TRY NOT TO BE IN THE DARK ABOUT LIGHTING

Lighting is critical when it comes to viewing art most favorably, yet it is often given far less attention than it should. Bad lighting can darken a painting and make it appear gloomy and dull. Over-lighting can create glare and wash out rich colors and subtle highlights. To get it just right might need the help of an expert. Here are a few pointers.

Studios are often bright, lofty places with huge windows that allow the artist’s work to be flooded with natural light. So natural light, especially sunlight, might be the best light in which to view a painting, right? Not necessarily.

It’s true that bright sunlight can illuminate a painting brilliantly but it can also create major problems. Ultraviolet rays can be very harmful to artwork, especially to those created in more fragile media such as watercolors, prints or photographs that can fade extremely quickly. To a certain extent such works can be protected under special glass but that too has its drawbacks.

Incandescent light generates a yellow glow that can enhance some paintings but “fight” with others, depending upon the predominant colors in the artwork. Incandescent lighting can enhance paintings created in warm yellow, orange, pink or red, but works far less well with cool colors like blue, green or violet.

Flourescent lights are hardly worth mentioning. They may be appropriate to brighten libraries and schoolrooms but their super-white light is too harsh and uncontrollable for almost every art situation.

Halogen lights that emit a strong clear light but in low-watt, controlled situations usually prove to be the best solution for most works of art. But you’ll need to figure out whether you need a flood or spot bulb, how many watts, how far the light source should be from the artwork, and at what angle. Most good lighting stores can help you with the answers, and some provide free charts. Or, you can always call in an expert.

Did your question not get answered here? Contact Roger Baker at the Weatherburn Gallery in Naples, Florida for more information on Naples, Florida Fine Art Services.