Do you want to light your works but don't know how to go about it? Artsper guides you in choosing ideal lighting thanks to its expert advice!

Defining how to light your work is not that simple. We share with you our recommendations for choosing which colors, intensities and distances will be best suited to your work.

The lighting you choose will depend on the room in which the work will be located. If it is a canvas, it is best not to place your work in direct sunlight to prevent it from being exposed to UV and infrared rays.

Each piece of art is unique and has different characteristics that should be considered when choosing lighting.

Oil paints

Due to their shiny nature, reflections may occur when these works are illuminated by spotlights or narrow beam angle bulbs. Then opt for multiple, less intense light sources.

Acrylic paints

Unlike oil paints, acrylic paints are less shiny. To ensure optimal lighting, ensure that CRI (color rendering index) percentages are as close to 100% as possible.

Works behind glass (watercolor, print, photography, etc.)

Be sure to adjust the angle of the lighting to reduce reflections or choose windows with UV protection or anti-reflective framing glass.

Sculptures

Sculptures are probably the most subjective when it comes to lighting. As a general rule, sculptures should be lit from multiple angles to allow viewers to grasp all of their dimensions. A sculpture can also be displayed outdoors in natural light. This can offer your work different angles and perspectives of appreciation throughout the day.

3 possibilities are available to you:

The first is to illuminate the work with a ceiling light, ideal for putting the work of art at the center of attention, and not the light source. There are recessed or surface mounted lighting fixtures. Often used in pairs, they allow you to adjust the direction of the light, ensuring that the entire work is illuminated. The lighting must be soft enough not to create a shadow area on the work.

The second consists of bringing light from the wall using an arm wall lamp or a rail. If you only have one canvas to light then you can opt for a wall light with a long arm. Placed above the painting, the wall light diffuses beautiful uniform lighting from the top of the work.

If you have several works to illuminate, track lights are ideal . The principle is largely the same as for ceiling lights but track lights are easier to install and offer more flexibility.

Track or recessed ceiling lights can also act as diffusion light without being directed directly at the work. You can light a white wall so that it redistributes the light and indirectly illuminates the works. This technique, often used by art galleries, allows you to change the arrangement of works without changing the lighting since the walls are lit uniformly.

The last is to highlight your paintings with table lighting. If the work is above a piece of furniture, you can place one or more lamps near the work. Choose low-wattage bulbs to create a feeling of intimacy with the work and avoid unwanted shadows.

Indeed, depending on the angle of lighting, works with an irregular surface, such as textured acrylic paintings or impasto oil paintings, can be affected by shadows that matter projects. Make sure the angle of the lighting is adjusted to minimize or accentuate the shadows they create as desired.

Ideally, lamps should be placed so that the light beam reaches the center of the artwork when the fixture is adjusted at a 30 degree angle. A lower angle would cause too many shadows and you would get highlights at a higher angle.

Choose LED bulbs, as they give off little heat and radiation, so they are perfectly suited to enhancing the colors of a painting without risking damaging it. Ideal lights are rather soft and do not emit any UV rays.

Opt for an LED with a color temperature of 2700K and a color rendering index (CRI) of 95 or higher. Be careful, a poor quality LED can create an unwanted pale light.