Fine paintings are used as ornate decorations in custom homes and in offices. This is not surprising when you stop to realize has been with in one form or fashion for at least 40,000 years. Light in a paintings itself contributes to the tone of the work by creating a sense of depth through the interplay of light and shadows. Lighting for paintings should not cast shadows, however, but rather must discover and magnify the luminosity of the scene and animate the action between objects and characters. This method of lighting paintings is as old as Lascaux, where firelight was used to make the seemingly crude stick figures of hunters and animals suddenly spring to life with the illusion of three dimensional substance and physical movement.
To create this sense of vivid life and realism, lighting for paintings must be sourced from special types of fixtures and controlled in such a manner that enhances the work without damaging the piece or limiting the aesthetic.
Only filtered light can be used for safely lighting paintings.
Oils and canvases will degrade if exposed to UV light. Infrared light is not as damaging as ultraviolet light, but it nevertheless produces large quantities of heat that will dry out paint and crack the canvas. Because sunlight consists of both UV and IR radiation, it must never be used to light paintings, because it will quickly destroy them in a short period of time. Sunlight is much too bright to light a painting because it overpowers the combination of shadows and light in the painting and flattens the perspective of the image.
It is therefore necessary to use a filtered artificial light source that removes UV and IR rays from the light beam.
Use a light source with a high color rendering index (CRI).
Even though artificial light is much safer than sunlight to use as lighting for paintings, sunlight’s ability to render color is unmatched because sunlight is a perfect blend of all natural colors of the spectrum. Nevertheless, it is simply out of the question as a source of art lighting for paintings, so you have to use a close approximation to sunlight to bring out the color in your artwork.
To date, the best light of this type is a halogen bulb. These bulbs emit an intense, white light that renders color at levels near that of sunlight. Halogen bulbs are found in recessed ceiling fixtures that shine light down on artwork. They are also used in art lighting projectors, which also install in the ceiling.
When utilized for artwork lighting, recessed lights must be filtered. All art lighting projectors, because they are intended only for art lighting, are manufactured with filters in them.
Lighting for paintings must be adjustable and dimmable.
Paintings must be illuminated from the correct angle of incidence to avoid spill light shining past the boundaries of the frame and to avoid glare than can reflect off the canvas back into the eye. Picture lights are hard to adjust like this and are generally not recommended for this reason. Also, they can burn very hot at times and are extremely difficult to filter, making them unsafe as well.
Recessed lights and projectors are much better sources of illumination because they allow the decorator to change the direction of the light at will. Some recessed fixtures can be adjusted in this manner more easily than others, so it is important to make certain before ordering them if the models being ordered were made specifically for wall art lighting and fine art paintings.
Projectors offer an even greater range of adjustment because they hang suspended from the ceiling and can be positioned anywhere along a three-dimensional access. Some projectors are easier to adjust than others. It is best to talk to an art lighting specialist who can recommend the very best model suited to a particular home, office, or museum application.
Call a professional firm to have your art lights installed.
Lighting simple prints or photographs is something anyone can do with retail picture lights. Lighting a painting is something completely different. It takes commercial grade recessed lighting fixtures and bulbs that can only be obtained by a design firm from the manufacture. It also takes knowledge of art and design to truly create a masterpiece of lighting.
Illuminations Lighting Design has mastered these mini-disciplines and has been lighting art in Houston, Beaumont, Austin, and San Antonio areas for many, many years. Our staff holds licenses in electrical service work and understands the complexity of fine art lighting, home automation and interior design.
Illuminations Lighting Design is a full service design build firm specializing in residential and commercial indoor lighting and outdoor lighting, electrical service and maintenance as well as home automation, home theaters, emergency generators, surge protection systems, phone systems and lighting control systems.
Call toll free 800-863-1184 for a complimentary lighting consultation.Labels: Beaumont Fine Art Lighting, Contour Projector, Fine Art Lighting Equipment, Lighting For Paintings, Painting Lights, Picture Lighting Solutions
Houstonian's often assume that because a large number of nationwide, branded retailers offer enormous selections of exterior lighting fixtures for houses, yard decorations, and landscaping fixtures that they can save money by purchasing attractive fixtures and performing their own installations. This never pays off in the long run because retail-grade outdoor light fixtures are not built to withstand the elements, require lighting maintenance and they are also more difficult to connect to automated lighting controls like Lutron Radio Ra.
