Picture/Painting light height. Any experience?

[atlasfever]

Hi,

I am really confused as to how high I should place a picture/painting light. I am going to get the kind that sticks out straight, and then has a horizontal straight light housing. Very standard. It does not have a u shape to the arm.

Is there a standard I could use? It's hard at the moment b/c I don't have much art work to fit this space, but I want to try to get a reasonable height. Art work is usually eye level, so, how much space between the art (top of frame) and the light source. Any experience?

Thanks

 

[piper]

I recently heard someone on the radio praising Galileo for finding out things by experiment instead of just following the received wisdom of the Ancients. I'd suggest the same approach to this problem.

 

[atlasfever]

That could be a costly approach. I think he may have had external funding.

 

[piper]

That could be a costly approach. I think he may have had external funding.

Well, I don't think the church would have been willing to subsidise him, but I suppose he did have private means.

Cut a piece of plywood or hardboard the right size to represent an artwork, you may wish to paint it so it's more responsive to light than the usual boring plywood brown and put it where you want to hang the painting. Then temporarily connect the light to an extension cable (health and safetly considerations duly observed) and get someone to hold it above the "picture". Move it up and down until it's right. Mark the place.
(Alternatively, put the light up first and move the painting up and down until it looks right.)

 

[worms]

I recently heard someone on the radio praising Galileo for finding out things by experiment instead of just following the received wisdom of the Ancients. I'd suggest the same approach to this problem.

If Galileo was alive today, I bet he'd have Googled the answers like the rest of us!

 

[Nigel Watts]

If your are not sure where you will need the light you could opt for a frame mounted light such as one of these:

They can be attached either to the wall or to the back of the picture frame and seem to be adjustable - up or down. You will still have to decide where to place the electrical output, but this will give you more flexibility.

I rather wish I had thought about doing this before I wallpapered my drawing rooom.