Hey Guys! Sorry I've been a bit quiet this week. Missed my Monday post. Didn't have too much to talk about on the hobby front. Still been debating back and forth on my master ork list. Giving me fits. Been working on a nice spreadsheet to organize myself. Also been reworking my hobby area with new paint holders, (finally have 100% access to all my paints), and replacing my lighting system!
Click this image to go straight to the review! I made a caption! I'm an adult!
So today's blog post is all about lighting your work space. I did a review of one lamp, and I've got a bunch of links to other lamps your fellow bloggers recommend. So if you like being able to see what you're painting, keep on reading! (Of course if your power is out, you can't see the screen, or you are blind, I apologize. May the emperor protect you.)
Lighting has always been an issue for me while I'm painting. I'm either blocking my light, there isn't enough light, the light is too harsh, my cat is trying to eat the light, or my electricity has gone out, and that sound was probably a pot hitting the floor. Lets do a quick recap on the Greggles lighting situation.
Oh yeah! Dining room table action! Look at all that space to work in! First I worked on the dining room table. (Yes I live alone, yes my only kid is my cat.) Obviously this was a poor solution. I had an overhead fan, and an old lamp from my grandfather. It provided enough light to see, but not enough light so that I could see all the tiny mistakes I was constantly making....until I photographed the mini's later.
It lasted being this neat for as long as it took me to take the photo. So then I rearranged the house. Bought some new furniture, setup a nice desk. Somehow with all the new space, instantly ran out of space again. (only 1/4 of my paint pots on the desk in this shot). I lost the overhead fan in the dinning room, so added a ceiling mounted light, and a paint melting ikea spotlight.
I think it will stay this neat for one day. Now we are on version three. Significantly more light, which is mobile, adjustable, and most importantly...out of my way! I just reviewed this light here, if you wanted to check out the review before proceeding...or just never visit the link because you hate reading about lights and only paint in the sun like a true artist.
So on my quest to find a solution to my lighting woes, I hit up my fellow bloggers. Here are a few of their comments, and lights they recommend. (Note: I have not personally tried these lights)
Mr. Lee recommends the LC8015 Shesto Task Light.
"It is this tri-light lamp that I bought from CPC when I first moved to UK. The link is here and you only need to set up an account with them to get it ordered and shipped out. Quick good service, and a decent lamp. Has survived 2 trips to Germany so far as well! With another one soon to come ;) "
"It is this tri-light lamp that I bought from CPC when I first moved to UK. The link is here and you only need to set up an account with them to get it ordered and shipped out. Quick good service, and a decent lamp. Has survived 2 trips to Germany so far as well! With another one soon to come ;) "
Todd recommends a combination Alvin Worklight. (And anti-recommends LED lamps)
"Be careful of those LED Work Lights... I got one and hated it. It was just never bright enough and at one point I had three of them 8\ .. I'd recommend going to an art store and testing them out .. I now use this thing that greg just posted to the left of this text and it's awesome .. it has a fluorescent bulb and incandescent bulb.. I'm going to pick another one up down the road for my airbrush booth.."
"Be careful of those LED Work Lights... I got one and hated it. It was just never bright enough and at one point I had three of them 8\ .. I'd recommend going to an art store and testing them out .. I now use this thing that greg just posted to the left of this text and it's awesome .. it has a fluorescent bulb and incandescent bulb.. I'm going to pick another one up down the road for my airbrush booth.."
Arbal over at colored dust has actually done two full reviews of lamps.
Tri-Lamp Review.
Magnfying Lamp Review
Tri-Lamp Review.
Magnfying Lamp Review
James Wappel believes in the power of LED daylight bulbs. He uses a combination of spotlights and led bulbs in his painting.
"However, the results were AMAZING right off the bat. It was just like having miniature suns. The first time I turned them on, the dark dungeon of the basement studio was brilliantly illuminated!"
"However, the results were AMAZING right off the bat. It was just like having miniature suns. The first time I turned them on, the dark dungeon of the basement studio was brilliantly illuminated!"
BDS Recommends a OTT Light.
"It is actually called an OTT light. Here is a link. It is the best light I have found to paint to. It gives off very little heat and provides the best non-glaring light to work with."
"It is actually called an OTT light. Here is a link. It is the best light I have found to paint to. It gives off very little heat and provides the best non-glaring light to work with."
Nafnaf also uses the triple bright light from Daylight.
"It has transformed the way I paint. I can see a lot more of my mistakes and it really helps in the evenings to dispel shadows that a normal light bulb creates."
"It has transformed the way I paint. I can see a lot more of my mistakes and it really helps in the evenings to dispel shadows that a normal light bulb creates."
Roemer uses a Tertial lamp from Ikea, with a 400 Lumen daylight bulb.
"It provides much needed overhead mobility when looking at different angles and directing light. I have a second such setup that I attach to my desk for photography in lightboxes or looking for mistakes on models in general. Have been happy ever since I switched from the overhead lamps on the dining room table and would highly recommend it."
"It provides much needed overhead mobility when looking at different angles and directing light. I have a second such setup that I attach to my desk for photography in lightboxes or looking for mistakes on models in general. Have been happy ever since I switched from the overhead lamps on the dining room table and would highly recommend it."
Roman over at Massive Voodoo uses a Tri-Tube Pro Lamp.
"Looking at my workbench again with the new lamp you truly see the difference. You get a way better light on a big area of your table as the Tri Tube Pro has a lot of power. This lamp really keeps your eyes focused and your table shining bright. I for my part can only tell you that this lamp changed my working."
"Looking at my workbench again with the new lamp you truly see the difference. You get a way better light on a big area of your table as the Tri Tube Pro has a lot of power. This lamp really keeps your eyes focused and your table shining bright. I for my part can only tell you that this lamp changed my working."
Thor over at Creative Twilight just got a Normande Daylight Clamp Lamp
"While I may not have had this light for very long, it hasn’t taken long to realize it’s a great light and a huge improvement for my painting. I’m able to see far more easily what I’m working on and colors are far more true. If you are after a good light that won’t break the bank then definitely check out this Normande Daylight Clamp Lamp."
"While I may not have had this light for very long, it hasn’t taken long to realize it’s a great light and a huge improvement for my painting. I’m able to see far more easily what I’m working on and colors are far more true. If you are after a good light that won’t break the bank then definitely check out this Normande Daylight Clamp Lamp."
I hope this post has been of some interest to those of you like myself who have been looking for lighting info for miniature work benches. Everyone has their own particular style of lighting, it's kinda of interesting to see how varied each of our workbenches are...almost as varied as our painting styles!
If anyone has any lighting recommendations they would like to add to the group, (or wants me to link to their review), please leave a note in the comments. I'll add it in so everyone can benefit! Until next time!
If anyone has any lighting recommendations they would like to add to the group, (or wants me to link to their review), please leave a note in the comments. I'll add it in so everyone can benefit! Until next time!
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