A portable light device is capable of generating light that is substantially uniformly distributed at its surface. The light device includes a housing having at least a translucent portion formed of a translucent material A first light source is disposed within the housing and is adapted to generate light. A first optical structure is positioned to direct at least a portion of the light from the first light source toward the housing translucent portion, and a second optical structure is positioned between the first light source and the housing translucent portion, the second optical structure being adapted to diffuse at least a portion of the light for uniform distribution across the housing translucent portion.