Light

North Light:

North light, commonly known as reflected light or indirect light, produces cool and
controlled value shifts.
With a north light window, the artist does not have to dread the effects of sun
moving through the studio at different angles during the day.
North light basks the subject matter and painting in the same cool atmosphere.
This helps the artist have far greater control over values, contrasts and subtle color
changes within a painting.
Northern light is effectively reflected light, and doesnt come directly from the sun,
but is in fact light bounced off everything else; building, trees, the ground, the
atmosphere. e.t.c. and generally has a constant cool value.
Northern light, because it is effectively reflected light, does not change tone or
warmth throughout the day as much as direct southern sun light does. If you think
about it, when the sun first comes up in the morning its a lovely yellow/orange
color and quite warm, but as it raises in the sky throughout the day it becomes less
so, and at the suns highest point in the sky the light is a bright yellow, almost white
color.
Northern light doesnt change direction throughout the day, well, not as much.

http://www.finearttips.com/2010/01/why-how-to-turn-your-window-into-instant-north-
light/

http://www.chrischalkart.com/painting_blog/why-is-northern-light-best-for-artists/
Natural light in art studio

North Facing Skylight

Skylight size

The size of the skylight is directly related to daylight

levels and solar heat gain. The DOE suggests a rule of
thumb that the skylight should not be more than 5% of the
floor area in rooms with many windows and no more than
15% in rooms with few windows.

http://ieslightlogic.org/let-the-sun-shine-in-with-skylights/

Glazing: Skylight

Plastic is cheaper and less likely to break than glass and is common with non-
rectangular skylights, though it scratches easily and can become discolored and
brittle over time.
Unless the plastic is coated with a special film, it will allow most of the ultraviolet
content in the sunlight to pass through, which can increase fade damage to fabrics,
furnishings and artwork.
Glass skylights, which use tempered glass for safety, are more expensive but are
more durable and dont discolor over time.

Orientation

Skylights on north-facing roofs provide relatively constant illumination with a cool

light appearance, this will help controlling light heating the art work in art studio.

Ventilation

skylights offer the ability to ventilate hot air that gathers near the ceiling.
Moisture control

The skylight should be mounted above the roof surface and feature a curb, flashing
and thoroughly sealing joints.
A layer of sheet waterproofing may be applied over the flanges/flashing for
protection.

http://ieslightlogic.org/let-the-sun-shine-in-with-skylights/

Artificial Light for Painting

Considerations in artificial lights:

High CRI.

CRI stands for color rendering index. This is a must. if you want your colors to look
the same or almost the same when you look at them in daylight.
A high CRI means that the lights do a good job of faithfully showing colors when
compared to a natural light source.

Temperature

Around 6500K is ideally for it has a good and cool temperature and that will be
similar to north light. but doesnt have to be that high to balance the light.

Flexibility

Not only natural light can help artists in their studio, the advantage of artificial light
is flexibility.
A right artificial lights can help the artists in doing their work.
With artificial light sources, the light can be made up to suit the situation: intensity;
UV-content; direction; diffusion; and color rendering (the "coolness" or "warmth" of
the color of the light) can be fully controlled

http://www.learning-to-see.co.uk/artificial-lights-for-painting

http://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-light-art
The color-rendering index (CRI)

The color-rendering index (CRI) indicates a lights ability to illuminate color

accurately. The sun has a CRI of 100.
Bulbs with a CRI of 80 to 100 are best at revealing vibrant, natural hues.

The correlated color temperature (CCT)

measured in Kelvin, refers to how warm or cool a light appears.

Too warm a bulb may tint work reddish yellow, whereas too cool of a light can turn
things blue.
For a good balance of warmth and coolness, bulbs with a CCT of 5500 K, the
equivalent of the midday sun.
If you prefer cooler light, akin to north light, look for bulbs rated 7500 K.

http://www.artistsnetwork.com/articles/how-to-choose-studio-lighting

LED Lights in Art Studio and Galleries

Benefits of LEDs lighting:

energy cost savings

mitigation of damaging Ultraviolet (UV) light
emissions.
LEDs reduce concern of deterioration from
ultraviolet (UV) rays, because they have
virtually no emission in the UV spectrum.
LED lights also emit much less infrared (heat)
than incandescent/halogen lamps, also
eliminating risk of damage from a rise in
temperature.

http://lumicrest.com/art-gallery-led-lighting/
Storage of painting and materials

The ideal temperature for storing paintings is room temperature, between 60F and
80F (16C - 26C). As a side note, it is generally recommended not to store paints
at freezing temperatures either.
Store the paintings constant room temperature with low humidity.

Wall color in an contemporary art studio

White studio walls

For instance, having white walls and ceilings will produce the most illuminated space, with
light bouncing around the room surface and surrounding surfaces creating ambient,
reflected illumination but in contemporary artist this can give them feel light and airy to do
such modern paintings.

https://www.art-is-fun.com/temperatures-that-damage-paintings/

ART GALLERY

Intensity of light to protect artwork

For items that are moderately sensitive, such as oil and tempera paintings,
lacquerware, plastics, wood, furniture, horn, bone, ivory, undyed leather and
minerals, the maximum recommended level is 200 lux.
Stone, ceramic, glass, and metal are insensitive to light insensitive, but it is
recommended that 300 lux not be exceeded.

Wall color in Commercial Art Gallery

white wall color

With the rise of modernism, both art and the contexts in which it was displayed
underwent significant change. Modern artists experimented with new ways of seeing, and
gallery spaces were adapted to suit the new ideas and materials being explored. White
was considered to be an effective means of creating a pure space; a void-like
atmosphere, in which art could be experienced without superfluous distractions.

http://www.zimmerman.co.nz/insider-info/44-why-do-galleries-have-white-walls

I suppose the white cube is popular in commercial galleries because it works. It helps to
sell things.

Ivan Gaskell

Professor of Cultural History and Museum Studies, Bard Graduate Center

http://www.hopesandfears.com/hopes/now/question/216781-why-are-art-galleries-white-
cubes