I’ve always felt that the term practical light misses something very important. Besides that the light is, well, practical. Available in the scene. Seen by the viewer.
But what about personality of a light source? What about a disturbing feeling, when the table lamp gazes back at you (quite literally)?
I assure you that the table lamp is not merely a practical light.
Imagine it.
You work at the local newspaper. Today is a crunch time. You stay overnight to finish the shitload of writing. When darkness gathers in the corners, the only thing that illuminates your poor existence is the table lamp.
To remind yourself about visiting an eyesight specialist, you stick a piece of paper to the lamp shade. A second later, you notice that the lamp shade is covered with stickers.
In some weird way, that office lamp is your only friend. And as a friend, it has its own undeniable personality.
Surprisingly, you start to notice that even the light emitted by this lamp has a special quality to it.
As a maker of art, you can make the rest of us feel that personality.
Feel that we see a Thing, and not just a practical light.
How to Create a Practical Light with Personality?
Here is 3 steps on how you can create practical lights with personality. Try it and you will be amazed how much depth it adds to your artwork.
Yes, simply breathing life into the light source can take you this far.
But why should you bother with giving light sources an extra character?
• It helps you to tell a story
• It helps you to create a captivating aesthetic experience
• It helps you to drag viewers’ attention to lighting
• It is plain cool
Step 1. Write a Backstory for Your Light
Have you ever noticed how much our perception of the lighting is affected by the look of the light source?
Freakin’ much.
One thing is to look at a dimly lit cellar. And the whole other thing is to look at the same cellar lit by Falk Stadelmann kerosene lamp (owned by your grandmother).
It is a completely different aesthetic experience.
It’s different because you feel, that there is a backstory behind the light. It’s different because you feel, in Walter Benjamin words,
“…Unique phenomenon of a distance, however close it may be”.
German cultural critic called this feeling an aura.
Now pretend for a moment, that you are writing the backstory for a character.
And the character will be the office table lamp.
Maybe this table lamp will tell us something about its owner (quite a nerd perhaps).
For example, I have imagined a not-so-young journalist, workaholic and sociopath. Burning his life in a never ending crunch, he often stays at work overnight just to finish the article in time.
When darkness gathers in the corners, the only thing that illuminates his poor existence is the table lamp. In some weird sense, that table lamp is his only friend.
To remind himself about visiting the eyesight specialist, he sticks a piece of paper to the lamp shade. The lamp shade is covered with stickers.
…After the bankruptcy and office relocation, the lamp is left behind. Turned off. Worthless junk.
But the 8 P.M. sun hits the lamp shade. For a moment it looks like someone turned on the lamp once again. For a moment it’s so bright that it starts to illuminate the table. Like in the good old days.
You got the point.
Step 2. Find a Reference That Speaks to You
Now find a way to tell your story in a visual way.
Look at the light source and ask yourself, what could make it unique.
Here is some things that I did to assure that this lamp stands out:
• Second-hand look
• Humanizing details (stickers)
• Ambiguity: self-illuminated or lit by the sun
I’m sure you can imagine a lot more ways to give the extra touch to it.
Maybe it’s a light texture, cast by a broken glass. Maybe this light can be included into narrative in some funny way. Maybe it invites viewer to play with meanings.
Or maybe it is plain stupid (and thus memorable).
Anyway, there is something deeply satisfying in looking at the light that has character.
When your light source is well integrated into narrative, is actually seen in the scene and has a personality to it… It’s a cohesive whole.
Over to You
Now it’s your turn.
I bet you can remember some experiences from your life, related to light sources and their charisma.
Go ahead and create your next artwork, drawing inspiration from these memories.
You will be amazed, I guarantee that.
Join the discussion here on Creative Shrimp and share your artworks with me!
LIGHTING OPEN PROJECT
Lighting Open Project is my attempt at writing an awesome book about lighting for digital artists.
I really appreciate your help with promoting this project and I want to say thank you to each one of you. If you want to take this open project even further, feel free to spread the word about it.
By sharing the links on your social media (Facebook, Twitter)
Glad to hear it, mate. What do you think about the length of the article?
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LABAI Grieztas
As for me, al is perfect, and you leave good free places for improvisation, and at the same time it’s useful not just for Blender. Is cool and I very like it…
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es
Thanks Gleb, love the lamps personality and what it said about its owner! Great as always!!
I have a folder with the same name too. And saving every image that grabs my attention there 🙂
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Java
Is it just me or does the first example sound like somebody I know?
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TARDIS Maker
Nice article!