A professional lighting design company like Illuminations Lighting and Design carefully studies your home and surrounding property and spends extensive time consulting with you to in order to learn the many particulars of your personal lifestyle. Outdoor lights are chosen that will accent and magnify your home environment on an intensely personal level, and careful attention is paid to a number of very important factors that only a trained consultant can properly assess to develop a system of outdoor lights and lighting controls.
Theme and Style
The theme and style of residential lighting reflects your personal tastes, the physical style of your home architecture, the sizes and styles of the homes in your neighborhood, and even the geography in which you are located.
Houses in River Oaks often look like stately old-world mansions like fine art. Homes near Memorial often reflect early American or colonial architecture, whereas many two story houses in Bellaire feature of blend of traditional architecture and eclectic customization.
These architectural keynotes have to be considered when choosing architectural light fixtures in order to build a system with complimentary aesthetic. ILD professionals work to enhance the architecture and location of a home, never diminish it, with the physical style and size of the outdoor light fixtures we install.
Architectural and Whole House Lighting
Many outdoor lights have been specifically engineered to easily mount to the exterior of the house itself. Knowing where to put them, however, presents the greatest challenge to the home lighting installer. If the lighting angles are not calculated accurately, house lights will cause light pollution and glare that overwhelm the architecture and spill into neighboring yards and windows. Outdoor lighting contractors such as ILD are trained in special installation methods that enable them to install outdoor lights from concealed positions that place just enough light on the house without casting shadows or shining light into the house next door.
These trade skills prove extremely valuable in Houston suburbs such as Pearland, The Woodlands, and Sugar Land where families often have early bed times due to the need to get up early for long commutes and getting young children to school on time.
Landscape Lights
Outdoor light systems can be configured in such a way as to unite Nature and human architecture into a blended whole. Special outdoor tree lights, path lights, garden, and step lights can be installed along an illuminated network of natural vantage points that in turn serve as points of aesthetic definition and function as practical anchors for critical fixtures, transformers, and landscape lighting accessories necessary to linking system components together.
ILD is one of the few residential landscape lighting contractors that uses only environmentally-friendly outdoor lights and installs them using special techniques that protect trees from scarring and ensure their future growth.
In Royal Oaks, these techniques have worked hand in glove with special deed restrictions landscape and whole house lights in lieu of prohibited streetlights.
Deck and Patio Outdoor Lights
As homeowners cut personal fuel costs and increasingly entertain at home, deck lights, garden and patio lights have risen in popularity throughout Houston neighborhoods such as Spring Valley, Hedwig Village, West University, and Rice Village.
Decks and patios can be lit with minimal power costs by using a combination of led lights and lighting controls, making it possible to have cool-burning lights left on throughout the night into the wee hours of the morning.
Security Lights and Alarm System Integration
ILD professionals will make even the most powerful, High Intensity Discharge security lights cost effective by linking them to lighting controls and motion sensors that only turn the main floodlights on if human body movements are detected.
Perimeter lighting can be done by using a variety of low voltage lighting fixtures that keep shadows away from the corners of the house and yard.
We will also connect your security lights to your existing alarm system, and we can install manual controls that will enable you to instantly turn on every indoor and outdoor light in the event of suspicious activity or impending home invasion.
Working with the experienced professionals at Illuminations Lighting Design combines the value of commercial grade outdoor light fixtures and the advanced design and electrical skills of one of Houston’s premier electrical and design service firms. We offer landscape lighting maintenance agreements to keep your system in tip top condition.
Contact us today Toll-Free at 1-800-863-1184 for a free consultation. We are located in Houston Texas but provide lighting and design services in Austin TX, El Paso Texas, San Antonio TX, College Station Texas, Beaumont TX, Dallas Texas, Midland Tx and points beyond.
Labels: Beaumont Fine Art Lighting, Beaumont Home Automation, Houston Electrical Contractor, Landscape Lighting Consultants, Outdoor Architectural Lighting, Professional Landscape Lighting
In many Beaumont Texas fine homes and commercial offices, LIGHT is understood as something purely functional. Rarely do people think of it as a decorative element. Beaumont lighting can be more than utilitarian—it can be theater and art. How an object is illuminated is just as important as what is being focused upon. This is what makes Illuminations Lighting Design unique. We combine practical experience with aesthetic taste to light the stage of your everyday experience. When it comes to your home or business, why settle for anything less?
