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Ideal viewing distance for artwork

post #1 of 16
8/12/09 at 11:40am
Thread Starter 
Is there an ideal viewing distance for artwork? I am considering purchasing a 24" x 36" painting for my galley kitchen and am concerned it is too large for the space. The painting would hang on the wall opposite the refrigerator roughly four feet away, meaning that the typical viewing distance would be less than four feet.
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post #2 of 16
8/12/09 at 11:49am
Yeah, probably. But who is going to want view artwork in your kitchen?
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post #3 of 16
8/13/09 at 8:31am
From where out of curiosity?
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post #4 of 16
8/13/09 at 8:46am
Be careful of the humidity in the kitchen.
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post #5 of 16
8/16/09 at 5:01pm
It would depend on the style of the painting. Have you a picture of it?
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post #6 of 16
8/16/09 at 7:47pm
There's no such thing as an ideal viewing distance based on size. Depends on the context (size of the wall, etc.) and content/detail.
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post #7 of 16
8/16/09 at 8:26pm
There's nothing wrong with a big picture in a small space nor a small picture in a large space, but paint and food don't mix. It will get splattered sooner than later. Opt for a framed print (or just paint the wall).
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post #8 of 16
8/16/09 at 8:31pm
My mental drafting skills are not what they used to be, but it sounds like people will have to stand in front of the fridge to see the print. Im not sure that sounds like an ideal place to put anything. From four feet or less, avoid pointillism I guess.
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post #9 of 16
8/16/09 at 10:31pm
Bad idea unless you have an awesome hood over your stove.
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post #10 of 16
8/26/09 at 11:13am
Try some arty refrigerator magnets instead.
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post #11 of 16
8/26/09 at 1:32pm
When's the housewarming?
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post #12 of 16
8/29/09 at 7:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by milosz View Post
There's no such thing as an ideal viewing distance based on size. Depends on the context (size of the wall, etc.) and content/detail.

Yes, there is. You want to stand far enough back to take in the entire work as a whole at once. For something the size he's talking about, I'd want to be at least a couple of paces back. Art galleries don't put the benches close to the walls for a reason.
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post #13 of 16
8/29/09 at 8:58pm
"A few steps back" is not "an ideal viewing distance."
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post #14 of 16
8/29/09 at 9:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GQgeek View Post
Bad idea unless you have an awesome hood over your stove.

Agree. The stove is NOT a friend of paint!
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post #15 of 16
8/29/09 at 9:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by milosz View Post
"A few steps back" is not "an ideal viewing distance."

You're confusing "ideal" with "specific." I was clear on the parameters and the concept, and nothing you've posted gives me the impression you're too stupid to get what I was talking about.

Now, in the best tradition of the internet, you can spend the next few days nitpicking in a lame attempt to defend a position you pretty much don't give a damn about rather than concede your first reply was wrong, or you can live, learn, and move on.
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