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Art Studio Lighting Design (how to

avoid being kept in the dark)
by W
in A

P
P

I'm Will Kemp, I'm an award-winning

professional artist and teacher.
I've studied in Italy, run my own art
gallery, taught in museums & schools and
I'm going to share my professional art
secrets with you.

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Natural light in Cezannes artist studio

Have you ever been half-way through a painting and suddenly the art studio light
changes?

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You carry on painting, hoping for a break in the weather, trying to remember the

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colour youve just mixed, and then the lighting changes.. again.
You think it wont matter, its not that important, but the way you light your art
studio can be one of the most cost effective ways of improving your painting and
your colour mixing without buying another tube of paint.
One of the easiest methods of designing better lighting, is to simply change your
light bulb.
But not all studio lamps are created equal.
From a 5 hardware store fluorescent tube to a 1,500 bespoke solution, the choices
you make affect your ability to match colours accurately, judge skin tones
effectively, and even feel a little happier by the quality of light you paint within.
With different options available you can have studio lighting the Old Masters would
have been proud of. without turning to shots of Absinthe.

Emergency Chocolate Biscuits Needed

Trying to understand all the considerations when choosing my own studio lighting
nearly led me to a lighting melt down! But bear in mind, Im trying to design a
bespoke studio where Ill be painting 12 hours a day some days, through gloomy
British weather and many a midnight painting session. So I need a space that has
both natural light and the best quality artificial light.

There are so many variables and its such a specialist request that many Electricians
will roll their eyes at you. With this tricky subject in mind, I have tried to created a
summary of what you really need to know, and it can get a bit technical in places.
Do I really need to know this? I hear you cry!
Maybe, maybe not.
It depends on how much painting you do and your current lighting situation

Artist studio lighting

As a painter I have worked in a range of studios with a variety of lighting, from the
most fantastic natural brightness of light in the Mediterranean to orange
incandescent bulbs that made my paintings look dull and dreary.
Finding a solution between natural lighting, artificial lighting and your budget can be
a balancing act, depending on the subject you are lighting , your style of painting,
space you have and funds available.
Ive been struggling for years to find a simple, easy solution and have had many
setbacks with my paintings along the way, trying to understand the difference
between the lighting types, styles, colour temperatures, Kelvins, CRIs the list
seems to go on!
Im currently just finishing building my new studio and thought it was the perfect
opportunity for me to address all the art studio lighting questions Ive had in the past
and put them into practice in my new studio space.

Picture hanging vs picture painting

Generally, the light you use in your studio is nearly always going to be different to
the specific lighting arrangements of where the painting will finally hang and be
viewed in.
Ive painted subtle grey tones before, that look fantastic on my easel, but I know
from experience they would almost disappear if hung in a hallway without natural
light.
I tend to paint in quite a bright space, the same light illumination levels youll
usually find in an operating theatre, so when the paintings are displayed in a room
with softer bulbs, the effect of the painting changes.
So, if you are commissioned to create a painting and have a chance of viewing the
wall where the picture will hang, Id say it is pretty critical to go and have a look.
It could be a bright conservatory or a dimly lit corridor and this can dramatically
change how you approach the commission.
So whats the best light to paint in? Lets start with the artist favourite, North light.

The Myth of North light

All artists paint under North light, right?
Thats what were led to believe, if you could only find the perfect window, the right
size and the perfect height, that sends in soft North light, your paintings would be
perfect?
Not quite.
North light describes the location of the sun in the sky, having a window that only
allows in North light helps to avoid having direct sunlight shine into the art studio
while you work.

This is better for a painter because the light is more constant.

Notice how I didnt say 100% constant, butmore constant than the dramatic
changes that happen with direct sunlight.
North light still changes.
Pro tip: North light only works if your studio is in the Northern Hemisphere, as a
North lit artist studio in the Southern hemisphere will face direct sunlight coming
through the window.

Windows and bounced light

The first thing to look at is where your window is.
Ideally you would want a North facing window above your easel at about 35 angle
from your canvas, so you get directional light on the canvas without getting glare.
Glare is most prominent if you are painting vertically with oil paints.

Photo: Perry Ogden

Francis Bacons studio notice the position of the easel in relationship to the
window

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My studio halfway through the build the side of my studio is North facing so Ive
installed 3 large Velux ceiling windows on a pitched roof
This gives me a nice spread of natural light if Im working with the window light
directly behind me or to the left side of me as Im right handed so the canvas is
always illuminated, similar to the position of the easel in the Rembrandt studio
below.
If you have a large North facing window that is low (like Cezannes window light in his
studio above) you have to be aware of bounced light.
This is where light from outside is coming in from the bottom of the window and then
hitting the top of the ceiling in the studio reflecting light from the ceiling down into
the space.
If youre trying to create a strong directional light effect, the reflected light from the
ceiling can lessen the strong contrast, also, if you have any colour on the ceiling this
will be reflected into your studio.
You just need to add a hood over the top of the window to stop the light spilling up
into the ceiling.
Its like adding a barn door to a photography studio light youre just controlling the
light coming into the space.
Depending on where you live in the world, the intensity of the light will vary, so a
bright summers day in Italy, will be much more intense than a summers day in the
UK.

Impressionistic or Classical
If you paint in a more Impressionistic style, like Cezanne, reflected light can add to
your set up, illumination of the space is your number one priority.
However, if you are only going to be creating highly dramatic, Chiaroscuro Old
Master style lighting, then reflected light can pose problems.
You can go completely black in the studio, black walls, black ceilings, black floor,
black clothes! but if you dont manage reflected light then it can defeat the whole
object of creating a space lit with one single light source.

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Rembrandts Art Studio lighting Look at the low blackout windows and the
canvas hood that prevents the light bouncing on the ceiling. You can read about
my visit to Rembrandts studio here.
So, if you have a large low window, generally the bottom half should be covered with
diffuser fabric so you get only light coming into your studio higher up, helping to
illuminate your canvas without casting shadows.
Black out roller blinds can be very helpful in controlling the intensity of the light, the
smaller and higher the light source, the more half tones you see in the subject.
Now we begin to enter the realms of artificial lighting.

What is colour temperature?

Have you ever seen a chameleon change colour?
Well, this is how light changes throughout the day, depending on the time of year,
weather, and if youre in the Northern or Southern hemisphere.
Just as different paint colours are called warm and cool, so are different light sources.
And this can effect how you perceive colours in your studio.
With natural daylight, the changes happen subtly throughout the day, so initial
colour change isnt always apparent. However, when youre concentrating and trying
to paint a subject, you are battling against the perceived colours that keep
changing!
This is why in Monets Haystack series he worked on numerous canvases as every
couple of hours the light changed.
I overcome this in my studio by painting under a combination of natural and artificial

light. For these to marry together we need to aware of the range of colour
temperature of bulbs (often referred to by electricians as lamps)

Colour Temperature
The colour temperature of lamps are measured on the Kelvin (K) scale, so you can
say what Kelvin are those lamps? and sound super clever!
Its called colour temperature because the scale originated from heating up Carbon
to extremely high temperatures and the different temperatures produce a different
colour.
If you were to heat carbon to 2426.85 degrees Celsius it would have a Kelvin of
2700K, and would glow yellowish-white.
If you heated carbon to 5126.85 degrees Celsius it would have a Kelvin of 5400K,
and would glow bluish-white.
So the higher up the Kelvin scale (colour temperature) we go, the cooler and more
blue the light.
So a lamp with a Kelvin of 6500K would be called a cool light.
So how does this relate to North light?

The Kelvin of North light

The most common colour temperatures of light are as follows:
A regular household incandescent bulb 2,500K 3000K and gives a nice warm
light
Office fluorescent light 4,000K 5000K and gives a cleaner, cooler light
Noon Daylight 5,500 K
North Light (blue sky) 7,500K -10,000K

North light varies depending on if you live in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere,
but in general North light/ blue sky is around 7, 500 10,000 Kelvin and if you were
to mimic this is a lamp would be far too blue/cool to paint with.
In my studio, because I need artificial light as well as natural light I aim for a lamp of
between 5000K 5500K, this gives a white light rather than it having a cast of being
too blue or too orange.
But just relying on Kelvin isnt the only consideration, its number 1 on your tick list

but you could buy a cheap bulb with a 5000K but if it hasnt got a full spectral range,
referred to in the industry as a CRI rating, then it might not be as accurate as you
think.
CRI (pronounced cree not C.R.I like F.B.I as I first thought!) stands for Colour
Rendering Index.
This is the ability of a light source to render a full spectrum of colours to our eyes.

Colour rendering Index CRI

So, the next thing we have to consider when choosing a lamp is the colour-rendering
index (CRI), this indicates a lights ability to illuminate colour accurately.
Natural daylight has a CRI rating of 100, this is what ideally were aiming to mimic in
a lamp.
The more balanced the rendering results are, the higher the CRI will be.
Pro tip: Full spectrum lighting is a phrase used by the lighting industry to denote
bulbs that mimic the properties of sunlight, but some bulbs/lamps described this way
perform better than others. So for example, you could have an artificial light source
that renders blues and reds accurately but doesnt have a strong yellow in its
spectral curve so the rendering of the yellow will be duller.

Here you can see this has a very spiky, spectral curve, so doesnt offer an even
colour rendering.
Colour is created by the selective reflection and absorption of the colours in the
visible spectrum by the paintings pigments.
This is really important for the lighting in your studio so you can mix a full range of
colours accurately.
The higher the CRI score (out of 100) the more accurate to a full spectrum colour,
the light source. Bulbs with a CRI of 80 to 100 are best at revealing vibrant, natural
hues.
With artificial light, were looking for a light source that is ideally over 90 and as
close to 100 as possible. Different lamps have different colour rendering indexs. This
indicates how smooth, or how spiky the light source is. If the source has spikes in it
or is not well balanced you get an illumination that has flat rendition of some colours.
Just as a note, the highest CRI rating lighting manufacturers produce with a 5000K
5500K is currently around 98.
Pro tip: 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 a light can turn things blue. For a good balance of warmth and
coolness, look for bulbs with a CCT of 5500 K, the equivalent of midday sun. If you
prefer cooler light, akin to north light, look for bulbs rated 6500 K.

Lumens, Lux & Light Output

And finally but very importantly the next (and almost last) thing to consider is
luminosity or brightness.
This is different to Kelvin or CRI, this is the lamps lumen rating or wattage rating.

Light Measurement
Light measurement is complex. It is difficult to compare products when
manufacturers provide performance in different formats. Wattage is the measure of
how much electrical power a light source uses, not how bright it is. For a true
comparison of output, lumen is the best measure to use.
The lumen is the measure of luminous power of a light source as perceived by the
human eye. Lumens describe how much light in total is emitted from a light source.

What are Lumens?

Watts measure the amount of energy required to light products, whereas lumens
measure the amount of light produced.
The more lumens in a light bulb, the brighter the light.
Using lumens helps you to work out how bright the space will be, regardless of the
type of lamp you are using.
For example: You could have a LED down-light, a Compact Fluorescent Lamp and an
Incandescent bulb that all have different wattage per bulb but by using Lumens you
can work out the light output produced.

40-watt incandescent bulb = 450 lumens

29-watt Halogen = 450 lumens
9-watt LED = 450 lumens
9-watt Compact Fluorescent Lamp = 450 lumens
So to clarify, generally, total light output from a light source, regardless of the
direction the light travels, is specified in lumens (lm).

So can I just find a handy Lumen comparison chart to see how

many lamps I need for my studio space?
You would think!
But there are so many variables that there isnt a one size fits all and to complicate it
further to describe the amount of light that hits a specific surface eg: your canvas,
another term is used called Lux or Footcandle depending if you work in meters or
feet.
Lux is defined as the level of brightness at a particular distance from the light
source.
So the further from the light source the less the Lux level.
The formulas for measuring how much brightness you will need in your space are
complicated, I found trying to work out light fallout, ceiling height, diffusers on
lamps, beam spread etc.. really difficult to calculate!

Simplest Solution

My top tip for lighting a small art studio with a ceiling height of 8 10 foot, is a bulb
you can just screw into your existing fitting and is a Compact Fluorescent Bulb.
It should have a 90+ CRI rating, 5000K- 5500K colour temperature and around 85
watts, it will give a light output of around 5000 lumens at the lamps source and will
give you a bright, clean light to work under.
Pro Tip: The light strength diminishes as the light is moved further from the source
so by the time it hits your canvas it would probably be a 2/3 of the strength, around
1,800 lux based on you sitting 1.5 meters away from the lamp in the ceiling.
The recommended lux level for detailed drawing work or very detailed mechanical
work is 1500 2000 lux so this would fit the bill! Hurray!
However, 1500 lux is still very bright and I would imagine for most home studio
situations, this bulb would give out ample illumination.
For many classical paintings a lux level of 350 500 lux can still work very well,
especially if your finished piece is going to be hanging in a darker space.
The lux value changes depending on how far away from the source you are painting,
the angle of the beam etc.. but this lux calculator is very handy if you want to
check your own studio and find a light level that works best for the style of work and
type of paintings you are going to be creating.

Lux can be measured by a Lux meter if you want to get super pro

A Brief Lamp Overview

Heres my overview of lighting and how to choose the best solution for your own
space.
Incandescent Household Lamp
These are very inexpensive, have a high CRI rating 95+ but are a very warm light
resulting in you actually painting things cooler than you would like, not the best
choice for an art studio. Incandescent light bulbs are being phased out in favour of
more energy-efficient lighting.
Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL)

A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) is a type of fluorescent lamp. Many CFLs are
designed to replace an incandescent lamp and can fit into most existing light fixtures
formerly used for incandescent light bulbs but generally use less power, have a
longer rated life and give the same amount of light, but at a higher purchase price.
They generally have a lower CRI rating of 80 + (you can find odd ones that are
higher) but Kelvin can be 5000K 5500K.
CFLs radiate a different light spectrum from that of incandescent lamps, but are

becoming more similar in colour output to the standard incandescent light bulb.
Halogen Lamp
A halogen lamp consists of a tungsten filament sealed in a compact transparent
envelope filled with an inert gas and a small amount of halogen such as iodine or
bromine. The halogen iodine or bromine increases the lifetime and the luminous
efficiency of the lamp. Halogen lamps reach a luminous efficiency of approximately
25 lumens per watt (a conventional incandescent light bulb is approximately 15
lumens per watt and a compact fluorescent lamp is approximately 60 lumens per
watt).
Halogen bulbs are smaller than conventional light bulbs and usually found in
recessed task lighting, CRI is high but colour temperature is usually very warm.
Full Spectrum Halogen Lamps
Want to light your painting like the Mona Lisa?
Then you need to invest in some Solux bulbs.
These bad boys are used in museums globally, such as The Louvre in Paris,
Guggenheim Museum, NY & The Van Gogh Museum to name a few. The CRI rating
and spectral curve is amazing and for artificial lighting that best illuminates natural
daylight, you cant get much better.
So, have we found the perfect solution?
It depends.
If you work small and have a friendly electrician these can be a great solution, there
is a 4 lamp track available that gives a great value spread light, however, the
halogen light has a spot effect, rather than bringing up the illumination of the room.
So for lighting the Mona Lisa, perfect.
For creating an ambient light in your studio?
Harder to achieve.
The lights are often use for photography proofing of colours, so have been
designed on a track system for illuminating a wall.
The halogens also run hotter than the fluorescents and use a touch more energy.
Also they are harder to track down in the U.K.
Solux bulbs are the best halogens on the market, but they are expensive compared
to lifespan/ cost ratio of fluorescent bulbs.
Pro Tip: They produce an amazing reading lamp for a lovely quality of light.
Full Spectrum Fluorescent Tubes
These tubes are probably the next best thing indoors to North light for most artists
wanting a good illumination of the whole space.
They are relatively cheap and efficient and have good color indexes on the more
expensive tubes.
The light source of a fluorescent tube is mercury and the light that mercury produces
gives of spiky lightwaves, the light isnt an even spectral curve.
To combat this manufacturers coat the inside of fluorescent tubes with a phosphor
coating.

The phosphor coating helps to smooth out the spiky light wavelengths and gives a
more even spread of colours.
So for lighting an artist studio were looking for a tube with a tri-phosphor coating.
Good quality triphosphor fluorescents use three phosphors to give off red, green
and blue light. This tricks your eyes into thinking they are seeing white, in much the
same way as a TV screen works.
Specialist fluorescents are available with a CRI higher than 90%, but these are
slightly less efficient and are usually only used by professionals such as graphic
designers or artists.
I will be using full spectrum fluorescents to light my studio, the lamps Im going to
go for are Philips TL-D 90 Graphica Pro Triphosphor 4 T8 36 Watt
Fluorescent Tube 36W,
They have a Kelvin of 5300K and a CRI of 98 and I can create a bank of lights to
mimic diffused daylight whilst ensuring the lux level is going to be high enough.
On a happy note, as the bulb mimics natural daylight its ideal for sufferers
of Seasonally Affected Disorder or S.A.D, so gives a feel good factor whilst you work!
A Note on Fluorescent Lamps
In fluorescent tubes there is a number that represents the diameter of the tube.
The tubes Im using are called a T8 and the industry are in the process of phasing
them out, along with the T12 in favour of more energy efficient bulbs.
The T5 and LEDs are the alternative but Ive yet to find either that offer a high
enough CRI rating, however, I believe over the next couple of years with
developments in manufacturing there will be a more energy efficient like for like
replacement.
Phew! hope it helps with setting up your art studio space.

