Introduction
Any artist would tell you that natural light would be their preferred lighting for their art studio. However, it’s not always the case, and some artists prefer to work at night when the natural light is minimal. This means that they have to opt for artificial lighting to compensate for the minimal or complete lack thereof natural light. Sometimes it is easy to ignore the importance of good lighting, and we think that it won’t matter, or it is not important, but the lighting in an art studio has the capacity to affect the outcome of an artist’s artwork significantly. Finding a lighting solution can be a balancing act as there are so many variables that one has to consider. These variables are inclusive but are not limited to the different brands and types of lamps, an artist budget, the luminosity of the lamp/light, the correlated color temperature (CCT) and the color-rendering index (CRI). We conducted a well-informed research and compiled a list of some of the best lamps for artists that are currently available in the market, and they should consider purchasing.
LumiCharge LED Lamp and SmartPhone Charger
Coming in with a bang is the [link url=”https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1115687&u=1293840&m=76247&urllink=thelumicharge%2Ecom%2Fcollections%2Ffrontpage%2Fproducts%2Fdimmable%2Dled%2Ddesk%2Dlamp&afftrack=”]LumiCharge All in One LED Desk Lamp[/link]. We absolutely love this lamp (we have it on our desk AND our bedside table).
10 levels of adjustable brightness is probably the best feature here. When you are settling down for a night in bed with a good novel, you want enough to read but not to blind. Conversely, if you are lighting up your workstation, you want to make sure you are squinting when you are trying to do important work. Hence the adjustability is key!
Pros
- Built in phone chargers for iPhone, Samsung and USB and mini-USB (newest model has wireless charging!)
- Highly adjustable brightness and hues!
- Clock, Calendar, and Thermometer (don’t need to check the phone to see the time).
- Newest model has built in speaker and smart-speaker compatibility.
Cons
- If we had to knit-pick a flaw, it would be that it sorta shakes a tiny bit when we type (but we type kind of hard, so it might just be us).
TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp
Intro
Artist can say goodbye to large incandescent lamps and receive an instant upgrade into modern LED lighting with the TaoTronics LED lamp. The lamp has a small footprint which means it occupies minimal space and it is adjustable with the 12.5-inch bulb arm pivoting to 135 degrees at the neck. The base also moves another 150 degrees while the bulb arm pivots at 45 degrees around itself. Equipped with touch sensors you can easily adjust the brightness levels and turn the lamp on and off. This lamp ticks all the boxes.
Pros
- You receive a 12 and 18(free warranty extension) months warranty that protects your lamp from damage.
- The bulb has five different lighting options (natural light, cool white, white, yellow, or warm yellow) each adjustable up to seven levels.
- The lamp occupies minimal desk space.
- Artists can use the lamps in unlimited positions due to its adjustment capabilities.
- Flickering is not a concern with this lamp.
Cons
- The base occasionally wobbles when adjusting and could use some improvement in terms of weighting.
YOUKOYI A16 Swinging Arm LED Lamp
Intro
If swinging arm lamps are your preference, then it is highly unlikely that you will come across a lamp that is as good as the YOUKOYI A16. This clamp-on lamp is adjustable at and takes up no desk space whatsoever. The lamp head can be adjusted 180 degrees up and down, and 350 degrees right and left while the 13.7+13.7″ extendable long arm to folded to 15.7 inches. It offers numerous positions as it has five different pivot points that facilitate its movability. It has three brightness levels each with different lumens. We like that the lamp could be powered using a PC as it comes with a USB brick for power supply. Nevertheless, you can also plug it into the wall as it has an adapter.
Pros
- The lamp is adjustable from any of the five joints
- The LED lamp emits soft light without ghost, glare or flicker.
- The aesthetic of the lamp is pleasing.
Cons
- The bulb arm pivot point tends to loosen as it is the most movable bit of the lamp.
- The clamp needs to be properly seated; otherwise, it will wobble.
ToJane Swing Arm Desk Lamp
Intro
Another clamp on a lamp, the ToJane swing arm lamp is a space-saving lamp as it must be mounted onto the surface. The ToJane lamp has three adjustable pivot points, which are built using aluminum and alloy so as to ensure that the lamp is long lasting and dissipates heat effectively. The lamp is capable of handling a 40w LED bulb which is equivalent to a 200w incandescent, but users receive a 4w LED, medium base bulb.
