Light has an affect on all of us.

How artists use the distinction of light to capture feelings, create a mood, grab our attention, or stir our emotions helps in directing our interpretation of the subject matter.

The following art collection shows lighting as a source for inspiration. Viewers of this collection will begin thinking about, and looking at, the various qualities of light at night.

What do you think is happening in this painting?

What type of light do you see?

How do you know?

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How do you feel when you look at this photograph?

What do you think the artist was trying to show in the photograph?

How do know?

What is different in this photograph than the previous photograph?

How do you feel when you look at this picture?

How do you know?

What do you see in this picture?

How is it different than the previous image?

Where is the light coming from?

How do you feel when you look at this painting?

What makes it appear to be a "Night''s Overture"?

What type of light do you see in this work?

How does the light make you feel?

Notice the highlights, mid-tones and shadows.

Where is the light coming from?

What colors have been used to evoke an emotion as well as a source of light in the dark background?

Where does your eye go to in this painting?

What colors have been used to define the forms?

Look at the detail in the next image.

When you look closely, the detail looks almost abstract.

Where is the light coming from?

How do you know?

The choice of color yields an erie effect of light at night.

This painting has yet another sensation, motion.

How has the artist depicted Motion?

How has the artist depicted lighting?

This is 1902, In Minneapolis - Hennepin Ave.

What month do you think this painting depicts?

What time of day do you think this is?

How do you know?

Where do you see light in the next 2 details of the painting?

Why do you think the artist included different sources of light in this painting?

What mood do you feel when you look at the painting?

We have looked at a variety of subjects, light at night and artists'' interpretations of light.

Now let''s investigate 20th c. paintings, and check out even more ways of painting "Night Light".

What forms do you see? What type of light do you see? What color scheme has been used?

How could this be interpreted as "Night Light"?

How can this painting be an example of Night Light?

Find out about "geometric abstraction" by clicking on more info.

American artists were working on new styles and ideas.

When was the date?

What was the popular style of painting before Geometric Abstraction?

This is another "geometric abstraction".

If you stare at this painting for a few seconds, does it appear to pulsate?

What could it be?

What title would you give it in reference to the idea of light at night?

Now, we''re going to look at light on architecture in the paintings to follow.

click on more info to find out about this painting style.

How do you know this painting looks like anything in our Twin Cities architecture?

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What style of painting is this?

What makes the view interesting to look at in this painting?

What time of day do you think this could be?

Or, what type of light would produce this effect?

When you look at this photograph, what type of mood or feeling does it give you?

How does this painting resemble the photograph in the previous image?

What direction is the light coming from, and does the light make the painting unified or disconnected?

When you look at these barns, what makes the painting so simple?

Where do you see a light on in the Barn?

This landscape is quite different than a typical rural scene.

Why do you think it was titled "American Landscape"?

Find out more!

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How is the light captured in this photograph?

When do you think this was painted?

Look closely at how the light at night in a city has been depicted.

Check out what the artist says by clicking on the more info button.

So, we end up where we started, in an office at night. How do we know it is at night? Light qualities create a mood.

Now, let''s see what you can do in your next painting: Night Light