How Artists Use Smart Lighting October 3, 2016 00:00

Every artist knows the heartbreak that comes from finally finishing a piece only to have it fall below expectations – the hours of labor, months of planning, and years of inspiration – all for a creation that leaves you feeling like something’s just not right. Sometimes, the problem isn’t with the art itself, but the way it’s displayed.

Smart lighting might be just the tool you’re looking for to make your art pop. That’s why we’ve created a list of lighting tips for artists that focus on how smart lighting can change the way you create.

Display your art in a better light

The LED revolution has led to a surge in artists across the globe using this versatile yet powerful light source to show their works off in a different kind of light. One lighting best practice for artists is using the more basic functionality of smart lighting to light your piece the way it ought to be lit.

LEDs generally have a more concentrated beam spread than other lights and when coupled with the dimming feature of most smart lighting, you’ll have more control than ever in how your work is displayed. Plus, they’re easy to use and install, an especially handy fact when your venue lacks the facilities you need.

Additionally, many museums are switching over solely to LEDs to light their famous works of art due to the light’s preservative qualities. In the past, institutions had to outfit their priceless works with UV filters to keep the damaging light spectrum produced by traditional incandescents from reducing the life of works like Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers”. LEDs, however don’t produce any UV rays, and when you factor in the efficiency each bulb can boast over every other form of lighting, it’s no wonder museums across the world are making the switch.

Incorporate light directly into your art

Beyond simply using smart lighting as a way to bring out the best of what your works have to offer, artists everywhere are finding out that smart bulbs are uniquely suited for using light itself as another layer for their art.

For instance, smart bulbs like the FluxSmart Bluetooth LED features the ability to switch between over 16 million different colors, whether done directly from your smart device in seconds or by following a preset schedule you can create. What this opens up for you as an artist is an entirely new dimension for what you can do with your creations. Take a look at these murals that completely change depending on what color light is shone on them to get an idea.

The versatility of smart lighting isn’t limited to just the ease of changing the color output either. The technological advancements of lighting have made it easy for artists to incorporate light and the bulbs themselves into the works. With a dazzling display of light in motion set on a canvas of water, a multicolor lit array of 300 floating paper boats, and interactive color changing stepping pads, this type of art, dubbed light art, shows how lighting innovation has contributed enormously to an evolving artistic landscape. Check out this list of light art installations for even more inspiration and awe.

Light for musicians

While smart lighting is perfect for visual artists in that light itself is, well, visual, artists that focus on our other senses may be surprised at how smart lighting can seamlessly transition into their realm as well.

Musicians, for instance, might find it particularly interesting that smart lighting has advanced to the point of being able to incorporate speakers directly into a light bulb, such as with the FluxSmart Melody and the FluxSmart Blast. These bulbs are able to pull tunes directly from your smart device to play surprisingly high-quality audio from anywhere with a light socket, perfect for a low key get together or an apartment packed album release party.

DJs, on the other hand, are likely to know the advantages of having a high-quality light system for their sets. If you want your crowd to get the most from your bass and rhythm you need to have a colorful, dynamic light show to coincide with the beats. Smart lighting is just the ticket, not only because of its range of customizable options like brightness, color, and scheduling, but also because of the many additional features like strobes, fading, and more than anything else the music sync, where your lights will change colors and intensify to the beat of your music.

Tell us what you think

Are you an artist that’s used smart lighting to help share your vision? What kind of ways have smart bulbs changed your work? Let us know in the comments below and don’t forget to check out the wealth of smart lighting options from FluxSmart to help you feel inspired!