Picture and Art Lighting

By considering the factors of art or picture size, home design elements, and the physical attributes of a home one can make a sound decision on the type and design of picture or art lighting. The most widely used type of illumination for picture lighting is a horizontal lighting fixture mounted either on the back of the art work or on the wall over the art work such as shown below. These types of lighting fixtures are provided with a cord to be plugged into a lighting receptacle below the artwork. This cord contains a roll switch as to allow the user to manually turn the light on and off. Some clients have their electricians recess a receptacle into the wall behind the artwork whereby this receptacle is operated off of a wall switch. This type of installation is obviously more aseptically preferable since no cord is left to dangle beneath the artwork.

Also available are direct wire picture lines such as shown below.

Some customers who prefer to illuminate the artwork from afar such as a ceiling or in instances where no electrical outlet is not available on the wall; low voltage recessed can often be used in a variety of configuration. In certain instances the best solution is to utilize a recessed can with a rotating eye and direct the light at specific angle toward the artwork. In making as to whether or not a recessed can would give one adequate light for the task, one would take in consideration the distance between the recessed can and the artwork, the angle of rotation required by the eyeball as to adequately land on the artwork, and last the beam spread and intensity of light bulb to be used.

Low voltage lighting systems are also used shown as above to illuminate large displays of art that require multiple heads and where recessed cans are not option because of pitched or very high ceilings.

Click Here to View More Picture and Lighting Designs