Tips and ideas for lighting your paintings

If you want to buy paintings online, you should know that not every type of lighting is suitable. There are risk factors that can damage your new purchase, cause it to lose color, or deteriorate the canvas.

In addition, some lights do not show the painting’s colors accurately, or are too dim to let your purchase shine as brightly as it did when you saw it in the gallery. That is why, at EsglaiArt, we show you how to light your paintings so they look their best.

How to light your painting properly

Where to place it: First of all, avoid placing your painting in direct sunlight. This is because sunlight emits heat and infrared and ultraviolet rays. These factors damage the paint, causing paintings to lose color and look worn.

Type of light: These days, LED lights are the best choice for illuminating paintings. They do not emit rays that could affect the painting, and they do not produce heat. They are also economical, although you should look for good-quality ones so they do not look cheap. Other types of lights, such as halogen lights, emit rays and heat. They require you to place a filter in front of your artwork. These filters can be built into the light or be special protective glass placed in front of the painting.

Lighting placement: You should place the light source so that it does not cast shadows on the painting or create glare. So, you need to take these factors into account. As a general rule, you can place the lights on the ceiling or in front of the painting. It depends on the artwork and your personal taste. If you only have one painting, a light in front of it can be an excellent option. Note that, since it is so close to the painting, it should not be too bright. If you have several paintings in your home, ceiling lights are a good idea. Just make sure that other furniture in the house or people standing in front of the painting do not cast shadows on it.