Illuminations Lighting Design (ILD) has provided streamlined solutions for Texas home and business owners for over 28 years. Our main areas of focus include interior lighting design, landscape lighting, fine art and picture lighting, home/commercial automation and media, as well as general electrical contracting. Because we offer a full range of services, we can meet virtually any electrical and lighting needs a Beaumont company or residential neighborhood might encounter.
No project is too narrow, or too broad.
Interior/Indoor Lighting Design & Consultation Services to Beaumont
Illuminations Lighting Design’s signature design is a space where every lantern, sconce, chandelier, up-light and down light balances a room for its precise intent. Using sophisticated Lutron or Vantage lighting technology, we create that balanced design weeks, or even months before the fixtures arrive. When the lights go up, you will be truly amazed at how the beautiful interplay of light and shadow will make you feel at once inspired, and at ease. That is what good lighting design services are all about.
Landscape Lighting for Beaumont Front Yards and Commercial Property
If you have invested considerable energy into your outdoor spaces, you certainly will not want to leave them in the dark half of the year. Landscape and Outdoor Lighting allows Beaumont residents to reap a full return on their investment with low maintenance lighting equipment. By highlighting unique architectural features of buildings and homes, as well as natural textures such as lighting trees, ponds or shrubs, outdoor spaces find a second life beneath the moonlight.
Beaumont landscape lighting services such as lighting steps and pathways will also offer a sense of security to you, your family and guests. By choosing quality, long-lasting fixtures installed by the experienced professionals of ILD, you gain all of these benefits while avoiding the hassles of never ending maintenance fees.
Fine Art & Display Lighting to Beaumont and All of East Texas
We have consulted and lighted some of the world’s most prestigious public and private art collections including works from renowned artists such as Chagall, Picasso, Matisse, Renoir, Rockwell, Salvador Dali, and Rembrandt. Employing the most innovative art lighting company in the world, we can assure you that your treasured pieces will shine as brightly as the artist’s true vision.
Beaumont Art lighting services from ILD are second to none.
Home Automation, Lighting Controls & Home Theaters in Beaumont
Illuminations lighting brings Beaumont homeowners Indoor movie theaters that rival the real thing. Diverse “moods” are created at the click of a button, and generators that keep the power on during an outage are all a part of the services offered by ILD’s Home Lighting Control & home theater design team. This field is rapidly developing, and our professionals stay continuously abreast of the latest innovations. Let us bring your home or place of business into the 21st century with a new home theater system.
ILD electrical contracting and electrical services for Beaumont
Licensed professionals understand the importance of working in conjunction with the design team. This ensures that all aspects of indoor illumination, home automation and landscape lighting will have the electrical power needed to function properly and safely. Illuminations Lighting electricians gets the job done right the first time, allowing Beaumont companies and homeowners to focus on more important matters—like enjoying your stunning lighting design and automation.
Each of our service divisions is staffed with outstanding experts that understand the impact their efforts have on your home. No other lighting firm is able to provide such a well-rounded service line. But do not just take our word for it. Just ask our clients like Lance Armstrong, George W. Bush, Hubert Oxford or dozens of other commercial establishments or residences, large and small, across the State of Texas who have enjoyed our services.
In Texas, there is only one name for professional, functional and artistic lighting: Illuminations Lighting Design. Click here to read more.
Labels: Beaumont Fine Art Lighting, Beaumont Home Theaters, Beaumont Landscape Lighting, Beaumont Texas Lighting
I was referred to Illuminations Lighting Design by an associate who has worked with your firm. As an interior designer, I can appreciate the level of work that you do and the Clients you service. I am most impressed with your company, your credentials and the design services you provide. I have been looking for a well established design build company that can handle all aspects of lighting design, lighting control systems, home automation and landscape lighting for years. Unfortunately, I am located out of town and not in Houston. How do you handle out of town work? Do you travel?
How we handle work out of town depends on the scope of our services and your needs. As a company, we have no boundaries. We work in combination with architects, interior designers, homeowners, development companies, and churches regardless of the location to create world class lighting as
LIGHTING DESIGNERS & LIGHTING CONSULTANTS.