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{ 339 comments read them below or add one }

Sara Horoyd

March 20, 2013

Excellent discussion of lighting. Thanks.

R

Will Kemp

March 20, 2013

Cheers Sara, Youre welcome,

Will
R

Mike

October 17, 2014

Thanks for that. Great to find someone that has done all the tedious
research. I will go back to the lighting shop next week armed with new
specifications.
Mike.
R

Will Kemp

October 17, 2014

Pleased it helped Mike,

Cheers,
Will
R

Herman

March 20, 2013

Well done!
Thank you very much for sharing this useful research work.
R

Will Kemp

March 20, 2013

Cheers Herman, pleased you enjoyed it.

Will
R

Orla

March 20, 2013

Great studio lighting info.Will. OMG Bacons studio is so messy. How did he
find anything! Love the look of Cezannes studio. For the moment I paint in my
dining area beside my glass double doors and only paint in daylight hours but I
would love to have a dedicated painting studio when Im more experienced.
Congrats on the new studio. Its looking great.
Cheers,
Orla :)
R

Will Kemp

March 20, 2013

Cheers Orla, a glass double door is a great place to start.

Will
R

john

May 18, 2014

Orla,
Great observation on Bacons studio, it explains why his work looks like it
does :) We work as we live. I can imagine that Pollocks studio was filled with
tables of unwashed plates of spaghetti and Mondrian bought all his furniture
from IKEA.
R

Sara Jane Palmer

March 20, 2013

What about fluorescents strips that have daylight bulbs?

R

Will Kemp

March 20, 2013

Hi Sara,
I mention fluorescent strip light bulbs under the Full Spectrum Fluorescent
Tubes section,
Cheers,
Will
R

Dale

March 20, 2013

Thanks for this, Will.

The information was very helpful, as per your usual standard.
Cheers
R

Will Kemp

March 20, 2013

Thanks Dale, kind of you to say so, pleased it helped.

Will
R

Alison Stafford

March 20, 2013

Wow! I never knew it was that technical! And I thought artists were
supposed to use the other side of their brain. I will stick to my patio doors with a
fly screen up for now, but an excellent article and one that I will definitely refer to
again. Thanks Will :)
P.S. Got 4 pieces in an exhibition in April/May! Eeeeeeeeeekkkk!!!!
Al
x
R

Will Kemp

March 20, 2013

Hi Al,
Great news about the exhibition, and a fly screen patio door combo sounds
pretty sweet!
Will
R

Niramon Prudtatorn

March 21, 2013

Thank you so much for your efforts , Will. I will have to take days to digest
this information .niramon ,Victoria BC,Canada.
R

Will Kemp

March 21, 2013

Cheers Niramon, a little at a time is best for understanding lighting!

R

Judy Swade

March 21, 2013

Thank you, Will, for the very comprehensive report and photos of lighting
for studios. I found it very helpfulthanks for doing the condensed version.

I appreciate your time and knowledgethanks for sharing

Comments on my work shown on my website- judy swade.com would be valued.
R

Will Kemp

March 21, 2013

Hi Judy, thanks for dropping by, pleased the condensed version helped.
Will
R

karen

March 21, 2013

A few years ago I also researched this lighting issue. The costs are so varied
too. This information is incredibly valuable.
R

Will Kemp

March 21, 2013

Thanks Karen
R

mundo

March 21, 2013

What can I say,thank you for your very complete and valuable
information, you suggest tea and biscuits. But I think I will have a shot of tequila to
your health.
R

Will Kemp

March 21, 2013

Cheer Mundo, pleased the info on lighting helped, and thanks for the
tequila toast!
Will
R

abbie oakley

March 21, 2013

Will! Youve managed to put me off painting for life!

No, actually Ill just get a life and carry on enjoying sitting at my kitchen counter,
splashing paint up the walls and on the tiles and having fun!
Actually, I do have 8 down lighters and a Velux skylight and a glass door to the
garden and when the light gets too bad I head for the vino, never mind cups of
tea and choccy biscuits (a real no-no here in France!).
Abbie
R

Will Kemp

March 21, 2013

Hey Abbie, a vino choice works equally well!

R

Shelly Willingham

March 21, 2013

Great article, Will. Ive just converted a spare room and am fortunate with lots of
natural light living in Australia. I use a combination of construction and
photographic lighting for working at night. I never considered where the painting
will finally hang great point!
R

Will Kemp

March 21, 2013

Cheers Shelly, pleased you enjoyed it,

Will
R

Jo

March 21, 2013

Hi Will,
Thanks for that incredibly useful in depth information.
Im a beginner in acrylic painting, and have no choice but to use a spare 8x10ft
south facing bedroom (good-sized window to one end), with one dangly lightbulb
fitting from the centre of the ceiling (South coast of England). Hey, if I turn out to
be any good perhaps I could invest in more but this is what Ive got to play with at
the moment!
Should I hang some sort of flat net curtains across the window to defuse the direct
bright changeable sunlight? Also which relatively cheap bayonet lightbulb would
you suggest I buy for lighting from the centre of the ceiling?
Also, which acrylic colours would you suggest I buy to get started in acrylic
painting?
Thank you so much for all your help and inspiring videos,
Kind regards, Jo
R

Will Kemp

March 22, 2013

Hi Jo,
Pleased you found the article on lighting helpful, diffusing the light from the
window is a good idea so you dont get so much glare.
In the article under Simplest Solution there is a link to a compact fluorescent
bulb that I would suggest, this is a screw fitting, but bayonet fittings are also
available.
Which acrylic colours would you suggest I buy to get started in acrylic
painting?
Have a read through these articles for my suggestions:
How to choose a basic acrylic palette
How to choose a beginners starter set
Cheers,
Will
R

Jo

March 22, 2013

Thanks Will for your suggestions and support, Ill definitely follow

them up! I feel very excited!!

R

Will Kemp

March 22, 2013

Good one Jo
R

irina

March 21, 2013

Will, thank you so much. I didnt expect to find such a helpful and detailed
article here. You are so kind to explain everything and tell us about different
options of this important part of painting and share your experience. I look
forward to having a look at your new studio.
With love from snowy Moscow,
Irina
R

Will Kemp

March 21, 2013

Youre welcome Irina, really pleased you found the article helpful,
Cheers,
Will
R

Neil O'Keeffe

March 21, 2013

Well done, Will

Very comprehensive and informative
R

Will Kemp

March 21, 2013

Thanks Neil
R

vicki carol

March 21, 2013

That was a lot of info to take in. Most of us just have a small space where
we can paint that usually has to be shared with other activities. Your information
was helpful but you lost me about at the fluorscent blubs. I kept thinking of the
chocolate biscuits, we call them cookies here in the states. The power of
sugguestion. I will consume a few more biscuits and continue reading. Keep us up
on your studios progress.
I only have one small north light window and two small west. Terrible glare in
evening, shades do the trick.
Thanks for a very informative essay on studio lighting. I evernoted it for future use.
Vicki
R

Will Kemp

March 21, 2013

Hi Vicki, a cookie break is definetly needed to take it all in!

Cheers,
Will

Eamonn

March 21, 2013

Hi Will,
I really enjoyed this article. Being a construction professional I know just how
complicated and frustrating it can be trying to make a choice of product in this
area.
I just installed new flourescent tubes in my apartment (studio!) last week and its
made it so much easier to both see the colours Im mixing and the photographs
Im using as a reference. Look forward to seeing the finished studio.
Eamonn
R

Will Kemp

March 21, 2013

Hi Eamonn, thanks for dropping by, good to hear youve been having
some good results with the fluorescent tubes, it really can make colour
matching easier.
Cheers,
Will
R

Susan Massimi

March 21, 2013

Thank you Will for clarifying the confusing subject of lighting and light
bulbs. I am trying to outfit my little studio with proper lighting fixtures, so your
article is an immense help to me at this time. I will keep a copy of this information
and file it in my art notes. Your direction is very clear and I appreciate what you
do.
Thank you again,
Susan
R

Will Kemp

March 21, 2013

Hi Susan, really pleased to hear the article was helpful, an odd change of
bulb can make all the difference.
Cheers,
Will
R

Will Kemp

March 21, 2013

Youre welcome Susan, really pleased it will help with setting up your
studio with some new fixutres and bulbs.
Cheers,
Will
R

Chris Tuck

March 21, 2013

Thanks for the article. I can see you have put alot of thought and work into
its preparation. I found it extremely interesting. Chris
R

Will Kemp

March 21, 2013

Youre welcome Chris, pleased you enjoyed it.

Cheers,
Will
R

Constance Oyama

March 21, 2013

This is my biggest problem in my studio. Thank you for telling me how to fix
my problem.
Connie
R

Will Kemp

March 21, 2013

Good one Connie

R

Helen Northill

March 22, 2013

Wow! Such a lot to take in but so informative. I will have to study this article
more closely as Im looking to light my studio which is really a small garage with
no natural lighting. It has long fluro tubes in it at present. Many thanks Will. This
article came just at the right time for me.
Helen
R

Will Kemp

March 23, 2013

Hi Helen, pleased to hear the article came at the right time. Having the
fluorescent tube fixings is great, just have a look for a good quality tube and
youll be away!
Cheers,
Will
R

Tom Fields

March 23, 2013

Warm light-cool shadows/Cool light-warmshadows, right? Always?

Everywhere?
R

Will Kemp

March 28, 2013

Hi Tom,
Its not as cut and dry as that. As different coloured light sources, the colour of
the object and reflective light can all change the shadow colours in relationship
to the lights.
I am planning on writing an article on this subject soon,
Cheers,
Will
R

Linda Schultz

March 23, 2013

Dear William Kemp,

Thank you for all your research on how to light a studio. I found it very interesting
and sent me back to when I studied physics of light and color. I did a paper on
Impressionist light in using color en plein. I hope others find your research helpful.
Having the right light is important to a painting as is the color scheme and the
subject of composition.
Thank you again,
Linda
R

Will Kemp

March 25, 2013

Hi Linda,
Thanks for dropping by, pleased you enjoyed the article on lighting a studio, I
agree, good lighting can really can make a big difference to your work.
Cheers,
Will
R

Richard Michael Haynes

March 26, 2013

Very useful information, really detailed and much appreciated. thanks

from sunny Barbados.
Richard
R

Will Kemp

March 28, 2013

Cheers Richard,
Pleased you enjoyed the article, Im very jealous of sunny Barbados!
Will
R

Betty Booker

March 30, 2013

Astonishingly comprehensive. Thank you, Will! Am so pleased I stumbled

onto your Website last night and signed up. And all I had been searching for is how
to lay acrylic paints onto canvas to maximize light penetration through the paint.
Betty (in Virginia, your former colony)
R

Will Kemp

March 30, 2013

Hi Betty, youre welcome, thanks for your kind comments, pleased you
enjoyed the article.
Cheers,
Will
R

Mark Witzling

March 30, 2013

thanks for this great description out studio lighting. I am preparing to

expand my studio space (Hooray!) and lighting will be a challenge. This article is
extremely helpful. Many thanks.
R

Will Kemp

March 31, 2013

Hey Mark, pleased you found it helpful, good luck with the studio
expansion.
Will
R

Frank

March 31, 2013

Hello and thanks for the info Will; this will help me considerably. Ill reread
the information and then take notes as to what would be the most effective.
Regards
Frank. Lithgow N.S.W Australia
R

Will Kemp

March 31, 2013

Hi Frank, nice to near from you, pleased you found the article helpful. A
couple of read-throughs is a good idea!
Cheers,
Will
R

Jennie

April 1, 2013

Hi Will, I am so pleased I discovered your fantastically helpful tips, but this

one is remarkable. Something Id always wondered about but had no idea how to
approach. Im faced with painting in variable situations, sometimes on my narrowboat where I live, and most often in other peoples houses where, you can
imagine, the lighting is incredibly variable. Most often if I can find a conservatory
to work in or a large window, and manage to finish a painting at the site, then this
works out fine, but because I work to contract, even on gloomy days I have to
produce, so Ive been wondering about a portable light source to help me through
those days. The information in your article has really opened my eyes about my
options. Thank you so much sharing your research in a way that even I can
understand! Cheers, Jennie from Buckinghamshire.
R

Will Kemp

April 1, 2013

Oh Hi Jennie, thanks for your kind comments.

Really pleased you found the article helpful, I can symphasis with your
changing lighting conditions!
Hope its given you a clearer view of what would work best for you.
Cheers,
Will
P.S for the lower height in the narrow boat you wouldnt need a bulb as bright
as the 85watt Compact Fluorescent, a 55w would give you plenty of light.

Jennie

April 1, 2013

Brilliant! Thanks for that Will.

R

Will Kemp

April 1, 2013

Youre welcome Jennie, heres a online store if you have trouble

tracking a 5000k CFL bulb down locally.
Cheers,
Will
R

chavali

April 1, 2013

nice tips.You always give full details needed.

R

Will Kemp

April 1, 2013

Thanks Chavali,
Will
R

Robert

April 8, 2013

A great posting. Well done and congratulations, Will.

This is much more technical about lighting than I had to cope with in a previous
job setting building standards. Its also quite unique, AFAIK, as it has the artist in
mind.
If I may I have a simple example that other painters may understand: i am doing a
painting that has three different blues; in some light they appear the same, but
they are quite distinctive in the correct light.
Will, I hope the studio is working out. Colour and light fascinating, are they not?
Another posting for you here, I reckon.
R

Will Kemp

April 8, 2013

Hey Robert,
Pleased you enjoyed the article, I found, finding lighting info specifically for
artists, quite tricky.
As you said, even if you know youve painted different blues, in some lights
theyre hard to distinguish!
The studios going well, had a minor set back with a leaking pipe on the new
floor but nothing that a nice bottle of red and 24hr heating couldnt fix!
Cheers,
Will
R

john carroll

May 3, 2013

Hi will
been offline for a while art wise researching a new kitchen and a new timber
studio/shed. My first thoughts went directly to north facing windows so it is with
some timely fortune that I return to your school and consider light from a southern
hemisphere perspective. My other consideration is cathedral ceiling or a single
slope ceiling, high south, low north.
regards
john
R

Will Kemp

May 3, 2013

Hi John, hope youre well, and pleased the article was timely for your
studio build research.
Cheers,
Will
R

john carroll

May 4, 2013

very well Will, cheers!

However, regarding hemispheres, I assume then that the southern hemispheres
equivalent to clear northern light, is light from a south facing window? The logic
seems simple butwe in the southern hemisphere spend christmas in shorts and a
t-shirt reading christmas cards covered in snow scenes. Logic gets challenged!
R

Will Kemp

May 7, 2013

Hey John, yes, light from a south facing window is exactly right for a
southern hemisphere north light think south light.
R

Barry Harper

May 4, 2013

Thanks for that Will ! The room Im starting to paint in, has a CFL lamp. I
reckon Im halfway there. Ive just done the gound on my first painting The
Cherry The rest should be easy enough (!).
R

Will Kemp

May 7, 2013

Good one Barry, let me know how the Cherry turns out.
Cheers
Will
R

Shoshi

May 10, 2013

Thanks for a great, in-depth summary of studio lighting, Will. Your site
certainly is a treasure store of information! We are about to move house and the
room I have earmarked for my studio has NE light each time I have been in that

room it seems like a good, steady light, coming through a fairly large window for
the size of the room. There is also a glass door leading onto a balcony outside.
Up until now I have used PureLite low energy bulbs in a central pendant light (not
good on its own as Im always casting a shadow wherever I am in the room!) and
the same bulbs in a floor-standing anglepoise, and two clip-on directional lamps
(good for photography, although I do have to adjust the colour balance slightly
back towards the red as there is a distinct blue cast). In my new room I think the
builder is going to put LEDs in for me at each work station around the room am I
right in thinking that these give a pretty pure, natural sort of light without too
much colour cast in any direction? The central light will probably be retained, and I
will still be able to use my lamps.
I tend to work on a flat surface rather than an easel, using mixed media, and I am
thinking of having my main work station against the wall at right angles to the
window. I do not want it under the window because I need storage space for
equipment immediately in front of me. The walls and ceiling are white, and I shall
be having a neutral coloured or pale wood floor covering.
Does this sound a reasonable set-up?
Shoshi
R

Will Kemp

May 22, 2013

Hey Shoshi,
It sounds like youve covered all bases and it does sound a really fine set-up.
The LEDs dont have as high a colour rendering index as a fluorescent,
however, if you make sure the colour of the bulbs are as neutral as possible,
youll be fine as you have that lovely natural light flooding in.
Good luck with everything,
Will
R

hazel

May 11, 2013

That was really helpful, thank you for going to the trouble of posting
something so comprehensive. I think I could follow most of it. I was already
thinking of using full spectrum fluorescent tubes, so your recommendation of a
specific one was great. I cant however work out how many of these I will need to
give good overall ambient light for a studio thats 4.8m by 3m with a flat roof of
2.45m high for half the length and a pitched roof of 3.7m high for the other half.
Ive no idea how to do it!
R

Will Kemp

May 22, 2013

Hi Hazel,
I feel your pain!! It took me ages to calculate what I thought I wanted and then
wasnt even sure it would be right when it arrived!
My studio is only a little bit bigger than yours but has a higher ceiling
throughout, I settled on 2 banks of 6 full spectrum, 36 watts, 4ft bulbs, so
thats 12 bulbs in total.
I can tell you its like the Bahamas in there!! So amazingly bright with a really
even spread, however, I have had made, bespoke fittings with diffusers and

separate switches to adjust the light levels.

