Post #570922 by THOR's on Sun, Jan 2, 2011 11:03 AM

NO problem Big Bro!!! lol

I am soooooooooooo happy you posted this about lighting Black velvets. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to light them properly. You described the phenomenon very well!! Adding to that, is the entire "special effect" that is present in black velvet that can not even come close to being captured unless viewed in real life. It's all about what is happening to the light and how the brain and eye are receiving it from the painting.

The reason black velvet is unlike any other painting surface is because it has the capability of almost TOTALLY absorbing the light aimed at it. Especially if it's a spot, in low surrounding light. Also, velvet has a "grain" that you need to look for to light it to maximize the "special effect". I paint on velvet where I position the fabric so that if lit from an angle that is from above the painting aiming down, that way, there is no "sheen" off the fibers...and the only light reflected back to the viewers eye is from the painted areas. The velvet becomes like total black atmosphere, lacking a sense of surface. This creates the feel of light inside the painting...and almost 3D.

This is how I light my velvet when painting on it...and if they are lit like this when displayed...they will come to life. I notice your light source is coming from bellow aiming upward....and though you can light it that way, if you take that light and put it above the painting angling down slightly(...like if you attached a small spotlight behind the Tiki's head aiming at the velvet), all that slight "haze" on the velvet will vanish to a deep almost infinite black....and the painted areas will REALLY radiate off the surface..as though almost floating! Try it as an experiment. The difference will be VERY apparent.

Thanks Big BRO!!! Glad you like the fella! Was great to see you at Tonga Hut a few weeks back! Oh...tip on cleaning if need be. I use a lint roller, the type with the adhesive paper you can tear off. It takes all the hairs, lint and dust off and leaves the painting and velvet in fine shape.

Happy New Year! ~~~ THOR

[ Edited by: THOR's 2011-01-02 11:17 ]