Out of sight, out of mind,” rings very true when approaching art lighting as an art form unique unto itself.
How do I determine the correct angle of incident for my photography and paintings?
To do so, you or your lighting consultant must think of angles from a three dimensional rather than a two dimensional point of view. Light striking the surface of art from a nearby fixture constitutes one angle of incident. The reflected light coming back to the observer constitutes a second. The two must be measured carefully in relation to one another if one is to determine the appropriate position of any picture lighting fixture. If the right balance is struck, then reflective glare and resulting shadow will be hidden from his or her line of sight, allowing for an uninhibited experience of light and art from that particular viewing angle.
What factors go into determining the ideal angle of incident?
The art lighting interior designer must take several factors into account when installing an art lighting system. To begin with, the designer must pinpoint all points of observation within a room where viewers will possibly be standing when they view various works. These points will vary greatly according to the environment and the type of room involved. Vantage points in museums are very different from those in office foyers and private living rooms. Next, the fine art lighting company or designer has to look at the surface of the art itself to assess its reflective qualities. High-end photographs and many types of paint will many times cause the surface of the image to have a “sheen” that acts as a virtual mirror, casting not only reflected color back into the eyes, but portions of the light beam itself. Recessed lights equipped with dimmers are often required for such artwork in order to disperse illumination sufficiently not to shine back into the eyes.
Thirdly, one very essential aspect of modern art lighting as art that many fail to even consider is the size and type of frame housing the piece. Lighting that comes from a fixture that is placed too high will can actually be blocked by the upper lip of the frame and cast what is called a “frame shadow” over the work. Often, something so simple as adjusting the level of the painting can often remedy this problem in home lighting projects, although in formal galleries this may not be an option, and special fixtures with complex reflectors and filters may be needed to create an indirect “wash” of illumination that results in both painting and frame being bathed in a radiant field of light as opposed to a bright beam of focused, direct light.
What is the best fixture to use if I want to design my art lighting as art?
Perhaps one of the most valuable tools available to the art lighting consultant is a high-end art lighting projector that allows for precision lighting level adjustments, comes equipped with advanced lighting filters and special reflectors, and has the ability to proportionately size a beam to the precise dimensions of a work. Although this does not completely eliminate glare and shadow (which the laws of physics mandate are inevitable with any form of lighting), it does allow the collector or curator more power to control these negative elements, or in some cases, even turn them into art lighting attributes.
For example, many painters such as Goya, and certain genres such as surrealism, rely upon shadows to emphasize themes connected to the dark side of man, or the apparent duality of Nature itself. Placing too much light on such artwork will diminish its statement by overriding elements of shadow that the artist intended to be present. Phantom art lighting projectors can be dimmed and adjusted for such works so as to create a “lighted from within” effect that preserves the artist’s use of dark elements and negative images, providing just enough visibility for the viewer to see the work and its key aesthetic elements.
Do you need help lighting art in your home or office?
Yes, but in order to make Art lighting a form of art in and of itself, you must first understand certain scientific and aesthetic qualities of light. Light functions as the supreme universal constant, because the speed of light is the fastest attainable velocity that can never be altered nor exceeded. Because light always travels in a straight line, any obstruction in its path casts a shadow. To some degree as well, light always reflects off any surface it strikes, and this is what makes it possible for us to see any work of art. Light also can fill a space without consuming it, making it possible to use any form of lighting as art provided the angle of incident is aimed correctly at the piece. Improper angles will not only create shadows resulting from light spillage, but they will create glare as the beam reflects off the surface of the work back toward the viewer’s eyes.
How do I completely eliminate glare and shadow?
You can’t completely eliminate glare and shadow in artwork lighting, because no matter what you do, some light is going to reflect off the piece, and sooner or later, the light will encounter some sort of obstruction that casts a shadow.
What a skillful are lighting designer can do is create an angle of incident (the angle at which the light strikes an object) that will position any resulting glare and shadow outside of the viewer’s line of sight.
The old cliche “Out of sight, out of mind,” rings very true when approaching art lighting as an art form unique unto itself.
How do I determine the correct angle of incident for my photography and paintings?
To do so, you or your lighting consultant must think of angles from a three dimensional rather than a two dimensional point of view. Light striking the surface of art from a nearby fixture constitutes one angle of incident. The reflected light coming back to the observer constitutes a second. The two must be measured carefully in relation to one another if one is to determine the appropriate position of any picture lighting fixture. If the right balance is struck, then reflective glare and resulting shadow will be hidden from his or her line of sight, allowing for an uninhibited experience of light and art from that particular viewing angle.
What factors go into determining the ideal angle of incident?
The art lighting interior designer must take several factors into account when installing an art lighting system. To begin with, the designer must pinpoint all points of observation within a room where viewers will possibly be standing when they view various works. These points will vary greatly according to the environment and the type of room involved. Vantage points in museums are very different from those in office foyers and private living rooms. Next, the fine art lighting company or designer has to look at the surface of the art itself to assess its reflective qualities. High-end photographs and many types of paint will many times cause the surface of the image to have a “sheen” that acts as a virtual mirror, casting not only reflected color back into the eyes, but portions of the light beam itself. Recessed lights equipped with dimmers are often required for such artwork in order to disperse illumination sufficiently not to shine back into the eyes.
Thirdly, one very essential aspect of modern art lighting as art that many fail to even consider is the size and type of frame housing the piece. Lighting that comes from a fixture that is placed too high will can actually be blocked by the upper lip of the frame and cast what is called a “frame shadow” over the work. Often, something so simple as adjusting the level of the painting can often remedy this problem in home lighting projects, although in formal galleries this may not be an option, and special fixtures with complex reflectors and filters may be needed to create an indirect “wash” of illumination that results in both painting and frame being bathed in a radiant field of light as opposed to a bright beam of focused, direct light.
What is the best fixture to use if I want to design my art lighting as art?
Perhaps one of the most valuable tools available to the art lighting consultant is a high-end art lighting projector that allows for precision lighting level adjustments, comes equipped with advanced lighting filters and special reflectors, and has the ability to proportionately size a beam to the precise dimensions of a work. Although this does not completely eliminate glare and shadow (which the laws of physics mandate are inevitable with any form of lighting), it does allow the collector or curator more power to control these negative elements, or in some cases, even turn them into art lighting attributes.
For example, many painters such as Goya, and certain genres such as surrealism, rely upon shadows to emphasize themes connected to the dark side of man, or the apparent duality of Nature itself. Placing too much light on such artwork will diminish its statement by overriding elements of shadow that the artist intended to be present. Phantom art lighting projectors can be dimmed and adjusted for such works so as to create a “lighted from within” effect that preserves the artist’s use of dark elements and negative images, providing just enough visibility for the viewer to see the work and its key aesthetic elements.
Do you need help lighting art in your home or office?
Contact us to learn more about Illuminations Lighting Design and our fine art lighting services. We invite you to visit our lighting blog to learn more about the art of lighting art or call us toll free at 1-800-863-1184 now for a free consultation today.
Do you travel throughout Texas or just service Houston?
We are located in Houston Texas but provide art, landscape lighting and home automation services in Austin TX, El Paso Texas, San Antonio TX, College Station Texas, Beaumont TX, Dallas Texas, Midland Tx and points beyond.
We are located in Houston Texas but provide art, landscape lighting and home automation services in Austin TX, El Paso Texas, San Antonio TX, College Station Texas, Beaumont TX, Dallas Texas, Midland Tx and points beyond.
Labels: Fine art lighting, Lighting Art, Lighting Design Company, Picture Lights, Recessed Accent Fixtures
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