So I can adjust it to fit each painting commission. If you had half that amount it
would still be plenty bright enough, taken into consideration your lower ceiling
as well.
So if you had 4 to 6 tubes spread evenly over the space, I can imagine this
would be great.
Hope this helps,
Will
R

Anna Keller

May 16, 2013

Great information about studio lighting! Am just completing construction of

my new studio & am still deciding the most important element the lighting plan.
Original plan called for track with LED lights, but Ive had second thoughts about
that. This article helps answer a lot of my questions. Thank you for posting this!
R

Will Kemp

May 22, 2013

Hey Anna,
Glad it helped, it is a lot to try and take in but youre right you wont get as
good colour rendering with the LEDs.
Hope youre studio is coming along well,
Cheers,
Will
R

Elaine Butterworth

May 19, 2013

Hi Will, I have just been watching Part 1 of your How to Build an Artists
Studio and I am SO envious!! I want one!! Did you design it yourself? When is Part
2 ready for release?
Elaine
I have only recently discovered your website, and I have learnt so much already
many thanks.
R

Will Kemp

May 20, 2013

Hi Elaine, nice to hear from you, pleased you liked the studio and are
enjoying the tutorials. Part 2 studio update is coming in a couple of weeks,
Cheers,
Will
R

Kathy

May 31, 2013

A great article! Ive been looking for all this info for ages, as I too am in the

process of building another studio, and have discovered by past experience how
important the lighting aspect is. Also how expensive it can be if you get it wrong!
Thanks again for sharing all your knowledge.
R

Will Kemp

May 31, 2013

Youre welcome Kathy, really pleased it helped. Good luck with the
build!
Will
R

Mark Marasco

June 1, 2013

Thank you for the illumination on illumination. Helpful for creating my new
studio. Now my paintings are less likely to magically change colors like a mood ring
when I take them into a different space. Saved me much research time. Cheers.
R

Will Kemp

June 1, 2013

Youre welcome Mark, pleased it helped to shortcut the research time.

Cheers,
Will
R

jo

June 18, 2013

-Thanks Will. I found your article helpful since I have been picking every
electricians brain about lighting. -Built my studio and still need to work on lighting.
My husband engineered a ceiling that took advantage of the North light, and we
have have incorporated CFL lighting. I dont think they are correct.
I do have large CFL lights for my photography, which I purchased over a year ago.
They are PBL MX-FL 50W 5100K, 120V 590mA E26 by
http://www.photobrightlighting.com.
-The specification:
Dimension : 6cm x6cm x18cm
Output : 50W Incandescent Equivalent (Approx) : 175W
Life Hours (Avg) : 10,000 hrs
Lumens : 3000
Color Temperature (Kelvin) : 5600 K
General color rendering index (Approx) : (RA)90
Not as robust as yours. Wonder if they will help me deal with lighting, especially in
the PM hours.
-Great article.
R

Will Kemp

June 18, 2013

Hi Jo,
Pleased youve found the article helpful, those bulbs sound pretty good, good
CRI rating and cool light, should great for those evening painting sessions!
Cheers,
Will
R

Dianne

June 21, 2013

Have you finished your studio? Just curious about your lighting are the

bulbs covered or exposed? Also how many are you using in your studio?
Thanks!
R

Will Kemp

July 9, 2013

Hi Dianne,
Yep, my studio is up and running! I settled on 2 banks of 6 full spectrum, 36
watts, 4ft bulbs, so thats 12 bulbs in total.
I can tell you its like the Bahamas in there!! So amazingly bright with a really
even spread, however, I have had made, bespoke fittings with diffusers and
separate switches to adjust the light levels.
So sometimes covered and sometimes exposed, depending on the look Im
trying to achieve.
I will do a studio update over the next few weeks, so you can see the finished
results for yourself,
Cheers,
Will
R

Dianne

July 15, 2013

Thank you, Will I will look forward to seeing the update! I just built
a new studio, or should I say I will be finishing my new studio in the fall
when I return to my home in Florida. Its all done except for finishing the
interior walls, the lighting and the furnishings. I want to get the lighting as
close to perfect as I can. Cant wait to hear if yours is meeting your
expectations!!
Regards,
Dianne
R

Will Kemp

July 16, 2013

Hi Dianne,
Good one! My studio lighting so far has been fantastic. Im really pleased
with it, its created such an even spread of light with no strong cast
shadows.
Good luck with finishing your studio, I know how much work goes into it
but it will be definitely worth it!
Cheers,
Will
R

sandi

July 15, 2013

Thank you so much for this article. This information is so helpful. Ive been
suffering in my poorly lit workspace for too long now and just decided that enough
is enough. Your article will really catapult me forward in solving the problem.
Thanks!
Sandi

Will Kemp

July 16, 2013

Great to hear it Sandi, I can sympathize with your pain! So pleased you
found the article helpful and good luck with your new setup.
Cheers,
Will
R

Ina PICKARD

July 29, 2013

About to build my new studio. It will be about 12ft x 20 ft . What do you

reckon I would need for CFL lighting to give me the Bahamas effect? I will have
French doors on the North side and a velux light in the pitched roof North side.
What do you mean by a bank of lights.? I will need to explain to my electrician.
By the way, what flooring have you used in the studio? I was thinking of Porcelain
tiles?
Your explanation of the lighting is terrific. Many thanks.
R

Will Kemp

August 4, 2013

Hi Ina, sounds like youve got a great space to be working with!

A bank of lights is just light fittings placed closely next to each other, so it gives
the illusion of an unbroken wall of light essentially, youre trying to recreate
the window or soft daylight.
You would usually have 4 to 6 fluorescent tubes in a bank and I would say for a
studio around this size, 2 banks. I have 12 tubes in total and this is super bright
for a not dissimilar sized studio.
Flooring wise using porcelain tiles can be quite hard to stand on all day if you
paint at an easel. Also, theyre not very forgiving for any clumsy artists!
Hope this helps,
Will
R

Ina

August 17, 2013

Thanks for your advice Will. It would have been a real headache
trying to decide what lighting I needed. Please will you tell me what lighting
you use when painting a portrait presumably without the Bahamas
effect?
R

Will Kemp

August 18, 2013

Hi Ina, pleased it helped, I paint under the same lighting for

portraits.
Cheers,
Will
R

Joel Isaacson

August 4, 2013

Many thanks for this information, Will. Im just now re-doing the lighting in
my studio in Santa Cruz, California. I made really bad choices the first time around.
Joel
R

Will Kemp

August 5, 2013

Youre welcome Joel, pleased you found the article helpful, youve got
some amazing natural light in California!
Good luck woth re-doing your lighting.
Cheers,
Will
R

Mar

August 15, 2013

Hi,
Thank you for the useful information. I am in the process of making a room in the
basement as my studio. I always worked with fluorescent tubes ceiling lights and I
have been quite happy with results. My basements studio has recessed lights
only, there 5 in the room, and I wonder what will be the best way to use those
lights and change the bulbs to brighten the space. What kind of bulbs you
recommend? I am also considering an additional floor lamp to help making work
area (I use an easel) brighter. Please let me know your opinion. Thanks in advance.
R

Will Kemp

August 18, 2013

Hi Mar, the brightness of the light will depend on the output level on
each fluorescent tube, or how many tubes you have. Just have a look on one of
your current tubes and then you can judge how many more you need to get the
desired lighting youre after.
If youre using a separate floor light just make sure the kelvin numbers are the
same, for example a 5000k screw in Compact fluorescent bulb with a 5000k
fluorescent tube.
Hope this helps,
Will
R

Anna

August 28, 2013

How do you use a subtle side lighted effect when painting portraits if the
studio is overall lit with cfl producing a very bright working area?
Do you have separated switches for the cfl and a duller area lit by one lamp only?
Thanks for your excellent advice.
R

Will Kemp

August 29, 2013

Hi Anna,
Im painting the portrait within a bright space, but the sitter is in natural light
away from my main painting area. So the sitter is in a softer light, but I still
work in a brighter light.

The bank of lights I have set up are also wired on separate switches, so I can
alter the intensity from 12 tubes to 1 tube. This means I can match the
intensity of the lighting to the mood of the portrait.
Cheers,
Will
R

Kathyrn

August 31, 2013

Loved your article on lighting!! When was it written? I am in the

process of building a 900 square foot free standing studio and am not
certain what to do with the lighting issues. I have had several studios over
the years Omaha, NE, Northern California and now Phoenix AZ so my
lighting concerns have been different in every case. The issue I have now is
that the southern sun is terribly hot, the cathedral level windows are on the
west side with a smaller window and sliding glass door to the south. The east
wall is blocked by the east wall of the house by six feet and will be the 30 ft
wall I will use to paint on. I mainly am a contemporary painter, make all my
own paint (for 35 years) acrylic, an ornamenter (glass), and concrete
sculptor. My paintings generally range from 5 X6 5 x8 even though
occasionally I may paint some very small 12 paintings.
So, I have thought about a track lighting system around the inside, about 8
to 10 feet up on the cathedral ceiling. I have also thought about putting in 2
skylights on the north side. You had mentioned the use of flourescents with
the natural light. I have used the flourescent, and the halogen. I was thinking
of LEDs because the Halogens will be awfully hot down here in the summer
time. And the flourescents always flickered and/or burned out on me. They
dont make the 8 foot tubes any more. Do you think I could combine a track
system for displayed works along with a surround of flourescents and the
sky lights to get the 5000-5500K 98 CRI/lm I need? I do not like a blue light
I prefer a daylight bulb or did prior to moving to Omaha. Your advice is
appreciated? I feel like I am running around in circles. I need a solution
before we breakground.
Kathyrn Neubauer-Johns
R

Will Kemp

September 2, 2013

Hi Kathyrn, sounds like youve got an exciting time ahead with the
build.
LEDs dont currently have the same level of Colour rendering Index (CRI)
as the highter quality fluorescent bulbs. If you have modern fixings with a
high frequency you shouldnt have the same isses youve had in the past
with flickering.
Having a track light for tasl lighting for displayed your work and
fluorecent for the more ambient lighting it should work fine. Just match
the Kelvin temperatures of both your artificial lighting to the kelvin
temperature of daylight you prefer.
Good luck with the build,
Cheers,
Will
R

Pat Hutti

September 3, 2013

Wonder dicussion. I love vivid colours but the room the class was in had

awful lighting and orange walls. I would spend 2 hours painting then go out in the
sunlight only to see the colours were so off. The next class I would have to spend
time correcting it. Thats when I learned how important lighting is. Thank you for
spelling it out in one article. My class is in a place now with great lightning.
R

Will Kemp

September 3, 2013

Hi Pat, pleased you found the article helpful and youre not struggling
against the orange walls!
Cheers,
Will
R

Janet Metzger

September 3, 2013

Hello Will,
Wonderful article, the best on the subject out there. Many thanks!
We begin construction on my garage/studio in a few weeks. The studio portion will
be 16 x 22; wall height is 8, roof height at center is approx. 15. Windows: 2 north
facing skylights, 3 awning windows (2 h x 4 w each) along top of 16 north wall, a
5 h x 10 w bank of windows on east wall shaded by an 8 deep porch roof.
I was thinking of CFL track lights hung 8 h, in a U shaped configuration 4 off of
each wall except the east. The flexibility of track lighting appeals to me: being able
to direct the lights, remove them or bunch them if I choose. Also, being able to
switch out for LED bulbs, if I ever find a suitable one. The measurements would be
2 lengths @ 12 along the north and south walls, joined by an 8 length along the
west. A separate light switch will control each length. If you have any thoughts on
suitable bulbs or how many total in this space, or if you think a different set up
would work better, I would be grateful if you shared.
Now, here is something I found on LED lights that I want to share w/ you. It has
made me rethink my original lighting plan. After you check them out, please let me
know if you think the long term energy savings of LEDs could offset the hefty
purchase price or if these fixtures are appropriate for lighting a studio.
This is the manufacturers website. http://www.buildmyled.com They specialize in
horticulture and aquarium LED lighting and have many options. Look at the Dutch
Planted 6300K, Riparium 6000K, Fish Focus Red 5000K. If you click on the pics,
they do show the color rendering chart although I havent been able to find the
actual specs on their site.
The description below is about the same fixtures from aquariumplants.com
I order my aquarium supplies from them and discovered the LED fixture while
perusing their site. This describes a 6700K which I didnt find at the website above
but perhaps it is a custom design.
Signing off,
Janet
LumenBlaster LED lighting has finally arrived:
Made from the best components available:
Commercial-grade, IP66 Waterproof LED light fixture assembled with a custom
spectrum developed specifically to highlight all of the colors a freshwater show
tank. By using a mix of the worlds most efficient LEDs, these fixtures deliver
incredible PAR levels (micromoles/m2/s) into your tank. Hence, this spectrum is
extremely capable of growing the most demanding freshwater plants. The slim
fixture design (1 tall / 2 wide) will improve the appearance of any aquarium.
Available in 4 fixture lengths and 5 beam angles to work with all aquariums.For
those seeking less pink in the light spectrum, this is a great alternative to the

Freshwater Planted Spectrum.

Product Specifications
Lumens: 12 Fixture = 1,220 / 48 Fixture = 4,878
Micromoles: 12 Fixture = 21 / 48 Fixture = 88.29
Input Watts: 12 Fixture = 19W / 48 Fixture = 75W
Input Voltage: 90-305 VAC
-Color Temperature (CCT): 6700K
Color Rending Index (CRI): 98
Operating Temperature : -20C to 45C
Predicted Life: 50,000 Hours
LED Selections per 12 Board:
(10) 6500K, (2) 470nm, (1) 660nmm (1) 525nm, (1) 450nm
Spectral Content (Photon Count):
38% Blue, 36% Green, 24% Red, 2% Far Red
Product Features
0-10V Dimming Compatible Driver (Apex Ready)
IP66 Waterproof Rating
CE Safety Certification & ROHS Compliant
Built-to-Order in the USA
3 Year Warranty
Innovative T-Rail for Unlimited Mounting Options
Return within 30 Days for Full Refund
System Includes:
LED fixture/power supply/8 cord/plug/mounting brackets
R

Will Kemp

September 4, 2013

Hi Janet,
Nice to hear from you, and really pleased youve found the article helpful.
The studio portion of the build sounds like a great size, and with your skylights
and awning should be a really bright space.
Track lights can work well and give you flexibility if the bulbs are close enough
together so you have an even spread of light. (like the Solux track system
mentioned in the article above)
I know when previously lighting our gallery with track lighting they where
perfect for highlighting paintings for sale, as they really gave each piece a
spotlight but were less effective for giving an even ambient light. but if you
have the pacing right that can work well.
Its hard for me to judge cost saving vs initial pricing of the lEDs, but these ones
do seem to have a very high CRI rating and a low operating cost.
Good luck with your build.
Cheers,
Will
R

Kate

September 3, 2013

Thank you so much for sharing this. Im renovating a studio and need to
choose lighting TODAY with my electrician. I was completely overwhelmed and
youve saved me major stress and better still, replaced it with excitement to work
in my new space!
R

Will Kemp

September 3, 2013

Great to hear it Kate, so pleased the article helped to prevent electrical

overwhelm!
Cheers,
Will
R

Sue Darius

September 10, 2013

Will,
Wonderful article just what I needed: I have a very small bedroom for a studio
right now, how many bulbs are needed in a 11.5 x 11.5 foot room? I have one
overhead electrical outlet which I want to change to the fluorescent lights you
suggest. I want to know if I need two fixtures with maybe 2 bulbs in each, spaced
equally on the ceiling. Does that make sense for overall lighting the room? I have
some spot lights that I use for close work right now.
Thank you,
Sue
R

Will Kemp

September 12, 2013

Hi Sue,
Nice to hear from you, and pleased youve found the article helpful.
For that size room one single fixing with a twin fluorescent bulb will give you a
bright working area.
I had a 5 ft twin fluorescent tube from the centre ceiling fitting and then
painted standing at the easel directly underneath it. The internal ceiling height
was about 8ft and the room was about 10 x 10. With the one fitting my actual
easel is illuminated really well, but the rest of the room is darker due to the
spread of the fluorescent. (If the ceiling was higher the spread would have been
greater) So you could try 1 x twin fitting with the current electrical fitting as no
need for any rewiring, check the brightness, and then add another fitting if
need be. The most even spread would be 4 single tubes evenly spread.
Hope this helps,
Will
R

Kevin McGuire

September 13, 2013

Hello Will:
I am the inventor of the SoLux bulb. I appreciate your review of our product that
has found so much success over the years. There are a couple points I would like
to clarify:
These bad boys are used in museums globally, such as The Louvre in Paris,
Guggenheim Museum, NY & The Van Gogh Museum to name a few. The CRI rating
and spectral curve is amazing and for artificial lighting that best illuminates
natural daylight, you cant get much better.
KM: To my knowledge SoLux is not in the Louvre, but we do light the
entire Musee dOrsay, the largest collection of Impressionist art in the
world. The rest is all true!