Pros
- You can adjust the lamp to reach heights over 30 inches and expand it out to over 20 inches.
- You get several light options.
- The lamp maintains a minuscule footprint to maximize desktop space.
Cons
- Adjusting the light brightness or tone is impossible.
- Even though the lamp is capable of handling several lighting options, one must purchase different bulbs to do so.
- It would be better if the company utilized a bulb house heat dissipation method
BenQ Gold Genie e-Reading LED Desk Lamp
Intro
Imagine using the same bulb for 8 hours a day, for 17 years. That is what you get when you opt for the BenQ LED lamp. From its smart lighting, mood lighting and zero flicker technology, you can tell that a lot of thought went into the creation of this lamp. With the BenQ lamp, an artist can set the lamp at the exact angle that they require for use thanks to the ball joint that optimizes the lamp cap’s flexibility. Along with the ball joint, there are torque springs and precision friction controls which all work together to deliver a 150% wider lighting coverage. When using the lamp, you get an illuminance of 1800 lux and an expansive 35-inch light range.
Pros
- The light can be adjusted to your exact preferred angle.
- There is a built-in ambient sensor that automatically detects the light levels of the room and adjusts its brightness accordingly.
- The illuminated light is soft, constant and flicker-free.
- Several lighting options are availed to users.
Cons
- It is expensive.
OTUS LED Architect Desk Lamp
Intro
With 12 dimmable brightness levels and three unique color settings, the OTUS LED lamp utilizes an infrared sensor switch for its functionality. A simple hand wave over the desk lamp and the light switches on/off without ever touching it. It has a multi-angle adjustable arm and head so you can adjust it to your preferred position. The lamps light illumination reaches 1200 lux thus protecting your eyes from dryness or fatigue.
Pros
- The lamp has an intelligent memory that recalls your temperature modes and smooth dimming brightness levels settings, so you don’t have to keep adjusting them.
- The LED light is nonflickering and akin to natural light which does not damage your eyes.
- You get 36 customizable lighting options.
- The lamp is motion sensitive which makes it very convenient to use.
Cons
- Some users have complained about the fragility of the joints which means the lamp requires extra caution when adjusting.
- The base of the lamp occupies a large desk space. However, you can reduce this by opting to clamp the lamp as opposed to using it as is.
Globe Electric Multi-Joint Lamp
Intro
With three pivot points, this 32-inch adjustable lamp is one of the tallest lamps on our list. This lamp is a clamp style that adjusts to accommodate desks and mounting areas up to two inches thick. The lamp does not always require a bubble level flat surface unlike most clamp lamps, and it also uses a standard bulb. It has a twist dial power switch and a six-foot power cord that allows you to reach many spaces.
Pros
- The clamp can accommodate a lot of surfaces, unlike most other lamps.
- The height of the lamp allows for it to illuminate on a large area/desk space.
- It is cheap.
Cons
- The bulb is sold separately.
- The bulb cannot be dimmed, and the brightness and tone are not adjustable.
Phive LED Desk Lamp
Intro
Longevity and energy saving are the two words that describe this LED lamp by Phive. This clamp-on desk lamp has a rotatable body and a 16.3+16.3-inch adjustable metal arm to illuminate over vast spaces. The lamps head can be adjusted to 180 degrees which means you can position it to your liking. Designed to mimic daylight illumination, this lamp has a diffusion panel that emits soft light that will not hurt your eyes.
Pros
- The lamp has an intelligent memory that ensures stepless dimming because the lamp recalls/maintains your light settings.
- The light is dimmable and can be adjusted to almost ambient lighting.
Cons
- The Phive LED Desk Lamp is very susceptible to Electro-Static Shock.
Final Thoughts
Even though there are numerous lamp options in the market, aside from the previously mentioned elements, the other factors that you need to consider include mounting, adjustment abilities, and energy consumption. After that, anything else you would consider would be factors that make the lamp unique and make it stand out from the crowd.
Remember that the bottom line is that the lamp has to be functional and must suit your needs as an artist. The lamps in our list above all make for excellent choices that you can consider for purchase. However, our personal favorite has to be the TaoTronics LED lamp merely because you get the color tone and brightness variations that other lamps do not offer. Even then this does not mean that you should betray your needs and opt for a lamp that does not fulfill them. Our list above is intended for everyone whether you are a budding artist or a seasoned professional and we hope that you found the list to be helpful as you begin your journey to purchasing a lamp for your artistry needs.