FEATURE: The Science of Art Lighting

"Light directs our view and focuses our attention to the details within a space," explains Oleg Petryuchenko of Design Illuminations, Lightology's in-house lighting design firm at 215 West Chicago Avenue, 2nd floor. Petryunchenko is a member of IESNA and has 15 years of Lighting Design Experience. He goes on to note that "If we are talking about lighting art, whether it is a picture or sculpture, the direction of the light, its intensity and distribution all determine how much effect the light will have on the piece and its surroundings. However, to achieve the best result and avoid permanent damage to any piece of art, we must also take into account a number of technical variables."

What must one first consider when deciding how to light a piece of art?
There are many things that need to be taken into account when lighting artwork, says Petryuchenko. We must first consider the type of art we are lighting. Is it 2-dimensional like a painting or 3-dimensional? What is the material? Does it have a glossy or matte finish? Is it translucent or opaque? The size and location of the artwork is also very important as is the significance of the piece. For example, is the artwork the focal point of the space or simply a decorative accent? Is it a fine piece of art whose preservation is crucial? Furthermore, one of the most important, and often overlooked considerations, is the architecture of the space. The structural limitations and the electrical requirements ultimately determine the fixture options you have to choose from.

How does the artwork's material make-up influence the project?
In addition to the spatial elements and intention of the artwork, one must carefully consider the physical construction of each piece, says Petryuchenko. All materials are sensitive to U.V. light and have their own requirements and exposure limits. Extended exposure may result in fading, discoloration and permanent damage. For example, displays with cotton, furs, silks, scroll inks and watercolors are highly susceptible to U.V. damage. Even with a relatively low lighting level of 5 foot candles the exposure limit for these materials is 1000 hours per year. Oil paintings, wood finishes and leather withstand approximately 5,000 hours of annual exposure at 20 foot candles. Materials such as glass, ceramic or metal are the least susceptible to U.V .damage and can be displayed without general limitations. These requirements demonstrate how important accurate lighting design is when lighting a piece of fine art.

What is the light level contrast ratio?
In regards to artwork, the light level contrast is the difference between the level of light that is actually illuminating the piece and the level of light surrounding the piece, explains Petryuchenko. The rule of thumb in lighting design is a 3:1 light level contrast ratio, and is the minimum for artwork. However, for most pieces, a higher ratio of 5:1 is recommended. As the size of the artwork decreases, the contrast ratio should increase.

Are there specific sources of light that are best for artwork?
Generally, three different types of light sources are recommended when it comes to art lighting. An incandescent source provides a soft, warm light suitable for traditional oil paintings with soft colors. A halogen light, on the other hand, produces a more crisp light that enhances artwork with rich, vibrant colors. Fluorescent fixtures can also be considered to illuminate certain types of artwork as they can provide a prolonged source of light. However, when using fluorescent light it is important to choose carefully because there are certain limitations in color presentation. Another up and coming source that will be available soon is LED picture lighting, which offer color control, beam control and low U.V. radiation.

What do you base your lamp selection on?
The beam spread and wattage is determined by the lamp you choose, notes Petryuchenko. The decision should be based on the distance between the light source and the artwork. For most pictures the goal is to provide even illumination for the entire piece. Spot lights are good for smaller pieces where as flood lights work well with larger pieces. Often times, two or more lamps are ideal for lighting larger displays. If several small art pieces are located on the same wall, wall washing with light is a great solution.

Are there special considerations for 3D artwork?
If you only use a single accent light, it will produce a strong shadow on the 3-dimensional object which will ultimately create a harsh contrast between the light and dark areas of the piece. This contrast can be reduced by combining light from different directions. For example, direct light from the front has strong modeling ability. Light from above produces strong shadows on an object whereas light from behind creates a silhouette. Complementing the primary frontal light with back-lighting reduces shadowing and reveals texture.

How do you avoid glare?
To prevent glare, 2-dimensional artwork should be lit at a 30 degree vertical angle, says Petryuchenko. Lighting from a more horizontal angle causes glare from glass or glossy paper and a steeper angle may create distracting shadows from the frame.

What fixtures do you recommend?
There are several types of fixtures that can be used to accent artwork. Recessed, adjustable down lights offer the cleanest solutions and come in a variety of sizes, finishes and optics. Track lighting or a low voltage MonoRail system are also great options, as they are the most flexible and commonly used in galleries and museums. These choices also allow you to use variable lenses, filters and accessories to further enhance the artwork lighting. Individual picture lights, which are usually considered to be esthetically part of the artwork, are another alternative for single 2-dimensional pieces.

How can Lightology and Design Illuminations help?
The great thing about Lightology is that the store offers more resources then your average lighting showroom. Not only does the showroom offer many more fixtures and color options compared to other lighting showrooms, having a lighting design firm like Design Illuminations in-house offers further technical knowledge and assistance to ensure that the lighting you purchase works correctly and is installed properly.