If you work small and have a friendly electrician these can be a great solution,
there is a 4 lamp track available that gives a great value spread light, however,
the halogen light has a spot effect, rather than bringing up the illumination of the
room.
KM: Halogen does initially have a spot effect but you can do two things
to change this:
#1 Put a plano-convex diffuser in front of SoLux (which we offer) you
achieve a well spread and diffuse light.
#2 Bounce the light off of a white ceiling, wall, or sculpture and the room
will be lit uniformly with the most accurate daylight source money can
buy.
So for lighting the Mona Lisa, perfect.
KM: Actually Ive seen how the Mona Lisa is lit and it is a travesty, same
with the newly renovated Rijksmuseum.
The lights are often use for photography proofing of colours, so have been
designed on a track system for illuminating a wall.
KM: Aim the lights on white walls, ceiling, or white objects and you have
your ambient lighting!
The halogens also run hotter than the fluorescents and use a touch more energy.
Also they are harder to track down in the U.K.
KM: I designed SoLux to remove 75% of the heat away from the object,
cool! True SoLux uses more energy, 35 watts per bulb, but hey, what to
save even more energy, dont use your oven or stove, eat food raw!
Sound crazy? We agree. Our European distributor is:
EiKO-Europe GmbH
Mittelwegring 20 / 23
76751 JOCKGRIM / GERMANY
+49 7271 7607 0
info@eiko-europe.de
http://www.eiko-europe.de
Tailored Lighting Inc, my company also ships directly to customers all over the
world, sales inquires at phil@solux.net, Phil Bradfield 1-800-254-4487.
SoLux bulbs are the best halogens on the market, but they are expensive
compared to lifespan/ cost ratio of fluorescent bulbs.
KM: The standard SoLux bulb retails for $7.95, for the best simulation of
daylight on the market. SoLux bulbs typically last 6,000-8,000 hours
because most transformers drive at less than 12 volts increasing lifetime
and do not drift. SoLux provides perfect daylight from day one,
fluorescent lights are incapable of providing proper daylight simulation.
Let me know if there are other things you would like to learn about SoLux. Best
way to appreciate SoLux though is to see it in use. Seeing is believing.
Cheers!
Kevin McGuire
Inventor of SoLux
President Tailored Lighting Inc.
R

Will Kemp

September 14, 2013

Hi Kevin,
Great to hear from you and thanks for such a fab invention!
I appreciate you taking the time to clarify a couple of the points mentioned in
the article and whats possible with SoLux lighting.
Thanks again Kevin,

Cheers,
Will
R

Tom

September 14, 2013

Hi Will! So much wonderful information. And I want to thank you for sharing
it with us. Quick question, I have a floor lamp with 3 adjustable light sockets. It
currently has 1 cfl with a 2700k 1600 lumens bulb (I looked on the package). Its a
warm light that is similar to a regular incandescent bulb. I was wondering if, by
adding another cfl with a much cooler light, it would help to balance the lighting?
R

Will Kemp

September 16, 2013

Hi Tom, it kinda would, but not perfectly, another cooler bulb would help
to give you a cooler light effect, but it depends how close you are away from
your work. I have seen fluorescent fittings in studios in the past where there
was 4 tubes, 3 were warmer and 1 was cooler and the fittings was quite high,
so when the light hit the canvas it was more evenly balanced, but its more a
judge by eye in your own studio space. But if its just one CFL bulb, I would try
replacing that for a 5000K.
Hope this helps,
Will
R

Tom

September 16, 2013

Hi Will, I added another CFL, 6500k and 1600 lumens, and the combination
of warm and cool did work pretty well. I wouldnt say Im well lighted by any
means, but its fairly bright and the colors show upaccurately (they look the same
outdoors as indoors). At least for the moment it will serve for my tiny little setup.
Again, thanks for all the great info on your page.
Cheers, Tom
R

Will Kemp

September 16, 2013

Good one Tom, pleased it has worked to help match the outside lighting
and is working for your setup.
Cheers,
Will
R

Sue Darius

September 27, 2013

Will,
I left a message before and you answered my question about how many tubes to
light my small studio but now I have a question on where to buy the Phillips
Graphica in Canada Vancouver actually. Do any of your readers or associates
know where I can get them here?
Thank you,
Sue
R

Will Kemp

October 3, 2013

Hi Sue, I personally dont know of Philips suppliers in canada, you could

try contacting Philips direct for the list of suppliers in Vancouver.
Hope you can track some down.
Cheers,
Will
R

Dianne Adams

October 3, 2013

Will, I learned so much from your lighting article. I have finally found the
fluorescent tubes that should work, and now I have to choose the paint and
flooring and my studio will be finished. I have a good idea of the paint colorone of
the gray tones, white for the ceiling. Is this a good choice? I have tinted windows
all around the room which is 12 &1/2 feet by 18 & 1/2 feet. I will have three
overhead lighting fixtures with 4 fluorescent tubes in each.. (full spectrum) The
one thing Im really unsure of is the flooring. My studio is a free standing building
at the edge of our pool deck. Although it will be air conditioned and heated, I am
still concerned about the possibility of mold. (We live in Florida.) Since bamboo is
supposed to be mold resistant, that is my choice for the material. However, its the
color that I am unsure of. Our local DIY store has one that is light and one which is
much darker. Which one do you think would be better Think of the colors as a
blond or brunette. Theres that much difference in the two. Also, have you posted
pictures your finished studio somewhere??
Thanks for all your wonderful information that you share. I hope to take some of
your classes once Im finished with the studio and get settled in!
R

Will Kemp

October 7, 2013

Hi Dianne,
Nice to hear from you, really pleased youve been finding the lighting article
helpful when setting up your new painting studio.
You might find this article of interest on choosing an art studio wall colour.
The colour of your flooring wouldnt really influence the perception of colours
onto your canvas very much at all, so it it really down to your own personal
preference, the lighter wood will give you a more natural, airy feel to the
studio, with the darker floor going more Old master.
On the article linked above have a look the the Angel Academy dark flooring to
give you an idea.
Good luck with the rest of your build.
Cheers,
Will
R

Nick

October 18, 2013

Hi Will,
First of all, thanks for a great article and, in particular, for the Amazon link to the
right bulb, which saved me ages of searching.
Perhaps though, you could edit in that this bulb is actually the size of a thermos
flask! Somewhere, Ive have some old photography light fittings, but I was

originally planning to put this into a standard ceiling rose fittingand I reckon it
would take the ceiling down with it, haha.
So, not a problem for me, but might be useful info for other people to know in
advance. Thanks again for this article and all the other great articles and vids.
Nick :)
R

Will Kemp

October 18, 2013

Hi Nick,
Mmm, yeah the bulb is quite large if you have a higher wattage!
Pleased you found the article helpful and hope your studio feels super
illuminated.
Cheers,
Will
R

Eileen van der Merwe

October 26, 2013

Hi Will,
This makes for fascinating reading. I am assuming the colour of your walls will also
impact how the light effects your painting space? I am planning on taking
possession of the spare bedroom and turning it into my personal painting space
but living where we do all our windows are heavily tinted to reduce the effect of
the heat on the glass and the sun coming into the homes. 50 degrees plus mid
summer is not easy to work with! For this reason I need to be very aware of what
artificial light I use as I will end up being very dependent on that. The room is also
a very heavy apricot brick colour so not ideal. I would like to repaint it Any wall
colour suggestions?
Thanks again for all the wonderful info!
Eileen
R

Will Kemp

October 26, 2013

Hi Eileen,
Yes, the colour of walls do also impact how the light effects your studio, have a
look at this article:
How to choose the perfect wall colour for your art studio.
Hope it helps.
Cheers,
Will
R

Mary Brazil

October 30, 2013

Thank you very much, am at the start of converting garage, really helpful
information.
all the best, Mary

Will Kemp

October 30, 2013

Great to hear it Mary, so pleased youve found it helpful.

Cheers,
Will
R

Cheryl Quist

November 2, 2013

Whew! My brain hurts but I understand this much better now. Thanks!
R

Will Kemp

November 2, 2013

Good one Cheryl, really pleased it helped.

Will
R

Pam

November 8, 2013

I notice you havent mentioned LED lights. I am looking at a downlight with

45w LED, 5000k, 3768 lumens and CRI-84 to put above my work table in a
basement. It has a dimmer switch. I work with paint and textiles. I guess I am
confused about LED replacing fluorescents.
R

Will Kemp

November 8, 2013

Hi Pam,
At the bottom of the article I briefly mention LEDs:
LEDs are the alternative but Ive yet to find either that offer a high enough
CRI rating, however, I believe over the next couple of years with developments
in manufacturing there will be a more energy efficient like for like
replacement.
A CRI of 84 is pretty good, and LED lighting seems to be getting better and
better at colour rendering, for example these photography lights claim a
CRI rating of 93 but at this level of CRI are currently more expensive than
fluorescents (5600k,829 lumens 3 ft from light, is about $599) but if you dont
mind a slight drop in colour rendering youll be away!
Hope this helps,
Will
R

Cathy Down

November 14, 2013

Thanks so much for information. My brain also hurts but in a good way. I am
just getting ready to put together a studio in, what is now a large ( 16x24ft?)
storage room behind our garage. It has a large glass door facing North. Thinking
about putting in a skylight also. I appreciate your ideas and expertise. I paint
primarily Pet Portraits, from photos, and want to always get a true likeness. Thanks
again, Cathy Down

Will Kemp

November 15, 2013

Hi Cathy, so pleased you found the lighting article helpful for designing
your new studio, it can be a bit of a headache, but so worth it in the long run!
hope the fit out goes well.
Cheers,
Will
R

June Cluett

November 17, 2013

I have been tearing my hair out over lighting specs the builder asked me to
give him for my painting and sculpture studio being converted from part of a
friends double garage in Wiltshire 17 x 9.5 double height working space plus a
mezzanine floor under the rafters for small works so was over the moon when my
cousin pointed out your website and helped me thru it. SO useful and clear. I hope
I can find the Phillips tubes you specify for your studio build as it doesnt look so
different in size and concept from mine! I am now going to buy a lux meter, and
specify Kelvin, CRI and lumens Hooray! THANK YOU!
R

Will Kemp

November 17, 2013

Great to hear it June, so pleased its helped through the stress of a build!
Here is a link to a supplier in the UK, the link is to 4ft tubes, but they also
have 5ft tubes.
Cheers,
Will
R

June Cluett

November 17, 2013

Thanks Will. I think 4 ft will possibly be quite big enough? We had

been thinking three 3ft tubes..
What about anti-glare fittings any advice?
all the best
June
R

Will Kemp

November 17, 2013

Hi June,
It varies depending on the housing for the tubes and how high they are
positioned. If you have standard single or twin tubes you can get
reflective fittings for offices called CAT-2s, they bounce the light around
and reduce glare but it depends on how high the tubes are placed
because the spread of the light is more focused downwards, and wont
really add ambient light to the space, so it depends if the light is for task
lighting or ambient space lighting. These fittings can be added
afterwards though so you can always start with the bare tubes, and then
adjust from there.
Also, just note that any diffusion/ anti-glare will also reduce the LUX light
level in the space.
Will
R

June Cluett

November 17, 2013

Thank you so much! Mmmm more food for thought. I have

to work mainly in artificial light as my windows face south no choice
here. I think the height of the tubes will be measured using your lux
level light meter approach. Im concerned however when on the
mezzanine floor I will likely be level with the tubes lighting the lower
floor area and get glare from them. but do not want to lose clear
bright lighting. mmmm maybe the right curved type fitting.?
Thank you again for puting out all this wonderful information
seriously grateful
June

Essie B

November 18, 2013

Hi Will
Ive taken copious notes from your excellent article and plan to start improving my
lighting situation starting tomorrow!
Would the incandescent lights Ive always used cause my paintings to have a
bluish cast when I see them in natural daylight?
I try so hard to emphasize warmer, sunnier, colors but my work nevertheless
ends up being predominately cool. I have been trying for years to overcome my
secret, unconscious preference for cool colors but it might be that what I really
need to do is get better lighting!
You are such a great teacher, and artist, and now it turns out youre a really good
researcher too. Thank you, thank you.
Essie
R

Will Kemp

November 18, 2013

Hi Essie, really pleased you found the article helpful. Yes, the orange
light from your incandescent bulbs is the culprit! working under a more
balanced daylight bulb (cooler in colour temperature) will make all the
difference.
Cheers,
Will
R

Sarah Kellington

November 21, 2013

Ive read your article repeatedly over the last month or two. Im remodeling
a garage to a studio (16x12, normal 8 ceiling). Im currently doing the wiring, so
my light decisions have reached rather a crisis point. The best thing about putting
in new wiring is that all the possibilities are open; the worst thing is that I have to
choose one. :P Since the room is currently wooden walls and a single bare bulb,
its quite hard to visualize! Im wondering if track lights or recessed lights can
provide enough illumination, or if tube fixtures seem to be the only way to go. (I
assume diffusers on either recessed or track lighting) and how do you tell how
many you need in your space?
I have decent daylight added 3 23 windows on the north wall but need to be
able to paint at night. (Theres also a very non-painterly giant east window, but itll
have diffusing blinds on it. Sometimes you have to have the kind of light that
makes you happy).

I have a back-up plan for adding more lights should I need them (outlet in the
ceiling on a switched circuit, and a metal bar to clamp lights onto), but naturally
Id rather get it right the first time!
Thanks,
S
R

Will Kemp

November 21, 2013

Hi Sarah,
Nice to hear from you, and so pleased youve found the lighting article helpful.
The track lights can be good for task lighting but arent as good for a general
illumination of the space. If you work out how bright you want the space in Lux
level, and then work out how many bulbs you need for that level. You can buy a
digital lux meter (for about 25) to test your current Lux levels to see what
intensity of lighting suits you best.
Id love to give you a lighting formula to work it out exactly for your space but
there are so many site specific variables that change from location to location
its hard to be super specific.
Good luck Sarah, and If I work out a secret lighting studio formula Ill let you
know.
Will
R

Sarah Kellington

November 27, 2013

Ha, thanks, Will. Even having one thing to take *off* the list of
possibilities is helpful!
R

Will Kemp

November 27, 2013

Good one Sarah.

Will
R

Tom Madden

November 27, 2013

Will,
Thank you for your help. Ive been trying to paint for 10 years or more and had
about given up but after seeing your paint like Monet videos, Ive become
inspired. Ill never
be a great artist but I will enjoy painting.
Thanks again,
Tom
R

Will Kemp

November 28, 2013

Hi Tom, youre welcome, brilliant to hear youve been inspired by the

Monet series, looking forward to hearing (and seeing!) your results.
Cheers,
Will

Simon B

December 7, 2013

Hi Will,
Thank you for providing this information.
Im planning on getting some studio lighting for my wife this Christmas, to be used
for light-to-paint-by and for photographing works. Based on what youve said I
think I might get a Continuous Light Kit Soft Box Set, such as this one dirt cheap.
My thinking is that one of these would do for general lighting and two for
photography, what do you think about using a stand set-up to light a studio?
I presume the 125W bulb (greater than the 85W you mention for what is most like
our studio) wouldnt be too bright, presumably just move it further away?
Thanks again for your great post.
Cheers
Simon
R

Will Kemp

December 10, 2013

Hi Simon,
With that kit you could just unscrew the bulb from the softbox and screw it into
a standard ceiling fitting, it will give you a more even light in the space when
coming from above and slightly behind the easel, or just order an extra bulb,
and then have the 2 x softbox kit + 1 x 125w bulb. The light source will all be
the same colour temperature and youd be golden, just make sure to delete the
dirt cheap part when wrapping!
Cheers,
Will
R

Wendy

December 16, 2013

Hi Will,
Thank you for the exceptional article on lighting and the studio pictures. Im
currently redoing my studio that has windows on all sides and two full glass pane
doors. The back faces north and Im adding velux sky lights. Im not sure how
many to add. The room is 14x12 and I can add two or three 30x37. What would
you recommend?
Thank you,
Wendy
R

Will Kemp

December 17, 2013

Hi Wendy,
Really pleased you found the article helpful. Try to think about how you would
be using the space, would you have a still life set up one end of the studio and
then be viewing the subject from far back? or would you be making mainly in
one area?
If you can imagine how you will move around the space, and where you would
be viewing/judging your palette/easel from, you can start to judge where would
the light fallout and/or sunlight coming in be.

I have 3 velux sky light on a 20 pitched roof, the skylights all face north so give
me a diffused light, rather than any direct sunlight.
Hope this helps,
Will
R

Wendy

December 18, 2013

Hi Will,
Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. I will be using the studio for all
different painting scenarios so I think Ill go with two Velux skylights on the
north side. Did you get the hardwired or manual? Did you get built in
shades?
Thank you again,
Wendy
R

Will Kemp

December 19, 2013

Hi Wendy, as the skylights are north facing the built in shades

werent as much as issue for me initially, but if you know there is going to
be strong directional light through them it would be handy to have.
Cheers,
Will
R

June Cluett

December 18, 2013

Hello Wil, your lighting blog has been a God send thank you so very much!
I have a further question for you re lighting for my studio which is nearing
completion. We are converting one half of a double garage (floor to rafters) plus
the area under the roof of the other half which will be storage and have desk
space for small works; using the ceiling/roof of the toilet as a landing for access to
the under-roof office/storage space. My main studio space is just over 5m long and
3m wide Im thinking to put the Pillips fluorescent tubes u refer to in your blog, in
3 double rows across the width of the studio and am wondering, since I will be so
dependent on artificial lighting, wether this will be enough? What do you think and
advise?
R

Will Kemp

December 19, 2013

Hi June, pleased you found the article helpful.

