Method and system for illuminating a work area

An area illumination device comprising:

• a support channel comprising a first end, an opposing second end, and a single, straight rigid elongate body extending therebetween;
• a surface mounting assembly fixedly coupled to said support channel, said surface mounting assembly configured to removably engage a first support surface of a plurality of support surfaces, the surface mounting assembly removable from the plurality of support surfaces without a use of tools;
• a light arm assembly comprising a light arm comprising a first end, a second end, and a single, straight rigid telescoping elongate body extending therebetween;
• and
• a light fixture comprising a light source coupled to said light al ni second end at a single location on said light fixture.

A method of illuminating a work area using an area illumination device, said method comprising:

• removably coupling a straight rigid support channel of the area illumination device directly to a first support surface of a plurality of support surfaces using a surface mounting assembly fixedly coupled to a first end of the support channel and to an opposing second end of the support channel, the surface mounting assembly configured to removably engage any of the plurality of support surfaces, the surface mounting assembly removable from the plurality of support surfaces without a use of tools;
• moving a light arm pivotably coupled to the support channel first end through a main joint assembly from a first angle relative to an axis of the support channel to a second angle relative to an axis of the support channel;
• extending the light arm along a telescoping feature of the light arm;
• and
• positioning a light fixture coupled at a single location to a light arm second end from a first position relative to the light ami to a second position relative to the light arm using a fixture joint assembly having at least two degrees of freedom of movement.