For
RESIDENTIAL OUTDOOR LIGHTING we have team of lighting designers and specialists, headed by
RICK LUBERGER, that travel the country installing outdoor lighting systems. He works in conjunction with local electrical contractors to provide a turn key solution to your
OUTDOOR LANDSCAPE LIGHTING needs. Illuminations Lighting Design professional tree climbers are highly trained in locating and mounting outdoor lighting fixtures to achieve the desired results. They understand how light works, what type, what wattage and what color of light is best for your application. They are knowledgeable in all lighting techniques including moonlighting, fountain lighting, accent lighting, art lighting, low voltage lighting and lighting control systems. View our
GALLERY for a sampling of our work.
FINE ART & DISPLAY LIGHTING is another area of lighting expertise that requires us to travel. Illuminations Lighting Design holds two patents for specialty lighting fixtures manufactured by
PHANTOM LIGHTING. The Contour Projector is used to illuminate fine art in museums, mansions and fine homes all across the country. This lighting technique is highly specialized and a particular favorite among interior designers and architects.
And finally,
HOME AUTOMATION is another specialized field that allows us to frequently travel to other cities. Our staff of experienced consultants and CEDIA certified installers' works with architects, custom homebuilders, homeowners, interior designers and renovators, providing innovative solutions in today's age of home automation and lighting control systems.
So as you can tell we are ready, willing and able to travel to satisfy our clients Nationwide. Just give us a call toll free at
800-863-1184 to discuss how Illuminations Lighting Design can handle portions or all of your indoor lighting, outdoor lighting, art lighting or home automation needs. A simple phone call or exchanging some digital images of your project is all that is needed to find out if Illumination Lighting Design is the the right fit for you. Be sure to check out our
TESTIMONIALS to see what our client's have to say about our company.
Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston, Beaumont Fine Art Lighting, Home Lighting Designs, Houston Electrical Contractor
If the lighting in your project is important to you in function, aesthetics, or both, a lighting designer will be a valuable addition to your deign team. Lighting can actually be quite a complex science, needing to take into account issues such as footcandle level, glare, lamp life, maintenance, color rendition, source type, aiming angles, fixture selections, lighting controls, and wattage and voltage constraints. In our office we have a wall 20' long and 8' high where we house the fixture catalogs for all the major lighting manufacturers (and a large majority of minor ones!). It is our full time job to keep up with what the lighting world has to offer and to relay our expertise into what is in the best interest of the client. Because we are independent consultants, not affiliated with any certain lighting brands or showrooms, we are able to recommend lighting designs and specifications without bias.
Although architects' offices, interior designers, and even engineers are often layout electrical plans, their areas of responsibility are so broad that most do not have the ability to become truly educated about lighting technologies and design. Additionally many offices will hand off the lighting plan to a factory representative or showroom that has little knowledge of the client or their needs and will be doing the design and specification based on their own employment alliances and pricing structure. An architect or interior designer that recommends using a lighting consultant is not showing their weakness or lack of knowledge. Rather it's the other way around - they are recognizing the importance of the project at hand and knowing when to call in the experts so that the job is able to reach its fullest potential!
The professional consultants at Illuminations Lighting Design understand how color, texture, form and shadow can be molded creatively to produce the effect required. This can only be accomplished with the correct equipment and a complete knowledge of lamp types and lamp performance. An Illuminations signature design is a space where every lantern, sconce, chandelier, up light and down light ideally balances a room for its precise intent, including hard-to-light spaces.
For more information regarding our lighting design services please contact Tom Kretzschmar via email or by phone at 713-863-1133.
Labels: Austin Lighting Control Systems, Beaumont Fine Art Lighting, Commercial Lighting Designers, Houston Lighting Design Company, Lighting Design Company, Planning Home Lighting Designs
Fine paintings are used as ornate decorations in custom homes and in offices. This is not surprising when you stop to realize has been with in one form or fashion for at least 40,000 years. Light in a paintings itself contributes to the tone of the work by creating a sense of depth through the interplay of light and shadows. Lighting for paintings should not cast shadows, however, but rather must discover and magnify the luminosity of the scene and animate the action between objects and characters. This method of lighting paintings is as old as Lascaux, where firelight was used to make the seemingly crude stick figures of hunters and animals suddenly spring to life with the illusion of three dimensional substance and physical movement.