Im painting in a 6 x 3.5m space, and in the main painting area that is about 4 x
3.5m I have two banks of 6 x 4ft 36 watt tubes. So 12 tubes in total.
They are hung about 3.5m high. It is very, very bright. Ive had them installed
on isolators so I can switch them off individually if needed so I have flexibility in
the space, as Im sure youre finding trying to work out the exact number of
lights is a bit of a headache!
So depending on how low/high the ceiling is, as the light fall off is quite high,
the number of tubes youre looking at will give you a very bright space.
Also, the length of tubes will also effect the total lux level for the space.
Hope this helps to give you an idea of what would suit you best,

Will
R

June Cluett

December 19, 2013

Wow! That no of lights is more than I expected and goes someway

to explain the nine luminaires Thorn recommended for my studio. I quote 3
luminaire rows each with 3 luminaires. I have to clarify some of their
terminology but also a LOT more expensive than I anticipated. Perhaps not
so over the top as I thought please let me know what you think! I will be
calling Thorn to understand and clarify what I have received from them do
Phillips do fittings for the bulbs you recommend? Thank you once again. I
intend buying a Lux meter!
R

Will Kemp

December 19, 2013

Hi June,
The cost often varies greatly depending on the ballast/housing that the
tubes are within.
I used single tube fittings, but had a bespoke box made so I can diffuse
the light to my liking.
For single tube fittings from Thorn (I have these in my studio)
To give you an idea of costs:
36 watt 4ft single fitting (basic tube included) 23.70 inc vat
58 watt 5ft single fitting (basic tube included) 23.83 inc vat
58 watt 5 ft twin fitting (basic tubes included) 28.37 inc vat
But it depends what fixings Thorn have recommended. In my previous
space (12ft x 12ft x 8ft) I had one light fitting that housed 2 x 58 watt
tubes (also from Thorn) that had a built in CAT-2 filter, this was around
the 200 mark if my memory serves me correctly. Because I was working
directly under it and the light was quite close to the canvas it worked
well.
The lux meter is the best way to get an idea for your particular space and
lighting you feel comfortable with.
Cheers,
Will
p.s. The other option is to put in the wiring for more lights than you need,
start with fewer and see how you get on. Then to drill a hole and wire into
the cable with an extra fitting in the future would be a very simple job.
R

Tim

January 17, 2014

Hi Will, great article, very informative! I was just wondering if those Philips
tubes worked out for you, and if you still recommend them?
Cheers TIm
R

Will Kemp
Hi Tim,

January 18, 2014

Ive painted under these tubes for the past few years and have found them
great. Some recent led lights are getting better and better in terms of the CRI
rating, such as these from flolight but the price per unit is still much higher and
they are aimed more for the photo professional than home studio lighting.
Cheers,
Will
Cheers,
Will
R

Craig Peterkin

January 30, 2014

Hi Will,
Congratulations on a fabulous website and article on studio lighting!
I am just about to move into a new house and have the good luck of having a room
that I can use as my studio (never had one before and very excited about it). The
only drawback is that the windows are facing south west. Will I need to screen
these windows to filter the light etc? I plan to follow your example regarding
artificial lighting,,,,,would really appreciate any suggestions regarding windows,
Many thanks
Craig
R

Will Kemp

January 30, 2014

Hi Craig, pleased youve been finding the article helpful, it all depends
what time of day youre painting and the position of the windows in relation to
your easel setup. Early morning will be fine, it might just be in the summer
months at mid day when you get a direct sunlight into your space you might
need some screening. But with the weather as it is at the moment grey, any
available light is a bonus!
Cheers,
Will
R

John Jamison

February 17, 2014

As always, you give us the details we needclear and on-target. Thanks

Will.
As a few others who have written, Im moving into a new place and have the
opportunity to prepare a better painting space, so Im looking for those key ideas.
One of my challenges is that I enjoy plein air painting, so Im hoping to create
lighting that can at least roughly match what I find outside. Heywhy not shoot
big, huh?
Thanks again Will,
John
R

Will Kemp

February 17, 2014

Youre welcome John, great aim for your lighting.

Cheers,
Will

June Cluett

February 18, 2014

Dear Wil, My new studio is nearly completed and looks VERY SIMILAR in
size to yours you have been a lifeline to me with your article on studio lighting. I
am planning on using the Phillips 4 foot Fluorescent Tubes 950 Graphica Pro 36
Watt that you mention.
But with Cat 2 diffusers 3 of them, each containing a pair of the above tubes, so 6
tubes in total. do you think this will give me enough light to work at all times or
should I push for more lamps?
Thank you once again,
June
R

Will Kemp

February 18, 2014

Hi June,
Great to hear your studio is coming on well.
With 6 tubes you are going to be super bling! In my previous space the ceiling
was about 2.5 m high and I had one twin fitting with 2 x 5ft 58w tubes.
This was super bright on the canvas when I was painting directly underneath it.
However, with the Cat 2 diffusers the light is softer but more directional down
below the fitting so the surrounding walls didnt receive any spill from the
tubes.
Total wattage for the painting area (58w each tube) Total of 116 watt for an
area of around 2m x 1.5m 3 square metres painting area.
My current studio space has the lights at a height of around 3.5m, so the light
drops off a lot more (The fittings arent as close to the easel)
In my main painting space (Area of around 3.5m x 3.5m 12.25 square metres)
I currently have 12 x 4ft 36 watt tubes total of 432 watt
First space with low ceiling, and painting standing at the easel was 29 watt per
square metre.
Current space with high ceiling, painting standing at easel is 35.26 watt per
square metre.
So anywhere between a 25 watt 35 watt depending on the ceiling height and
your painting height (if you stand or sit)
A square metre wattage of 25 watt is the equivalent of a 1,500 lux with
Fluorescent tubes, ( an operating theatre is recommended 1,000 lux)
Hope this helps,
Will
Btw, 1,500 lux is really bright and doesnt suit every artist, I have each tube
individually switched so I can control the overall wattage if its very bright in the
summer.
R

June Cluett

February 19, 2014

Once again you are a life saver! Thank you, thank you!!! I have
placed the order for the Fluorescent Pro Graphica T8s but still biting my
nails on the Cat 2 diffusers how essential is it to avoid the glare from them
and since there isnt any spill from the tubes on the side walls will I be

frustrated by not enough light will on any art work I may put on the walls?
all the best,
June
R

Will Kemp

February 22, 2014

Hi June, The glare from the raw Fluorescent can be quite strong if
the tubes are close to your easel, so it depends on the ceiling height. The
spread of the light onto the walls also gets wider the higher the lights are
positioned (but his then impacts the strength/number of tubes needed)
Think I might need to do a Studio lighting Part 2! You can always
purchase the fittings without the Cat 2 diffusers and retro fit them in
afterwards if the glare is too much.
Cheers,
Will
R

karen warshal

February 19, 2014

Hello Will,
Thank you so much for so much great information. I wrote to you once before
regarding indoor lighting for my studio and you were so kind and your answer was
really helpful.
I now have a couple of technical questions about natural lighting. Ive had a north
facing skylight installed in my studio and the contractor did it wrong so they are
about to replace it. (Its too straight and too short and brings very little light into
the studio.) Before they do so, I was hoping I could run some of the details by you
to see what you think. First of all, the contractor insists that if I use double-pane
glass (one sheet tempered, one laminated with an airspace in between) that Ill
lose a significant amount of light. I noticed you put Velux windows in your studio
and I know theyre double pane and they usually have a low-E coating which
makes them a little bluish. Is that true? Do you like them? Im definitely getting
glass without the low-E coating, but he thinks I should go with single sheet wired
glass. I dont know how this winter was in England, but here in Baltimore it was
freezing, so Id like to be comfortable and not have all my heat shoot out of my
skylight! But my first consideration, of course, is the light. What do you think?
Have you ever heard anything about this issue of double pane glass?
Also, Im planning to have two pieces of 5 foot high by 3 foot wide glass at a 60
degree angle. Sixty degrees is the pitch of the ones Im most familiar with, but I
was wondering if bringing it down a little to, lets say, 57 degrees would be a
problem?? Or would it even be better? The more I bring down the pitch, the more
glass I can have because I have a height restriction as I live in a historically zoned
neighborhood.
Im so nervous that despite all of the changes were making that the skylight might
still not work, so any feedback you could give me would be wonderful and so very
much appreciated!!
Thank you again,
Karen
R

Will Kemp

February 20, 2014

Hi Karen,
Ive personally always found a double glazed option to be preferable, both for
warmth in the studio and sound protection. I havent found the slight bluish tint
noticeable when painting as the window is such a distance from the canvas.
The velux do let in light, but not as much as you may sometimes think, as I
paint with the lights on even in the daytime on many occasions in the grey
winter! (This is with a space with 3 x velux windows and a front of the studio

completely made of glass.)

Hope this helps,
Will
R

karen warshal

February 20, 2014

That does help. Thank you so much!!

Best regards,
Karen
R

June Cluett

February 28, 2014

Dear Wil, Thank you so very much for your invaluable input to all my
questions on lighting for my new studio. You have been such a great help. Here is
one more and hopefully the final one on this subject!!! Is there much of a
difference between a switch start diffuser and high frequency diffuser beyond the
obvious price difference and should I be concerned about it, bearing in mind I
intend to work from a monitor in my studio?
all the best
June
R

Will Kemp

February 28, 2014

Hi June,
I would always go for the High Frequency as they have a quicker start up and
are flicker free, both when starting up and when they run.
Hope this helps,
Will
R

June Cluett

February 28, 2014

Yes, a great help, thank you, Wil ! I have now placed the order and the
lights will be installed next Wed March 5th, all being well!
Thanks again for your fantastic advice and guidance, and for throwing light (!!!!)
where there was darkness.
gratefully yours
June
R

Will Kemp

February 28, 2014

Brilliant one June, looking forward to hearing how the lighting turns out.
Cheers,
Will
R

Dianne dasilva

March 12, 2014

I read this article with great interest to equip my artists studio. I purchased
a 85 Watt 5500K compact fluorescent bulb and a Paragon Super Sturdy Studio
lamp to put it in. I also purchased 4 27 Watt CFL full spectrum bulbs to put in other

lamps around my studio. To my dismay, I got a terrible headache almost

immediately from the 85 watt bulb. It is so bright that if I accidentally look at it it
really bothers me. Is there some sort of diffuser I could attach to my lamp stand to
avoid seeing the bulb directly that might help prevent the headaches?
R

Will Kemp

March 12, 2014

Hi Dianne, so sorry to hear about your headaches with the bulbs, the
85w bulbs are bright. How close are they to your working space? Mine are 4
metres high so are not within eye line. You can diffuse the bulbs with a paper
white lamp shade to prevent glare and soften the light.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Will
R

Essie B

March 13, 2014

Dianne I had the same problem with my flourescent before hitting on

this solution: being the cheapskate that I am, I taped a piece of white copy
paper around the base of the bulb to form a cone lampshade of sorts. (Paper
burns at 451 F, and flourescents dont get anywhere near that hot.) It solved
my problem, and no one sees my studio but me so I have no fear of someone
else pointing and laughing. I do plan to eventually getting a proper shade if I
can ever find one that fits the fixture.
R

Will Kemp

March 13, 2014

Thanks for the tip Essie,

Cheers,
Will
R

Bella

March 20, 2014

Thanks so much for all this clear info, just what I need right now.
R

Will Kemp

March 20, 2014

Pleased youre enjoying it Bella,

Cheers,
Will
R

Dianne

March 25, 2014

Hi Will,
Thanks for all the info. I am working with an electrician who also is certified to
work with a renowned doctor at one of the hospitals in the city who works deals
with patients who have environmental problems; i.e. : very reactive to EMFs
(electro magnetic fields), given off from what is termed as dirty energy. When
the compact fluorescents in my lights was tested, it was emitting high level of
EMFs. He will be grounding the lamp and installing a new cord, apparently the 2
wire cords are not well grounded. We recently attended a National Home Show in
our city and found LEDs that I will experiment with. Next year, they hope to have

12 watt LEDs available. I have one presently lighting a painting and it looks
fantastic. It is so nice of you to share this information and I am happy that LEDs
seem promising for studio use. Thanks a bunch.
R

Will Kemp

March 25, 2014

Hi Dianne, thanks for the update, thats really interesting to know, and
super helpful for other artists to be aware of, thanks for sharing. LED lighting
does seem to be getting better and better, really hope you can find a good
solution for your studio.
Cheers,
Will
R

Sheila Etchingham

March 27, 2014

Thank for your informative commentary . My head sure aches with the
lighting question and had solved it nearly completely with your info. I have
converted a garden garage into a Botanical Art studio. I have been in complete
confusion ,requiring lots of choc biscuits! The room is 11ftx15ft with windows down
the East side. The height is 7ft.
I am thinking of using the Philips Graphica Triphoshor 4ftT8 36 watt tubes (with
high frquency battens )but not sure of how many. The electrician has left me wiring
in the ceiling for two fittings. I originally thought that just two tubes would be ok
but I am wondering if I should have 2 twin fittings(4 tubes) We do use individual
table lights for close work. Any advice would be appreciated. Many thanks Sheila
R

Will Kemp

March 30, 2014

Hi Sheila,
Pleased youve been finding the article helpful in your studio set up.
I currently have a square metre wattage of between a 25 watt 35 watt per
square metre depending on the ceiling height and your painting height (if you
stand or sit)
A square metre wattage of 25 watt is the equivalent of a 1,500 lux with
Fluorescent tubes, ( an operating theatre is recommended 1,000 lux) this is
very bright.
To give you an idea, full daylight is 10,752 lux
Overcast day is 1,075 lux
Most homes are around 150 lux
So Im working at a just above overcast day brightness. Which compared to
most homes is super bright.
Youre space is around 15 metres square, so with 2 x 36 watt tubes. (72 watt
total)
In my painting space (12.25 square metres) I have 12 x 4ft 36 watt tubes total
of (432 watt)
So I would be tempted to go for the 2 x twin fittings giving your 144 watt.
If you find it too bright (as you also have table lights) you can always take out a
tube from each fitting.
Hope this helps,

Cheers,
Will
Hope this helps,
Will
R

Sheila Etchingham

March 31, 2014

Many thanks!
I will be taking your advice.
Sheila
R

Will Kemp

March 31, 2014

Your welcome Sheila, hope it helps.

Will
R

David

April 19, 2014

Hi,
I found your article very interesting. I am in the process of deciding what kind of
light to use in my art studio. I used your link to go to Solux. At their site it says that
most artists compose their works under 4700 K SoLux and display under 3500 K
Solux. Also that most museums perform their touchup work under 4700 K SoLux
and display paintings and artifacts under 3500 K Solux.
In both cases would not the work look different than the artist or retoucher
intended when it is put on display?
You recommend even cooler light with the 5400 K CFL bulb.
Im a bit confused.
Thanks,
David
R

Will Kemp

April 24, 2014

Hi David,
The light temperature in most display environments are warmer to give a more
warm/cosy feel. Most Halogens bulbs are around 2700 K, so the 3500 K Solux
gives an extremely natural feeling for display environments.
Kevin McGuire (who invented the Solux bulbs) helped with some clarifications
in the comments above so might be able to help out with a more technical
answer if you contact them direct.
Cheers,
Will
R

Peggy Marra

April 21, 2014

Hi Will,
I am in the process of building an art studio. The dimensions are 10 x 16 with 10
high ceilings. I have no windows. I have purchased the fluorescent bulbs you
recommended but am having difficulty figuring out how many fixtures to install in
the space. Can you advise?
Many Thanks

Peggy
R

Will Kemp

April 24, 2014

Hi Peggy,
This is an idea of the brightness I work in from the comments above, a word of
warning, 1,500 lux is really bright and doesnt suit every artist, I have each
tube individually switched so I can control the overall wattage if its very bright
in the summer.
In my previous space the ceiling was about 2.5m (around 8ft) high and I
had:
1 x twin fitting with 2 x 5ft 58w tubes.
This was super bright on the canvas when I was painting directly
underneath it.
However, with the Cat 2 diffusers the light is softer but more directional
down below the fitting so the surrounding walls didnt receive any spill
from the tubes.
Total wattage for the painting area (58w each tube) = Total of 116 watt for
an area of around 2m x 1.5m 3 square metres painting area.
My current studio space has the lights at a height of around 3.5m, so the
light drops off a lot more (The fittings arent as close to the easel)
In my main painting space (Area of around 3.5m x 3.5m 12.25 square
metres)
I currently have 12 x 4ft 36 watt tubes total of 432 watt
First space with low ceiling, and painting standing at the easel was 29 watt
per square metre.
Current space with high ceiling, painting standing at easel is 35.26 watt per
square metre.
So anywhere between a 25 watt 35 watt depending on the ceiling height
and your painting height (if you stand or sit)
A square metre wattage of 25 watt is the equivalent of a 1,500 lux with
Fluorescent tubes, ( an operating theatre is recommended 1,000 lux) this is
very bright.
To give you an idea, full daylight is 10,752 lux
Overcast day is 1,075 lux
Most homes are around 150 lux
So Im working at a just above overcast day brightness. Which compared to
most homes is super bright.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Will
R

Anissa

May 12, 2014

Great article Will! Im looking to have a studio built in the garden in the near

future and didnt know where to put it or how to design it! This article has plenty
for me to think about and will help in my decision making. Also the other readers
comments have been very useful :)
Many thanks!
Anissa
R

Will Kemp

May 13, 2014

Great one Anissa, really pleased it helped.

