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265 A great pleasure — and challenge — for most lighting designers is the opportunity to illuminate art in the landscape. In a gallery or home, the environment is controlled and predictable: There are walls, ceilings, and mounting points that allow light to be placed exactly where it's needed to amplify or interpret the artist's vision. Lighting art outdoors is no different in intent, but the approach requires additional layers of consideration — factors an interior lighting designer may take for granted. Consider the Artist: Consider the Artist: When the opportunity exists, I always like to consult the artist to understand how they envision the piece being experienced. We would never want to light a figure joyfully if the artist meant for it to feel somber. In many cases, the artist transfers interpretive license to the lighting designer, inviting us to layer one art form onto another. Consider the Subject: Consider the Subject: Sculpture generally falls into broad categories: figurative, geometric, abstract. Abstract and geometric works allow the most flexibility — accentuating planes, layering shadows, and creating depth and dimension. Figurative works, however, require careful attention to how light shapes the face or body. Consider the Source: Consider the Source: Fixture selection, lamp type, and placement dramatically influence how a piece is perceived. Negative space is as important as the illuminated surface. If a sculpture is lit too evenly, it flattens into the background rather than standing as a focal point. Small adjustments can be transformative. Consider the Materials: Consider the Materials: Materiality dictates technique. Highly reflective surfaces require attention to angles of incidence, viewing positions, and often diffuse or linear sources rather than tight spotlights. Light-colored materials reflect more light and require less intensity, while darker materials may benefit from silhouette or shadow-play to define form. Consider the Basics: Consider the Basics: We have a wide array of tools to ensure the art stands out while the lighting remains invisible. Lighting leader Bill Locklin's mantra —"See the light, not the source" — guides every project. Extraneous hardware distracts from the work; the lighting should tell the story, not become the story, unless, of course, the lighting is the story. Consider Light as Art: Consider Light as Art: Sometimes the fixture itself becomes a sculptural element: steel cutout bollards, decorative posts, glowing glass or acrylic orbs, and countless other examples where the light source transcends utility and becomes the artwork. At the heart of all these approaches is one guiding principle: consideration. Merely pointing a random light at an art piece will never evoke the emotion, depth, or visual interest that carefully selected, precisely aimed, and thoughtfully controlled lighting can achieve. Shedding Light On The Subject Lighting Landscape Art Pieces Lighting Landscape Art Pieces By Andy Thomas Viewpoint Lighting & Audio, Sacramento, CA

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