Glossary: How to light art

Lighting of art is a very tricky subject as people have many differing views on what is right and wrong. Like most things it ends up as personal choice although we need to eradicate situations that might be harmful to the painting.  

Lighting of watercolours is more problematic than oils due to reflections from windows and artificial lights. Daytime lighting by natural means needs to be away from direct sunlight to avoid fading as the ultra violet rays destroy the paints pigments. Most room situations afford some protection from direct sunlight, just use care and thought in positioning. At night normal room lighting is perfectly adequate to view most paintings. I am personally attracted to up lighting as it gives an all round glow to the work of art without the directness of spots or ceiling lights.

With oil paintings you have an image that is often stronger in colour and texture requiring less artificial lighting. Normal daylight is perfectly adequate to view pictures in comfort but remember, sunlight will causes some change to the colour of the paint, however imperceptible. Normal house lighting after dark works very well without any need to individually highlight a work thus dispensing with my own particular object of hate, the picture light. This intrusive object serves no good purpose and acts as a barrier to the full enjoyment of a work of art.

What type of lighting to use in your house or office.  The best lighting is considered to be be low level halogen which admits a bright intense white light that is complementary to most colours of the spectrum. Fluorescent lighting is high in UV emissions and who would want to live with them!! Incandescent lighting is kind to warm colours such as red and yellow but not good for blues and green. I think you have to take a pragmatic view on the subject in that it's impossible to filter out all harmful natural and artificial light and therefore accept your own lighting with all its inadequacies. The introduction of low level halogen bulbs give a fine light for viewing but when all is said and done,they are not essential.