Cheers,
Will
R

Steven G. Thomas

May 16, 2014

I am currently building an art studio in my basement. Unfortunately, the

only available light in sufficient quantity in a corner of the roomwith one wall
facing southeast and the other southwest. The windows are from 2.5 feet from the
floor to a maximum height of 6.5 feet.Width-wise the windows facing southeast run
the entire length of the wall for 15 feet, the southwest wall for 10 feet. The floor is
about 4 feet below the surface level so stone covered window wells somewhat
mitigate the strong south light. Any suggestions about further softening the south
light?
Upon your recommendation I plan on utilizing the Phillips TL 90 lights. But for
painting a still life with dark backgrounds what kind of spot lamps would you
suggest?
Thanks in advance,
Steven Thomas
R

Will Kemp

May 18, 2014

Hi Steven,
Hope youre keeping well, to soften the strong south light you can add diffusion
to the windows, so you still get the brightness of the light, without the glare.
Diffusion can vary depending on how permanent you want it to be and costs. It
can vary from having semi opaque blinds, or a semi-opaque shower curtain, to
having diffusion fabric (usually used in photography light boxes.) to help to
soften the light.
To have a balance to the Phillips TL 90 bulbs you would ideally have a 5300K
CFL, however, Ive found you often get either a 5000k or a 5400K that is used
for photography studio flash. So its a personal choice if you want to go slightly
warmer (with the 5000K) or cooler with the 5400K relative to the 5300K of the
Philips.
One bulb that I have found that gives an excellent light nice is a 5500K CFL
with a 95CRI rating.
The CRI of the different bulbs from photography stores can vary, but Ive found
the Kino Flow CFL Bulb, to have an excellent CRI rating. It is slightly more
expensive than other equivalents, but give an excellent light as it had been
designed for professional cinema use.
Kino Flow True Match 26w 5500K CFL bulb

The 26W bulb is a good brightness for a medium to large size size set up.
So with the 5300K of the Philips and the 5500K of the Kinoflow youll be super,
super close. (Kino flow also do fluorescents of 5500K but I found the fittings less
adaptable for my personal setup)
Alternatively, you can use a bright LED, that you can more easily change the
intensity (you often cant dim CFL bulbs) if you will be varying the sizes of your
setups and dont mind loosing a little CRI.
Hope this helps Steven.
Cheers,
Will
R

carolyn

May 16, 2014

How about LED lamps/bulbs? Any suggestions?

R

Will Kemp

May 21, 2014

Hi Carolyn, you can use LEDs but Ive found the CRI rating is usually
lower, unless you want to invest alot more, or you can achieve a high CRI but
they are a warmer tone rather than the 5000K 5500k range.
Cheers,
Will
R

Susan

May 22, 2014

Hi Will,
Your article was very helpful to me! I am in the process of renovating a barn into a
studio space and the quality of light is important. I have been trying to locate the
exact Philips TL-D 90 Graphica Pro Triphosphor 4 T8 36 Watt Fluorescent Tube in
New York and what I found on bulbs.com equivalent is Philips F32 T8/TL950.
The CRI is 98, 5000K and 32 watt. The knowledgeable man who helped me said
that he has not heard of a 36w in the states. The 4 length only comes in 32 watt.
Also the Kelvin is not quite the 5300 that yours is. They are $9.99 a tube. This is
the closest I have found. What do you think?
Thank-you,
Susan
R

Will Kemp

May 24, 2014

Sound great Susan, the 5000K is really perfect as its a good white light,
you can then use other CFL bulbs for any still life setups etc you have in the
studio that can be easily found at 5000K so youll be balanced with your colour
temperature.
Good luck with your barn renovation!
Cheers,
Will
R

Janon Dykes

May 24, 2014

Thank you for the informative article- its been a big help in sorting out the
technical details of light. I have a north facing studio and want to supplement with
artificial light, and this has been a very good resource. Love seeing the artists
studios!
R

Will Kemp

May 26, 2014

Great to hear it helped Janon,

Cheers,
Will
R

Cathy

June 6, 2014

Thanks so much for the great lighting info! Where I am struggling though is
what actual ceiling light fixture to use for the 4 T8 fluorescent tubes (such as the
Philips one mentioned by Susan on May 22nd). Am looking to have a four tube
fixture, and am at a loss with what might be a recommended and reliable fixture to
use. Any suggestions?
R

Will Kemp

June 7, 2014

Hi Cathy, it depends on the level of illumination you want, you can get
fittings with single, twin tubes or four tubes. In the UK the 4 tubes fittings are
harder to fine, but in the US, these ones work well:
Cheers,
Will
R

Marie

June 8, 2014

Hi Will,
Thank you for the great information beats recreating that wheel :) Building a
studio similar to yours, unfortunately not lucky enough at this stage to have the
natural light component, all in good time, so I will be relying on artificial lighting
unless I go outside to play. I would live to see a pic of your studio if completed?
Cheers
Marie :)
R

Will Kemp

June 9, 2014

Thanks Marie, pleased youve found it helpful, good luck with your
studio.
Cheers,
Will
R

Celeste

June 10, 2014

Hello, Im new at having a studio, and Im also starting my graphic design

business. I just bought some compact fluorescent bulbs that just screw into a
regular lamp. They are daylight balanced, 1300 lumens, 5,000k, 75watt bulbs.
Only thing that is bothering me, is after reading your blog, Im not sure what the
CRI is. Do I need to find a different bulb, are these too blue? I am willing to invest
in some good bulbs, so I can output professional work. Thank you in advance for
your reply.
R

Will Kemp

June 12, 2014

Hi Celeste, the CRI is the Colour rendering Index and describes the
accuracy of the bulb at displaying a full spectrum range of colours. Natural
daylight has a CRI of 100.
You can get CFL that specify CRI, but not all manufactures add the details on
the bulb.
If you will be proofing prints in your graphic business then a high CRI bulb will
give you the best results. The tubes I use are designed for the graphics
industry.
Hope this helps,
Will
R

Celeste

June 13, 2014

Thank you for your reply, and the link to the bulbs that you use, this
helped A LOT!! I am not really sure about getting the long fluorescent bulbs
at this time, because this is a temporary home. While I was out shopping
around for bulbs I came across CREE brand bulbs LED, if they have a CRI of
90+ and 5000k do you think they would be sufficient enough, till I have a
more permanent home? Again, thank you in advance for the reply!! Lighting
is my weakness at this point, everyone has to have one ;)
Celeste
R

Will Kemp

June 14, 2014

They look great Celeste, nice choice.

Will
R

Celeste

June 15, 2014

Well by their site the daylight bulbs only have a CRI of 80, but
their soft white have a CRI of 93. I guess Im still confused by all this.
Thank you for the replies.

John carroll

July 6, 2014

Heh Will, Just put down the deposit on a studio for the back yard. 3.6m x
2.7. Also just read that da Vinci suggest a small studio disciplines the mind! It will
have Wooden outside cladding, pitched roof, two big windows either side of a glass
door south facing. Will DIY the interior in ply cladding and get a sparky to power it
up after that. It is a lot fun looking through pics of the interiors of studios online.
Erected in four weeks time and should be fully functional before we leave for a 5
week European grand art/cultural tour in our summer. I imagine things will be
quite fruitful after that!

Will Kemp

July 7, 2014

Exciting times John!

R

John carroll

July 7, 2014

The question that was formulating has maybe answered its self after re
reading the colour of studio wall article in that ply wood walls in a small space is
perhaps the best colour. Hang a painting or two up and shelves and that would
pretty much cover it. Thus adding a wall colour might be moot. I would imagine
that a small space should be easy to illuminate with a soft clear light with this
articles advice as well.
R

Will Kemp

July 7, 2014

Hi John, yes it depends on the mood and feel of the space and the type
of paintings youll be creating. The wall colour can really change the feel of the
studio quite dramatically.
Will
R

Alex

July 9, 2014

Thank you, Will, for a very useful summary about studio lighting. I would
like to use LEDs in my studioI will let you know what I find in my research.
Best wishes!
R

Will Kemp

July 12, 2014

Youre welcome Alex, pleased you found it helpful.

Will
R

Aisling Kearney Burke

July 9, 2014

Hi Will,
I just came across your amazing and informative website. Thank you so much for
explaining the lighting in such detail. I was losing hope. Im hoping to chat to my
electrician husband about all this when he gets home!
Were just in the process of fitting out my brand new teaching studio, here in the
west of Ireland and I needed to decide on my lighting tomorrow. Im planning on
getting the Phillips T8s you recommended and wiring them separately so I can
control the amount of light.
My studio space is 5x8metres with 3m square windows on the south and west
facing sides. No veluxes unfortunately or north facing light but Itll have to do for
now!
It does have high apex ceilings going from 8ft to 12ft at the top.
My question for you is would I put the bank of lights on the horizontal beams
exposed or on the angle of the ceiling?
And also, diffuser or no diffuser?

Your input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for the great info so far!
R

Will Kemp

July 12, 2014

Hi Aisling,
In depends on the layout of the rest of the teaching studio and main layout for
the space. If youre going to be painting with oils at an easel and have students
around the edges of the space having a angled light on the ceiling if preferable
because it will help to stop glare from the shine of the oil paint and/or a glass
palette if used.
If youre going for more of a ambient glow then having an even spaced on the
horizontal will work.
The Diffuser helps to prevent a glare if the lamps are hanging lower in the
space, but will prevent the light spreading onto the walls (it directs the light
down more) if you are using them for display.
Hope this helps, good luck with the build!
Cheers,
Will
R

katrina

July 25, 2014

hello,
I love to paint portraits (abstract) I am not a professional but would love to learn
more.
I work in a 99 foot steel shed. It has no windows or lights so I wait until the
middle of the day @ 2-3hrs worth of good light to do my painting as I take the
outside.
Can you recomend a lighting system which would suit the above conditions. I
would love to have more time to work on my pieces and learn more as i go.
I am on an extremly tight budget which doesnt help.I appreciate any information
you can help me with. regards. katrina
R

Will Kemp

July 27, 2014

Hi Katrina, the most cost effective solution would be a 85w CFL pendant
bulb.
Cheers,
Will
R

katrina

July 28, 2014

Thank yoy for the information.I appreciate it.

Now I just have to find it.
Beinging in a remote area, in Australia doesnt help sometimes.
Thanks again for your help
R

Will Kemp

July 28, 2014

Youre welcome Katrina, hope you manage to track one down.

Cheers,
Will

Anita Mevers

August 12, 2014

Will,
Thank you for this very helpful article. I just moved and had to give up my art
studio and start over again. The space I have is smaller, pitiful lighting and only
one north facing double window. I will take your advice on the T8 fluorescent 4ft
fixture. So far have only been able to find 32 watt tubes with the tri-phosphor
coating. If you think I should not get the lower wattage, please advise. Once again,
thank you and happy painting.
Anita Mevers
Cumming, Georgia (by way of Arkansas and Mississippi)
R

Will Kemp

August 13, 2014

Hi Anita, pleased the article helped. Its not necessarily a case of

individual wattage, more the combined wattage output for the space youre
working within. Do you can just add more tubes to achieve the light levels that
suit your space.
Hope this helps,
Will
R

Isabelle Camilleri

September 11, 2014

I was looking for lighting information before I purchase the right daylight
light source for my small art studio (which is in a basement). Ive taken note of all
the important infonow Im off to the light shop to purchase my triphosphor
flourescent tubes. Thanks so much for such an informative article.
R

Will Kemp

September 18, 2014

Youre welcome Isabelle, hope it helped.

Will
R

Gizem

September 22, 2014

I am a turk architecture student,I couldnot find any clear thing about

lighting -Ive been working on my art studio project- thank u so much for these
writing,it worked on my project much!
R

Will Kemp

September 22, 2014

Good one Gizem, pleased you found it helpful.

Will
R

Martien van de Griendt

September 25, 2014

Hi Will,
I have been following you for some time on Youtube. Only recently i started to
read your articles on your website. Both the videos and the site are a great source
of information.It covers all the relevant subjects an aspiring hobby painter like me

needs. You even share your knowledge about studio lighting, wow.
I recently started painting classes and will definitely recommend your site and
videos to my fellow students.
Keep up the good work!
R

Will Kemp

September 25, 2014

Thanks Martien, really pleased you have been finding the articles and
videos helpful in your paintings.
Cheers,
Will
R

Jan

October 1, 2014

I am new to your site, and love what I have seen so far! Did you finish your
studio? I would love to hear how you finished it.
Thanks, Jan
R

Will Kemp

October 1, 2014

Hi Jan, nice to hear form you, yes I did finish the studio but havent put
pictures up yet, pleased youve been enjoying the site.
Cheers,
Will
R

nury vicens

October 14, 2014

Dear Will; your article on lighting for your studio is very enlighting. i
would appreciate if you could give me your opinion on certain facts about
converting my one car garage into my studio: i will have to heat it insulate it and
put natural and artificial lighting. i thought of putting skylights on the south facing
very slanted roof. in order to have even light i can place some kind of sheer shade
on it. i understand it will be a good heating source in the winter. i paint on the wall
and i chose to do it on the western wall, the light coming from my left, as i am right
handed. i live in philly, usa. please let me know.
xxoo, thank you!
R

Will Kemp

October 17, 2014

Hi Nury, its hard to give specifics on your studio setup as each space
can vary so much. Ive got underfloor heating in my studio which I find to be
very efficient at keeping it nice and toasty in the cold.
Cheers,
Will
R

Andy

October 16, 2014

Hi
Thank you for taking the time to create such a comprehensive article.
I am creating an art studio in a 6 x 8 timber shed with windows facing south and
north.
Would it be best to have 4 ft fluorescent tubes on the ceiling and if so do you think
1 tube would be enough or would a pair be better.
Are 4ft tube ceiling fitments universal or do they have to be matched to the tubes

Thanks for your help

R

Will Kemp

October 17, 2014

Hi Andy,
Iif you have a read of the other comments there are more detailed specs on the
type of light level that I work in. The best thing to do is to try and find a lux
level that you feel comfortable working in (either using a phone lux meter app
or a lux meter (about 20), and then you can match the amount of tubes to the
lighting illumination level that you are most comfortable painting within.
The ceiling fittings do vary, the tubes that I link to the article fit the larger, older
T8 fittings. Currently the newer more slimline fittings (T12) dont have the
same CRI levels in the tubes.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Will
R

Andy

October 18, 2014

Hi Will
Thank you for your reply it is most helpful
Regards Andy
R

Will Kemp

October 18, 2014

Youre welcome Andy.

R

Clyde

October 19, 2014

Hello, Dear Will.

Im looking for the simplest way as a professional to be enlightened enough to my
room for a painting. If I would have your recommended lamps (Philips TL-D 90
Graphica Pro Triphosphor 4 T8 36 Watt Fluorescent Tube 36W), where can I find
the stand in which compliance with Bulb Diameter and make good use of lamp
options as well? Could you share a link, please, that will help me? Floor lamp type
would be the best option for me. I think it would be more convenient when
traveling. Thank you so much!
Kind regards,
Clyde
R

Will Kemp

October 20, 2014

Hi Clyde, most of the fluorescent fittings are designed for ceiling

mounting, not stand mounting. The best thing to look for if you are looking for a
movable light is a construction site light that uses a T8 fitting.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Will
R

Barbara Gillis

November 9, 2014

Many thanks for sharing your research Will much appreciated :-)
R

Will Kemp

November 10, 2014

Youre welcome Barbara, hope it helped with your studio planning.

Cheers,
Will
R

Dennis Lascelles

November 17, 2014

I attend a life model evening class and work in colour. I find it essential to
use an art type blue bulb fixed above my easel for colour correcting.
Great site. Thanks.
R

Will Kemp

November 17, 2014

Thanks Dennis,
Will
R

Sarah Holland

December 1, 2014

Hi Will
Fantastic article. Have learnt so much. Going out to buy a lamp for doing my art in
the winter months now.
Sarah
R

Will Kemp

December 1, 2014

Thanks Sarah, pleased you found it helpful.

Will
R

Liana Steinmetz

December 4, 2014

Hi Will,
Great article! I learned so much! Thank you!
I read through all of the previous Q and As and nothing answered the question I
have so I thought I would go ahead and ask. I am remodeling part of my garage to
be a painting studio. Regular 8 foot ceilings, no windows. The wall area that I will
be working on (I will mount my canvases directly to the wall) is about 10 feet
across, and 8 feet high. I need to illuminate that space well.
I like your idea of just using the CFL bulbs that have a high CRI and about 5500K. I
am wondering if I should place these bulbs in a track along in front of the wall I will
be painting on. I am unsure if placing them so close to the canvasses will produce
a glare or another undesirable effect (even if I direct them at the ceiling). I read in
a past response that you did not suggest track lighting to another commenter. If
you dont suggest track lighting, would you suggest scattering these bulbs
throughout the garage ceiling?

I am also wondering how many you think would be enough, and what wattage?
The space is small, only 10 feet x 12 feet.
Thank you so much for your time and thought. I really appreciate it.
Liana
R

Will Kemp

December 5, 2014

Hi Liana,
I currently have a square metre wattage of around 25 watt per square metre.
This gives me a working light of 1000 lux with Fluorescent tubes when standing
at the Easel
and 800 lux when sitting at the easel.
To give you an idea, full daylight is 10,752 lux
Overcast day is 1,075 lux
Most homes are around 150 lux
So Im working at about the brightness of an overcast day brightness. Which
compared to most homes is super bright.
For normal drawing work a lux level of 1000 is good, for detailed drawing you
can go to 1,500
Youre space is around 36 metres square, so it depends how much of the space
youre working in to paint under and the level of light illumination you like best.
A single 105 watt CFL in a pendant fitting at a distance of 4ft from the light
gives a lux level of around 200 lux.
The best way to check is invest in a 20 Lux meter and check spaces around
you that you feel comfortable working in and then match the lighting to that
brightness level.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Will
R

Denny Martindale

December 10, 2014

Hello Will,
Came across your article in my search on proper studio lighting. Excellent! My old
studio was actually two places, a south lit sunroom for smaller work and a dark
barn for larger pieces.
However, we just moved to another property and I now have a garage with north
window and good fluorecents, and an upstairs studio with a nice large north
window. The lighting in that area is regular incandescent bulbs, which led me to
this search for better lighting.
Thank you so much for all of your research, I cant wait to get the bulbs changed
out!
Blessings to you!
R

Will Kemp

December 10, 2014

Really pleased it helped with your lighting design for your studio Denny,
Cheers,
Will
R

Annamieka

December 27, 2014

Thank you so much for this informative post! I am an artist just getting my
career started over here in Portland, Oregon USA and my husband and I are
turning the basement level of our home in to a painting studio for me, and this
article has been such a help in understanding how to make good choices about
lighting! I really appreciate your thorough discussion!
R

Will Kemp

December 29, 2014

Good one Anna, really pleased you found the article helpful, hope your
studio turns out well.
Cheers,
Will
R

Bunny White

February 6, 2015

Thank you, Will, for this SO helpful information on lighting!