From the new letter that linked me here: “Today I noticed that there are 630 awesome people on my newsletter list.” I’m surprised there isn’t more! (or did you not count the non awesome people 🙂 )You have a great blog here, I don’t see how you don’t have more subscriptions to the letter!
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Bintang Senja
Fantastic Gleb ! Really inspiring, I guess the next topic will be the man will open a refrigerator and find the light inside it look warm but feel cool. XD
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Nathan L.
The open lighting have really helped me to understand lighting, at first my scene was just a few lamps lighting the dark places but now I know how to use lighting artistically and to my advantage. You nailed it, Gleb!
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wwlysses
Another great tutorial Gleb!!, but i don’t got how you make this lamp setup!!
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Yulia Kalashnikova
Gleb, hey, how are you? I was wondering, would you like to write an article about dramatic lighting may be? This is something, I personally do not understand and would like to read about 🙂 I tried to google a little bit but did not find a good article with examples so far.
uuu… amazing as always! trying to grasp what is so special or dramatic about the lighting:) oh well, looks like I still need to read the article first 🙂
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Torvicz Torvicz
Hey Gleb, what’s up? Is this scene made in Blender? What plug in did you use for the lighting? Great works you have here my friend. Inspired me to make 3d again. 🙂
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thisisprabha
Lamp…..:)with my own scrathes……..& some of ur universal post processing tips i included…
LABAI Grieztas
Thanks, as always in to 10! I like how you explaining idea and your method!
Gleb Alexandrov
Glad to hear it, mate. What do you think about the length of the article?
LABAI Grieztas
As for me, al is perfect, and you leave good free places for improvisation, and at the same time it’s useful not just for Blender. Is cool and I very like it…
es
Thanks Gleb, love the lamps personality and what it said about its owner! Great as always!!
Gleb Alexandrov
Tnx! The owner of this lamp, in some weird sense, imbues the lamp with its personality.
Charlie Ringström
Nice article + what a beautiful little render you did there! 🙂
Gleb Alexandrov
Thanks a ton, Charlie. Does this article feel actionable enough to you?
Charlie Ringström
Yes, I got quite a got insight of how you think when creating a scene! Good!
Gleb Alexandrov
Tnx!
Rico Cilliers
great stuff Gleb! I shall now try to give my lights character. cheers!
Gleb Alexandrov
Rico, you are constantly creating characters so full of charisma!
Rico Cilliers
haha thanx well I learned from the best!
Reynante M. Martinez
Hands down, Gleb! A stunning article and an awesomely-anthropomorphic lamp you got there. 🙂
P.S.
Just saved this render on to my inspiration folder.
– Reyn
Gleb Alexandrov
I have a folder with the same name too. And saving every image that grabs my attention there 🙂
Java
Is it just me or does the first example sound like somebody I know?
TARDIS Maker
Nice article!
From the new letter that linked me here:
“Today I noticed that there are 630 awesome people on my newsletter list.”
I’m surprised there isn’t more! (or did you not count the non awesome people 🙂 )You have a great blog here, I don’t see how you don’t have more subscriptions to the letter!
Bintang Senja
Fantastic Gleb !
Really inspiring, I guess the next topic will be the man will open a refrigerator and find the light inside it look warm but feel cool. XD
Nathan L.
The open lighting have really helped me to understand lighting, at first my scene was just a few lamps lighting the dark places but now I know how to use lighting artistically and to my advantage. You nailed it, Gleb!
wwlysses
Another great tutorial Gleb!!, but i don’t got how you make this lamp setup!!
Yulia Kalashnikova
Gleb, hey, how are you? I was wondering, would you like to write an article about dramatic lighting may be? This is something, I personally do not understand and would like to read about 🙂 I tried to google a little bit but did not find a good article with examples so far.
Gleb Alexandrov
Yulia, I’m writing such article right now! 🙂
Yulia Kalashnikova
waiting impatiently! 🙂
Gleb Alexandrov
Here is a sneak peak, to make it even more fun.
Yulia Kalashnikova
uuu… amazing as always! trying to grasp what is so special or dramatic about the lighting:) oh well, looks like I still need to read the article first 🙂
Torvicz Torvicz
Hey Gleb, what’s up?
Is this scene made in Blender? What plug in did you use for the lighting?
Great works you have here my friend.
Inspired me to make 3d again. 🙂
thisisprabha
Lamp…..:)with my own scrathes……..& some of ur universal post processing tips i included…
Gleb Alexandrov
Awesome!
Decebal Junior
the randomness in your models is amazing.. where did yoy get the models ? how can you make a tut on how u made them ?