Luminare Prototypes

“I haven't failed, I've found 10,000 ways that don't work” -Thomas Alva Edison

Instead I found three ways how not to make a luminare.

First model from front.

I first started out focusing on illuminating the object and not focusing on the light effect.  I made a box out of foam core with squares cut out in four sides.  Then I took wire and threaded it through small green squares and put them across the opening which worked well with the foam core because the wire stuck into the foam in the center.  In the end though the green squares looked cool they did not create any effect on the wall at all.

First model from back.

Then I hung more little green squares from the top of the cube so that they would sway in front of the light bulb.

First model interior.

After looking at my luminare sketch model in the dark I decided that I cared more about the light effect than the luminare itself because after all the light effect was my original inspiration.  So then for my next model I focused on creating a luminare that would create my light effect from all sides so I created the same cube from my first model but instead of just cutting squares out of four sides I cut another hole it what would have been the bottom before.  Then so that the box would not sit directly on the table I put it on legs so that it would also create a light effect on the table as well as the wall.  For my second model I made it out of foam core, balsa wood, and two different color green papers.

Second model from right side.

Second model from back/front/right side.

Second model from front.

As I moved along with my luminare I realized that if i used darker foam core it would help to disguise the light socket and cord on the front of the luminare.  So I rebuilt another model just like the previous one but instead with black foam core.

Third model from front

Third model from right side.

Third model from right side/back.

Third model from back.

However, when I made this model I realized how much I do not like working with foam core because it was really hard to cut neatly and the material was not thick enough to keep the light in and the light would show through the foam core.  So then for my next and final model I switched to using mat board and it worked exactly the way that I wanted it to.

Powers of 10 - Two 10x10 Squares

This is the smaller square below zoomed in to ten times it's size.  I think this square turned out best out of the two squares that I did because I think the shading worked out really well on this one.

Original Square: man's elbow

This is my second square ten times larger of the square below which is a section of the mans pants.

Original Square: part of his pants

More of the Luminare

Luminare without green paper

Luminare with green paper on the bottom opening

Luminare with green paper on the top opening

Luminare Sketch Model

Luminare Sketch Model

For my sketch model I decided to use white foam board pieces glued together with hot glue with a square cut out of two of the sides to allow shafts of light through.  I put green paper over the foam board on one side just to experiment and see how I liked it with the color rather then the white.  I have decided that I like the green much better than the white because it adds to the effect that is similar to my light phenomenon.  However, I cannot decide if I would rather put paper on it or paint the foam board itself which I do not know how well that would work because of it's slick surfaces.  I then stabbed thick pieces of wire through small lighter green squares so they would slightly over lap and then punctured the wire into the foam board at the edges of the square opening so that the light would filter through the green squares and replicate my light phenomenon. 

I think that the next thing that I am going to try with this project is to make a wooden frame to hold the light bulb at the luminare's epicenter and then cover the wooden frame with some kind of white or clear translucent paper so that the light would filter through that and then through the next layer.  I am also considering hanging another layer of small green squares with fishing line from the top of the luminare so that they will hang down in front of the light.  Then doing the same thing with the small green squares on the outside frame as I did in this sketch model.  I also cannot decide whether to use foam board or particle board for my next model but I might also make one of both and then decide which one I like better.  

The Beginnings of a Luminaire

The Light Bulb

I was experimenting with different kinds of glue trying to find one that would not show through the translucent paper.  I found that the glue stick worked the best but you could still see it through the paper. Due to the fact that I could not accomplish the effect that I wanted using the glue I think instead I am going to see if I can find a way to hang the small green squares using wire or string instead.

Glue Stick

Glue Stick

Hot Glue

Rubber Cement