I am working in a 10x13 room with a Western exposure so no help there. Would
one bulb in a centered ceiling fixture be light (bright) enough, or would a track
lighting system be better? What about the question of mercury filled bulbs (tubes)
for safety?
Looking forward to seeing your finished studioI know you are.
R

Will Kemp

February 12, 2015

Hi Bunny,
To give you an idea, full daylight is 10,752 lux
Overcast day is 1,075 lux
Most homes are around 150 lux
Im working at about the brightness of 1000 lux so the same an overcast day
brightness. Which compared to most homes is super bright.
A single 105 watt CFL in a pendant fitting at a distance of 4ft from the light
gives a lux level of around 200 lux.
Track lighting can be excellent for lighting walls for display of work but need to
be properly spaced to achieve an equal illumination to the space.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Will
R

Christine Hildebrandt

February 15, 2015

I am so exceedingly happy to have come across Will Kemp Art Studio! Your
incredible scope of knowledge and easy, encouraging manner have helped this

intimidated artist in progress move out of the shadow of wanting to paint and into
the light of beginning to paint! Your teaching has done the seemingly impossible
and gently dismantled the strong wall of belief that I have always held, that I have
no artistic ability. Here I am at midlife discovering that, not only am I capable of
learning how to paint,but I am also discovering a whole new appreciation for art
and artists. I am so excited to have a wonderful and rewarding new passion.
Thank you Will Kemp!!
R

Will Kemp

February 15, 2015

Hi Christine, what a lovely comment to receive, fantastic to hear youve

been feeling inspired to develop your painting and tackle that inner critic!
thanks again,
Cheers,
Will
R

Suzanne

February 28, 2015

Thank you very much

R

Will Kemp

March 1, 2015

Youre welcome Suzanne.

Will
R

deborah

March 21, 2015

Right, very interesting. My studio is long and dark, cream, floors and walls
in the basement of the house, with west light from a strip of 3ft high windows at
the top of the wall which is set at outside ground level. I am in southern spain. How
many of these fluorescents lights should be fitted to the ceiling, which is false , not
very high, (about 10ft), and dotted with only spotlights set into it. Could I use
brighter spotlights? I think they cost a bomb, the ones I have are the led, and dont
give much light at all. What lumen should I buy if I could stay with spotlighting? I
have to sort out this studio as i cannot work in it and i get really frustrated.Cheers.
R

Will Kemp

March 25, 2015

Hi Deborah, if you have a look through some of the later comments on

the lighting article I talk through how to work out a guide amount of bulbs for
your space.
Cheers,
Will
R

deborah

March 30, 2015

Thank you. Actually the light is from the south not west, my mistake.
I went out and bought 3 led fluorescent strips 1600 kelvin, and a couple of
lightbulbs just in case. It may well end up looking like Blackpool. I thought if
I need a lot of light for classes and desk work a lot of light may be needed,
and if not I can just use one 1600 bulb on a standing lamp, unfortunately,
having read all the tips, i am really none the wiser. I cannot have them all
put up to try out. Maybe one would be enough. the ceiling is about 11 feet
high and the studio is about 2355 feet.
also where should i put them? 2 or 3 along the ceiling, or one in the middle?

Thanks so much for your advice and time.

R

deborah

March 30, 2015

I have a false ceiling with spotlights, I think it is going to be a

problem to put other fittings..
R

Will Kemp

March 30, 2015

Hi Deborah,
I wouldnt personally recommend the bulbs at a 1600 kelvin as they will
be very, very warm.
I work under 5300Kelvin
Is the 1600 number the kelvin or the candle power?
R

deborah

April 1, 2015

Sorry, my mistake. I have had flu all week, brain not

functioning too well. I have three ceiling lamps each with 2 strips of
3.250 total of 6.500 kelvin each one.

David

March 26, 2015

Hello Will,
Stumbled across your site on a sunny afternoon. Had a long break from my
creative
self and have the urge to get going again! The only place I can really set up is in
my kitchen which has a deep recess, big enough to fit a good sized table. The
kitchen is big and has a very large window 6ft high by 4ft wide ( old Glasgow
tenament high ceilings). The window is west facing, so not much light in the
earlier part of the day. The kitchen has a main light directly in the middle of room
which is corded with an old Art Deco glass shade ( beautiful but very dull ). The
recess has a single socket downlighter, typically for an LED spotlight, this sits
directly above the workstation approx 4ft. My initial idea is to install approx 8
downlighters in the kitchen and fit with good quality bulbs ( 320 lumens 5000k )
Will also buy a good quality desk lamp. Im starting to waffle on! Anyway, any
suggestions on my little predicament would make my day Thanks.
R

Will Kemp

March 29, 2015

Hi David, the quickest solution would be a CFL bulb at 5000K at 85w.

They are pretty big bulbs but will put out around 5,350 Lumens. You can see a
photo in the article under the simplest solution heading near the bottom.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Will
R

marilyne stotz

April 4, 2015

Wow! That was the best, most comprehensive yet understandable

explanation of lighting I have read.- And Ive read a few.

Thank you for taking the time to write this, it is so helpful!

R

Will Kemp

April 7, 2015

Pleased it helped Marilyne.

Will
R

Coralie

May 2, 2015

Hi Will,
My only studio space at the moment is a fairly dimly lit garage. It has a big roller
door that can provide some light during the day but also blows in dust and etc.
However my husband is an electrician so even though our home is a rental, he
may be able to rig something up for me to artificially light the space.
Im not sure I could get him to read through this whole discussion although I will
try :)
But if I was to summarise the lowdown on how to light a windowless garage for
painting, what would be the best most straightforward thing to ask him to do?
We live in Australia if thats any help.
Thanks,
Coralie
R

Will Kemp

May 3, 2015

Hi Coralie, sounds like youve got the perfect man for the job! The most
straightforward thing to ask would be for a couple of 4ft of 5ft strip fluorescent
lights that have a high-frequency ballast and a high Colour Rendering Index
bulb. Good luck with your studio.
Cheers,
Will
R

Tracy Fox

June 20, 2015

Hi Will
I would very much appreciate your advice.
We are in the process of having an extension built and are at the stage where I
need to decide on the lighting in 2 of the rooms where I will work.
I create hand dyed and hand printed fabric and am also a quilter so accurate
colour rendition and neutral lighting are as important to me as they are to painters.
I also need good lighting to be able create reliable photos of my work to post on
my website.
I have done lots of reading and understand the importance of CRI, Kelvin and
Lumins etc but am not entirely sure how to translate that into decisions (hope this
makes sense).
The rooms are not huge (approx. 15ft long x 7ft wide x 8ft high) and I had
originally thought track lighting would be the way to go but having read your post
(and some others) I wonder if fluorescent would be better.
1. What would be your recommendation for my space given the requirements? ie
number, size, type of tubes etc
2. Do you still use fluorescent in your studio?
Also, I have read through this post numerous times now but cant seem to find the
follow up post showing photos of your finished studio would love to see it.

Many thanks in advance for any help,

Kind regards
tracy
R

Will Kemp

June 22, 2015

Hi Tracy,
Nice to hear from you,
I work under a brightness of around 1500 lux with a mix of daylight and
fluorescents. 1,500 lux is really bright and doesnt suit every artist, I have each
fluorescent tube individually switched so I can control the overall wattage if its
very bright in the summer or Im working on a commission that will be hung in
more dimly lit room.
Here are some figures from a previous comment posted above:
In my previous space the ceiling was about 2.5m (around 8ft) high and I
had:
1 x twin fitting with 2 x 5ft 58w tubes.
This was super bright on the canvas when I was painting directly
underneath it.
However, with the Cat 2 diffusers the light is softer but more directional
down below the fitting so the surrounding walls didnt receive any spill
from the tubes.
Total wattage for the painting area (58w each tube) = Total of 116 watt for
an area of around 2m x 1.5m 3 square metres painting area.
My current studio space has the lights at a height of around 3.5m, so the
light drops off a lot more (The fittings arent as close to the easel)
In my main painting space (Area of around 3.5m x 3.5m 12.25 square
metres)
I currently have 12 x 4ft 36 watt tubes total of 432 watt
First space with low ceiling, and painting standing at the easel was 29 watt
per square metre.
Current space with high ceiling, painting standing at easel is 35.26 watt per
square metre.
So anywhere between a 25 watt 35 watt depending on the ceiling height
and your painting height (if you stand or sit)
A square metre wattage of 25 watt is the equivalent of a 1,500 lux with
Fluorescent tubes, ( an operating theatre is recommended 1,000 lux) this is
very bright.
To give you an idea, full daylight is 10,752 lux
Overcast day is 1,075 lux
Most homes are around 150 lux
So Im working at a just above overcast day brightness. Which compared to
most homes is super bright.
For normal drawing work a lux level of 1000 is good, for detailed drawing

you can go to 1,500

So it depends how much of the space youre working under and the level of
light illumination you like best.
A single 105 watt CFL in a pendant fitting at a distance of 4ft from the light
gives a lux level of around 200 lux.
The best way to check is to invest in a 20 Lux meter and check spaces
around you that you feel comfortable working in and then match the lighting
to that brightness level.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Will
R

Painter33

August 11, 2015

This is an essential topic for painters.

I have built three studios starting with one that had a flat, rectangular overhead
skylight and second skylight that was square and pitched by the roof angle
(hipped roof). I put three longer skylights in the second studio. The present and
third studio has no skylights. I should state that the first two studios were for
painting directly from life, whereas the latest does not rely on observation or
objects the work changed from close-focus still-life paintings to painterly
abstractions. All three studios share one lighting system in common I have used
Solux bulbs, tracks, and heads exclusively as supplemental and for direct lighting.
Singing the praises of Solux bulbs and their ability to reference nearly any time of
day is quite easy for me. I generally use the MR-16 4700k 35* spread floods but
am considering the newer PAR 38 90W for a wider spread but they only reach
3500K but have a 50* spread. This is not so troublesome because the lighting is
closer in color temperature to that which will light the paintings in galleries. I
probably will install some tracks for the MR-16 as well as for the PAR 38 to
augment the clarity of light but not allow it to dominate.
A word about north light. North light is the most consistent throughout the day but
still changes in intensity and color temperature from morning to dusk. Colors will
appear different on cloudy days than on days with full sun. Painting using north
light exclusively can be exceedingly frustrating. The color of light is important in
painting as light and pigments complement each other in reaction. An opaque
object under full sun will be the complementary color of the sun, or much cooler
and less yellow (and a little orange) will cast blue-violet shadows. If you cast a
direct light onto a white object with a colored cellophane gel over the light, you
will see the complement of the lights color in the shadows. A good parlor trick
for the uninformed. There are a few places in the world where sunlight is cooler by
small degrees the south of France, some places in California, and in eastern
Massachusetts, for some reason. Cape light is a phenomenon recognized by late
19th century painters who painted on Cape Cod (Just the Cape to New
Englanders), particularly around Provincetown the ocean has much to do with it, I
suppose. Cape light is cooler and on clear days can be remarkably brilliant,
intensifying color and enhancing color relationships.
Light not only affects pigments and painting, but also it affects ones eyes. Too
much light is just as bad as too little. We have all experience the standard
fluorescent flutter, so thats to be avoided for long-term exposure. However, I
recently switched from ECT 500w 5400K tungsten photofloods to compact
fluorescents 35 watt (x six) to photograph large oil paintings and color rendition
has been excellent. I will continue to experiment with lighting until I find
something as perfect as it can be; perfection is an unobtainable absolute.

Will Kemp

August 18, 2015

Thanks for sharing your experience using the Solux bulbs in your studio
space.
Cheers,
Will
R

Steve

August 18, 2015

Hi Will, great info here. Im going to purchase the same fluorescent

Graphica lights that you mentioned above. My studio is a 3rd bedroom in my
house, 10ftx10ft with 8ft high ceiling. Would I need just one of those tubes for my
size studio or should I get 2?
Thanks in advance for your advice!
Steve
R

Will Kemp

August 18, 2015

Hi Steve, I would definitely have at least two tubes to get a good light
illumination level. In my studio I have 12 4 ft tubes illuminating the space
hanging about 4-5ft from the easel. This is very bright though and about 1,500
lux.
Cheers,
Will
R

phil champion

September 3, 2015

Hi Will, thanks for all your tips and experiences. I have really enjoyed your
videos on painting with acrylics and learnt a great deal about how to light a studio.
Thanks Phil
R

Will Kemp

September 3, 2015

Great to hear it Phil, really pleased you found the article helpful.
Cheers,
Will
R

Peter Vautier

September 6, 2015

Hi Will,
I managed to get some good daylight bulbs from ebay, that fit in a lamp I already
had, and another one that clips onto my easel. However, my workspace is shared
(its the living room!) and I can only paint at night when everyones gone to bed,
because the light comes from all over the place.
I was thinking of building a sort of mini theatre box, and then I found out that quite
a few people online have built shadow boxes for getting consistent and
controllable lighting for painting still lifes. I havent heard you talk about this, and
wondered what your experiences with this kind of setup are
Peter

Will Kemp

September 7, 2015

Hi Peter, yes when you have lots of lighting coming from different
angles a shadow box can be very effective for controlling the light entering the
box and giving you a strong single source lighting. You can create a really
simple shadow box with a cardboard box, just paint the inside black and then
cut some doors on the side and on the top, then you can place your daylight
bulb next to one of the openings to experiment with a lighting effect you like.
For more robust boxes you can use wooden frames or even simple sheets of
black foam core that you velcro together, then you can take the box down and
store flat when not in use.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Will
R

Nicole

October 16, 2015

Thank you for so much helpful information not found elsewhere. I paint
relatively small tempera paintings, mostly using natural pigments, so far no larger
than 30 inches wide. I am presently building a new house and need to decide
where my studio will be. I live in the mountains in western North Carolina, so my
house will have a walk out basement bottom floor with windows on 3 sides. The
house faces east ( downhill) but the ends are north and south. I can either have a
north window and a lot of east windows, but be under a 10 foot deck that projects
out to the east so there will not bee much actual east light (in otherwords it will be
rather dark) or be on the south east end and have both east and south windows
with no deck over it. I can diffuse the south light with blinds or curtains and have a
cheerful space, but I dont want my colors messed up. What do you think? I do
love using natural light to paint and see better with it. Any thoughts are very much
appreciated.
R

Will Kemp

October 17, 2015

Hi Nicole,
Its a tough call because the north and east windows will give you a more
consist glow to the space but having the option of having a brighter space that
you can diffuse gives you the option of enjoying the sun in the space when not
working on your tempera paintings yet still being able to control the intensity of
the light in the space. I would judge it on if you find yourself working in the
sunshine now or are you always looking for shade? just trying a mock up
studio in your house will give you an idea of the small you most naturally fell
comfortable in.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Will
R

Nicole

October 18, 2015

Thank you for your reply and for all of your efforts to help fellow
artists. My main concern with the south light is that it is so warm and bright
that my paintings may look too dark or too cool in other environments. I will
experiment around my house to help me decide. Luckily with tempera, glare
is less of a problem as it dries very quickly.
Ill let you know how it goes. The house and studio will be done in about a

year.
I may also try the Solux bulbs with diffuser for night work.
Nicole
R

Will Kemp

October 18, 2015

Hi Nicole, yes its a tricky one isnt it, the non-direct light is always
much more consistent for judging colours. The Solux bulbs give a lovely
clean light so will keep that colour consistency at night. Good luck with
the build.
Cheers,
Will
R

Tom

October 31, 2015

I thought replacing a large south facing window in my painting studio would

be pretty simple. As I found out not all window glass is the same and most have a
color tint. It seems the more UV protection and energy efficient the glass, the more
the outside light is altered toward a green or blue cast. Using just a double pane
window has the least amount of altered light, but the trade-off is lower energy
efficiency. Is it possible to have both energy efficiency and non altered light? The
only thing I can think of is to use artificial lighting to help compensate. Another
solution might be to use the glass that tints slightly blue in order to compensate
for the warm light of the sun.
Tom
R

Will Kemp

November 3, 2015

Hi Tom,
I havent tested to see how the Window energy rating effects the light quality
entering the space and if there is an optimum balance between efficiency and
colour altering. If you find any more information it would be interesting to see. I
would say adding artificial light into the space would give you more balance
when you needed it rather than having a permanent tint added onto the
window.
Cheers,
Will
R

Jason

November 6, 2015

Will,
May I ask you how big is your studio that you built out in this topic? My apologies
for asking once again but I didnt want to read through the entire comments
section looking for it and having it come up fruitless.
Thanks you for sharing this insight though. Very much appreciated! I am a new
painter and I am starting to tell a difference between light inconsistencies and the
way it affects color. I am seeking to solve my problems in certain parts of my how
where I paint as I tend to move from room to room.
Jason

Will Kemp

November 6, 2015

Hi Jason, the inside studio space is approx 3.3m x 6m, the main lighting
is over a painting space of about 3m x 4m.
Cheers,
Will
R

Rebekah

November 16, 2015

HI There!
I ordered the compact florescent bulb according to your recommendations and I
am very happy with the light it provides for my work. THANK YOU
It is however VERY BIG!
its do bright to be without a lampshade, do you have any recomendations that I
could fit on my student budget please?
Thanks s so much!`
R

Will Kemp

November 17, 2015

Hi Rebekah, yes they are quite big arent they! you can use a paper
pendant ball lantern, IKEA usually stock them and I think they are about 5
They will diffuse the light all around the room.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Will
R

Mark Hill

November 24, 2015

Your piece was exactly what I, from the start, was searching for in trying to
illuminate a 250 sq ft painting studio which has no natural light. The dimenesions
of studio are 17 x 15, with 7 ceilings. How many single or double Phillips Graphic
Pro Triphospahate 4 T8 36W flourescent fixtures would I need to install? Thank
you so much for your help. Mark
R

Will Kemp

November 24, 2015

Hi Mark,
Pleased to hear your studio is coming on well.
In my previous space the ceiling was about 2.5 m high and I had one twin
fitting with 2 x 5ft 58w tubes.
This was super bright on the canvas when I was painting directly underneath it.
However, with the Cat 2 diffusers the light is softer but more directional down
below the fitting so the surrounding walls didnt receive any spill from the
tubes.
Total wattage for the painting area (58w each tube) Total of 116 watt for an
area of around 2m x 1.5m 3 square metres painting area.

