The Problem of Lighting

Recently I created an experimental abstract-ish painting, mostly in ink (the stuff that comes in pots and is used in proper ink pens, not any other kind) It was an interesting dive into a more abstract style, which is not my usual thing, and I was very pleased with the results: a painting which I felt was quite striking, and which I called “Ice and Fire” and had framed, with a view to either putting it on the website, or maybe entering into an exhibition at a later date.

Then I hung it on the wall. And immediately couldn’t see it.

I put the light on, and, directed at it, the colours popped out beautifully. But without a light on it the ink just looks….dull. The same happened when I tried to photograph it. Now I know that paintings look different in different lighting, but this seemed a bit extreme!

You see what I mean?

The left hand photo is how it is supposed to look. The right hand photo is how it looks in the wrong sort of light….

Consequently, “Ice and Fire” is still on the wall as I don’t quite know what to do with a painting which only looks right in a certain light! I just have to remember to turn the appropriate lighting on before I actually look at it!

An interesting experiment anyway!