Lighting Your Wall Art

If you have a portrait or figurative painting the light

should go toward the face and around the upper body of the

subject. Start with the subject of the painting and where

you see the beam spread is fading out add a second bulb to

boost the light on faded sections. Don't illuminate every

portion of the painting, once you highlight the subject the

rest of the painting adds elegance as the light flows into the

frame.  If the entire piece is lit the light flow will overflow

the frame and become a distraction.

Be sure to have your lights angled in such a way they

do not create what are called hot spots on the frame. Hot

spots are created by light hitting certain portions more

heavily than others. This will draw your eyes to the hot spot

and away from the subject.

It's not very expensive to hire a professional

electrician to put in can lights. Can lights are a top-shelf

choice for lighting art; the can is recessed into the ceiling

leaving only an eyeball socket exposed creating a neat and

tidy appearance. To set up a can light fixture in your

home most electricians should charge you about $30

for the can light, about $6 for the bulb, and about $30

for their time. If you prefer a more delicate appearance

use what are called MR-16's, which are the small halogen

lights, but they only come with a 12-degree spread.

Two things you should look for in a poorly illuminated

painting are:

· If your eyes are drawn to parts of the painting

having nothing to do with the subject.

· The painting has a flat cool appearance