My current studio space has the lights at a height of around 3.5m, so the light
drops off a lot more (The fittings arent as close to the easel)
In my main painting space (Area of around 3.5m x 3.5m 12.25 square metres)
I currently have 12 x 4ft 36 watt tubes total of 432 watt
First space with low ceiling, and painting standing at the easel was 29 watt per
square metre.
Current space with high ceiling, painting standing at easel is 35.26 watt per
square metre.
So anywhere between a 25 watt 35 watt depending on the ceiling height and
your painting height (if you stand or sit)
A square metre wattage of 25 watt is the equivalent of a 1,500 lux with
Fluorescent tubes, ( an operating theatre is recommended 1,000 lux)
Btw, 1,500 lux is really bright and doesnt suit every artist, I have each tube
individually switched so I can control the overall wattage if its very bright in the
summer or if Im painting a more classical piece Ill drop the light levels to more
around 500 600 lux.
What you can do is buy a DIGITAL LUX METER they are about 30 and test
some Lux levels that you feel comfortable working in. Once youve got a lux
meter youre happy with its a case of matching the amount of tubes to meet
that light level.
Hope this helps,
Will
R

Joanna

December 19, 2015

Thank you for this perfect article! I am currently building a 9x12 shed type
studio, which will have windows on the north wall and one small window on the
east wall (so I can see my rose garden while I work!). The back of the studio is 8
high and the front (north) is 10 high. I am a printmaker, working mostly in black
and white, and I do some very precise cutting and gluing, for which I need good
light. Im just wondering whether you have any suggestions about using LED lights,
as they have come a long way since the original article was written. Is there any
advantage to using those over florescent? I think they are dimmable, which could
be very useful, but Id love your thoughts.
R

Will Kemp

December 20, 2015

Hi Joanna, yes LEDs have been coming on really well in the last 12
months. There are advantages that the LEDs are dimmable and you can change
the colour temperature of the LEDs. In terms of the colour rendering, they are
getting better and better but they still tend to be more expensive that
fluorescents for the same output/colour rendering.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Will
R

Kinga
Hi Will,

December 23, 2015

Your article on studio lightening is a treasure. Thank you!

I live in Scotland and too much natural light is never a problem here. I would love
to gather as much of it as possible through the roof via skylights but the structure
of my log cabin studio and the expense restricts me. I was wondering what is your
opinion from the light point of view, on using polycarbonate sheets as roofing
material for part of the roof. Some type of polycarbonate does have an acceptable
level of thermal insulation so that is not so much my concern, but even the best
clear one has only 74% light transmission rate. Just wondering if you have an
experience of visiting studios with this sort of roofing or perhaps researched it for
your own recently built one?
Thanks.
Kinga
R

Will Kemp

December 24, 2015

Hi Kinga, nice to hear from you, I havent experimented with the

polycarbonate sheets, but it can be amazing how small a window low level of
natural light can still make a massive difference in a studio space. I think it
would be definitely worth looking more into, even for small sections to add
ambient light to the space.
Cheers,
Will
R

Lori

January 4, 2016

Thank you for this information! I feel much more educated about lighting
for my new studio. There are minor different considerations for a sculpture studio,
I think, what with some bigger spaces to light and working in the round, but I
found this so helpful.
I am going to check out your work now!
R

Will Kemp

January 6, 2016

Pleased it helped Lori,

Cheers,
Will
R

daniel graves

January 20, 2016

Fantastic article! Many thanks for sharing your research. Im in the process
of setting up studio space for over 100 students in Florence, Italy. Just the
information I needed. Thanks again.
Daniel
R

Will Kemp

January 20, 2016

Good one Daniel, so pleased it helped, out of interest youre not Daniel
Graves from Florence Academy? if so love your paintings!
Cheers,
Will
R

Ria Brenchley

February 3, 2016

Hi Wil
I am setting up a new painting studio and just read your interesting article on
lighting. As I am at the designing stage, I want to get my lighting right. Do you
have any further comments to what you recommended in your article? I am in the
southern hemisphere, Australia so we can have super bright days! Many thanks,
regards Ria.
R

Will Kemp

February 5, 2016

Hi Ria, the only further comments would be to have a look around for
any high CRI LED lights, they are getting better and better since the article was
first published.
Cheers,
Will
R

Penelope Simpson

February 7, 2016

Thank you for the most wonderful education on light and lighting, Will! I
have been researching lighting for a couple of years to re-fit our studio, Village
Arts of Putney, which is the home of The Putney Painters, an invitational painting
group with dear friends, Richard Schmid and Nancy Guzik. When we originally set
up our studio16 years ago, in our old barn, Richard installed fluorescent fullspectrum lighting. Lighting has changed so much over the years that it is
overwhelming now that we want to re-do the lighting. I have scouted and scouted.
One gallery we visited has the most amazing array of lighting in their private
viewing room. The chap provided us with an amazing demonstration of how he can
virtually paint with light. The effects and moods in one painting were
astonishing. Your are so rightthe light someone has in their home or gallery can
truly impact a painting.
We are trying out the Genaray GESPE240B SpectroLED Essential 240 Bi-Color LED
dimmable Light which several of our artists absolutely love in their studios. These
lights run from warm to cool which we are looking forward to playing with. We shall
see how Richard responds this spring when we resume painting again.
Love your organizational and educational abilities, Will. If you are ever in the US
and near Vermont we would like to invite you as a guest to Putney Painters!
Thanks for the super work you do to educate artists!
R

Will Kemp

February 8, 2016

Hi Penelope,
Lovely to hear from you, thanks for your kind comments and so pleased you
found the article of help, yes, LED lighting is getting better and better in terms
of colour rendering and the ability to match your studio environment colour to
the colour temperature that the painting is going to be finally hung is a really
exciting one. Ive heard great things about all the great work you do with the
Putney Painters and love Richards paintings so thanks very much for the kind
offer, much appreciated. If Im ever in Vermont Ill take you up on it!
Cheers,
Will
R

Elizabeth

February 7, 2016

Hi Will,
I have a large studio, with 14-15 feet ceilings in an old mill building. Gigantic north

light windows from ceiling to about waist-high with full length black drapes, which
somewhat darkens the room even when pulled back. Horrible fluorescent lighting
high above. What would you suggest for superior lighting?
Thanks,
Elizabeht
R

Will Kemp

February 8, 2016

Hi Elizabeth, the easiest fix would be to upgrade the fluorescent tubes to

one with a high Colour Rendering Index and a Kelvin temperature that suits
your space.
Cheers,
Will
R

Elizabeth

February 8, 2016

Thanks!
R

Angela

February 23, 2016

Thanks for such a useful article on studio lighting. We are considering

converting our garage, which is about the size of your studio. Id be really pleased
to know if you have any thoughts on ventilation. We are in the UK. Do you just
open the windows in your studio or did you have something special? Thanks.
R

Will Kemp

February 23, 2016

Hi Angela, pleased you found the article helpful, yes windows and doors
are as exotic as my current ventilation gets! You can use air purifiers if working
many hours with oils and thinners in a confined space.
Cheers,
Will
R

Karen Conca

March 23, 2016

Hi Will,
I found your article on studio lighting very helpful. I am in the process of converting
a room in my basement into an art studio and need some advice One side of the
room has one window with a southerly exposure which will not provide much light.
After reading your article I now know that I will need full spectrum lighting and as
recommended I will use fluorescent tube lighting. As you can imagine I am still
concerned about getting enough natural light. Is there any other lighting that you
would recommend for a relatively small studio? I will probably position my easel
near the window. Do you have any recommendations for the placement of the
lights or how many to install. I would really appreciate any advice you can provide,
Thanks, Karen
R

Will Kemp

March 25, 2016

Hi Karen, pleased you found the article helpful, placement of the lights
is usually about 30-degree angle from the canvas (is working upright) up to the
ceiling. The higher the light source the better so you have less of a strong light
drop off when the light hits the canvas surface. For a smaller studio a high CRI
CFL bulb or 2 ft long fluorescent tubes work well.
Hope this helps,

Cheers,
Will
R

Mia

April 6, 2016

WOW! that was the BEST read Ive had about lighting. Who knew?! Thanks
so much for putting in this effort AND for sharing it with the world. Youve made
the task far less daunting than it was about to be thanks again!
R

Will Kemp

April 8, 2016

Good one Mia, so pleased it helped.

Cheers,
Will
R

Pam Dean

April 14, 2016

Wow thank you so much, what a fantastic summary of how light works and
bulbs! We have a little barn we are converting for my hubby Chris to have an Art
studio as his (engineering-toolmaking career) is phasing out into retirement. Now
worried my idea of white walls instead of the magnolia ones we have will reflect
the wrong light?? Is there a best matt colour for walls to be emulsioned??? Thanks
again Pam
R

Will Kemp

April 14, 2016

Hi Pam, pleased you found the article helpful, you might find this article
of interest about studio wall colour you would get a slight warmth reflected
from the magnolia.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Will
R

Kathy McWaters

May 27, 2016

Brilliant! (sorry I could not resist)

Thank you so much for doing all the research.
Kathy
R

Will Kemp

May 28, 2016

Glad it helped Kathy.

Cheers,
Will
R

Christine Zachary

June 8, 2016

Will, Your articles are so good. This is the first time Ive ever seen all this

information in one place and the added photos of studios are interesting. This
gives me more confidence in choosing light for my work.
R

Will Kemp

June 9, 2016

Great to hear it Christine, really pleased you found it helpful.

Cheers,
Will
R

Kavita

July 7, 2016

An illuminating article on lighting thank you for sharing Will. I live in the
tropics and have my studio in a covered patio working with natural light most of
the time. However need to consider lighting for displaying work when potential
clients come to view. Your research is wonderful and a good starting point as I
venture to see what is available locally.
R

Will Kemp

July 8, 2016

My pleasure Kavita, so pleased you found it helpful.

Will
R

Bo Tamaki

August 19, 2016

Gained some knowledge about lights. Moved into a cave like apartment.
Will have to work in the courtyard when possible with an easel light!
R

Fabio

September 17, 2016

Hi Will! Its been a while since I last posted a comment :)

I am setting up my studio at last, and I was wondering if 5000 lumens might me
too much for me? The ceiling is indeed 3m tall, but the room itself is fairly small,
about 3x3m or just a little bigger, and walls are all starking white. Would 5000
flash me or still be needed?
Thanks again for the wonderful content you post!
R

Will Kemp

September 20, 2016

Hi Fabio, that should give you a good luminance level for the size of the
space due to the light drop off from the light source. 5,000 lumens,
concentrated into an area of one square metre, lights up that square metre
with an illuminance of 5,000 lux. The 5000 lux, spread out over ten square
metres, produces an illuminance of 500 lux, so it should give you a good level
for your space.
Cheers,
Will
R

brendan

September 23, 2016

dear will I found this page while researching lighting as I realised my colors

are all off! I took a recent painting outside and it suddenly looked really bad!
one problem: this article is great for those with dedicated studios but what about
us lowly folk who are painting on our dining room table? sure I have windows on
three sides but sometimes Im painting in evening or dark afternoon and my bog
standard yellow houselights are on.
what would you advise for folk like me? perhaps a single desk lamp or something?
one single bulb? any ideas? or the SOLUX reading lamp you mentioned? they seem
to have two desk type lamps, also what about just a SAD light? surely a SAD
light is daylight?
help!
best wishes and thanks for being awesome
R

Will Kemp

September 25, 2016

Hi Brendan, the simplest method is to replace a bulb to a lamb with

5000K and a high CRI, like the CFL light mentioned above. You can also now get
some LED lights that are getting better and better in their colour rendering.
SAD lights tend to have a cooler colour temperature around 6500K, a 5000K
bulb is more neutral.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Will
R

Brendan

September 25, 2016

Hi will
See this company which makes sad lights
They claim their tubes fit high cri and the correct kelvin
http://www.sad.uk.com/daylight-fluorescent-tubes-6100k-38-c.asp
They sell it with a diffuser in a house if as a sad light
Would this work for art?
R

Will Kemp

September 26, 2016

Hi Brendan the colour temperature would be cooler (6100K) rather

than around 5000K and the CRI is pretty good, if youre looking at
fluorescents, the tubes I mention above are 5300K and CRI of 98
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Will
R

Brendan

September 27, 2016

Hi will I think Im fundamentally confused on one issue, in your

article you state that the higher the Kelvin the closer to a trial daylight
the light is so Im getting confused why we are not supposed to get
the highest kelvin possible?
Regards brendan

Marian

October 9, 2016

I found youre article very helpful indeed thank you very much. Im
building a studio at the moment and it looks pretty similar to yours in the article. I
was wondering whether you put a diffuser over your fluorescent tubes or not. I
guess that it would alter the quality of light, if you did. Is this something you would
be able to advise on please?
R

Will Kemp

October 10, 2016

Hi Marian, pleased you found it helpful, yes, you can use diffusion, its
often most handy when youre closer to the light source at it softens the light.
Clear diffusion will scatter the light but frosted diffusion will also reduce the
light level.
Will
R

Mark Fennell

October 15, 2016

I found this really helpful, im converting my garage into a studio and

currently looking at the best way to light it.
These lights you suggested sound ideal and hopefully keep my spirits up over the
winter!
Philips TL-D 90 Graphica Pro Triphosphor 4 T8 36 Watt Fluorescent Tube 36W.
Ill have a small space of 4m x 2.5m with a pitch roof going up to 3.370m
So im thinking of hanging two 4ft double double tube hanging fixtures from the
ceiling.
Hopefully that should give me plenty of light with the addition of raplacing the
garage doors with glass sliding doors facing north west.
Thanks Will
R

Will Kemp

October 16, 2016

Pleased it helped Mark, that should work great for your space.
Will
R

Tracey

October 17, 2016

Hi Will, I am fairly new at sculpting. I have done a few polymer clay figures
and found a new love in this medium. However, I am not good at setting up a work
space. Any advice would be very appreciated. I do art during the day, I am in
Canada (winter is coming and it can get a bit dark), and my spare bedroom turned
studio is in the basement. I do get a fair amount of light but it is a south facing
window. My desk is about 40 inches long, against an adjacent wall from the
window. I have 8 foot ceilings and my room is 13 x 12 feet. Could you suggest
lamp placement and bulb types for me? There is so much information online that I
am lost, frankly. Thank you!
R

Will Kemp

October 25, 2016

Hi Tracey, the best thing to try is use a lux meter ( about $15-20) to
check the light levels in your current set up and the ideal amount of
illumination youre after. Then you can reverse engineer how many lights youll
need for the space.

Will
R

Will Kemp

June 15, 2014

Ahh, yes, often youll find that the warmer the bulb in colour temperature
the higher the CRI. But with the warmer colour temperature it makes it harder to
balance with natural northlight. So it is trade off between colour temperature and
colour rendering.
Will
R

Will Kemp

April 1, 2015

Ahh, that makes more sense.

R

Will Kemp

September 27, 2016

Hi Brendan,
Kelvin is a measure of colour temperature (warm through to cool)
Colour rendering index CRI is a measure of the accuracy that the light renders
colours. Natural daylight has a CRI of 100.
So you want a light with as high a CRI as possible, but a colour temperature that
gives you a neutral/white light.
If you have an incandescent tungsten bulb at home that will have a low Kelvin
number 3200K and be warm light
Natural daylight has a Kelvin of around 5600K (it changes throughout the day)
So were looking for a studio artificial light that is as close to daylight in colour
(around 5600 Kelvin) and the way that it renders accurate colours (CRI) as close to
100.
The tubes I use are 5300 Kelvin and a CRI of 98
Hope this helps.
Will
R

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