How to Light Your Canvas Wall Art
So you're eager to find the best place and way to display your art. While location is important, lighting plays a large role in the impact your piece will have on your space.
When you get a new piece of artwork, you're likely eager to find the best place to display it. While location is important, lighting plays a large role in the impact your piece will have on your space. You can make an amazing piece of art even better by lighting the wall art appropriately.
Light plays a vital role in art itself and displaying it; the colors, size, and position of wall art can determine the best light for it. And when you know how to choose lighting and use it effectively, you can highlight your artwork's greatest features and really make it shine in any space.
Natural Light Isn’t the Answer
Direct sunlight poses a potential threat to the longevity of wall art, causing damage that may lead to faded colors and distorted images over time. While many wall art pieces are treated with a sun-resistant coating, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight is not recommended. To preserve the vibrancy of your art, consider hanging it on walls away from windows that don't receive direct sunlight. This strategic placement ensures that your artificial lighting can have a maximum effect while eliminating the risk of UV damage.
And here's where Great Big Canvas Wall Art stands out – our pieces are crafted with UV-resistant inks and backed by the assurance of our workmanship guarantee. This means your investment is not just a decorative addition to your space; it's a testament to lasting quality and vibrant aesthetics. With Great Big Canvas, you can trust that your wall art will continue to bring life and color to your surroundings without worrying about the damaging effects of sunlight. We believe in the enduring value of our products, and our workmanship guarantee ensures that your wall art remains a source of joy and inspiration for years to come.
Ambient vs. Art Lighting: Choosing the Best Fit for Your Wall Art
Ambient lighting, like lamps or ceiling lights, may be fine in a space that is well-lit. You won’t need to rely on any specific bulb or lamp to have a beautiful display; that being said, there are some factors to consider, such as:
● Color: Most artwork looks best with bulbs between 3000 to 4000K. These bulbs are warm but not overly yellow, so they can bring out the colors of artwork without altering them or making them appear too faded or harsh.
● Avoid Fluorescents: Fluorescent bulbs are too strong and will make art look washed out. They’re also harder on your eyes, which can distract from the pleasurable experience of viewing art.
● Choose the Right Fixture: Both recessed and surface-mounted lighting can be beneficial. It all depends on the ambience you want to create; recessed lights offer a clean aesthetic and can draw attention specifically to canvases.
Art lights are specifically designed to highlight artwork and make them stand out in any space; they are designed to diffuse non-direct light that doesn’t cast any harsh shadows or distort colors.
Tips for Lighting Wall Art
Before focusing on light, it's important to choose the right condition for your art; the ideal place to hang wall art is away from direct sunlight and not under any harsh artificial light sources, either. If you can feel a lamp's heat on your art or the wall you intend to hang it on, then it is too close.
Go for LED
Light emitting diodes (LED) are the longest-lasting types of bulbs and the most energy-efficient. A single LED bulb delivers up to 50,000 hours of illumination! Even if you keep it on for 10 hours a day, one bulb could last up to 14 years.
LED bulbs come in a variety of colors and are also environmentally friendly. Their greenhouse gas emissions are far less than any other type of bulb, making them a great choice for the planet — and your art!
Hang Your Lights at a 30-Degree Angle
Direct light can create shadows and even harm your art. For the best results, angle your art lighting at a 30-degree angle from the top of the image; for larger frames, at five degrees. You can always add or subtract a few degrees to see how you like the effect it creates.
Consider the Surroundings
Is your wall art on display close to others, or does it stand alone as a statement piece in your room? Depending on its position relative to other artwork, you may want to opt for more or less focal lighting.
In a group setting, you may want people's attention to first fall on the entire collection before looking at individual pieces. On the other hand, lighting can create a visual grounding point that instantly draws people's eyes to a photo.
Final Tips
The best way to light wall art is to remember color, avoid direct lighting, and play with angles to get the desired look. Lighter yellow tones are best, but you may move to the cooler end of the color spectrum if the artwork feels too warm or muted with warmer light.
Remember to have fun finding the best way to display your work! Experiment with different set-ups until you strike a display that truly speaks to you and brings your art to life on the wall.
We believe art wields the power to inspire, energize, and transform people and places. Our team of curators and craftspeople are passionate about providing art that meets your unique vision and style.