Should I make sure my signature is clear? This subject may seem unnecessary to some people, for others, it will trigger some reflection. Amylee gives us her point of view!
Why should I Choose a Legible Signature For my Art?
What is the common factor between all these painters: Velasquez, Renoir, Picasso, Blake, Freud, Delacroix and Dali?
Did you find it?
They all have an easily readable signature
Caring for your Signature, Why?
A signature is the number 1 tool of any artist. It is the first piece of information that will be read (at a glance I grant you) by customers, gallery owners, and curious onlookers. It is therefore essential that it is super readable. The clearer it is it, the better it is memorised.
A signature is an important part of the creative process. As soon as an artist applies his name to a painting or a sculpture, he officially declares that he is the author and the artwork is ready to reveal its colours to the public.
Unfortunately, many artists consider the signing of their artworks a quick formality, an administrative act or even something of little importance. Some do not even bother to sign!
I notice that more and more people are venturing onto the Internet to carry out a multitude of searches in the hope of finding the name of the artist who created the painting that they have just acquired.
The Purpose of the Signature
Whatever its shape or location, the signature informs, identifies, and importantly completes the artwork. The artist will not always be there to answer questions.
DID YOU KNOW? Without A signature and after many years, there is a sad fate for this kind of unidentifiable artworks. Guess what?
It’s the attic, the garage or worse the rubbish. So to avoid falling into oblivion, here are my main recommendations for signing.
The Right way to Approach a Signature
- Sign all your finished artwork.
EXAMPLE: In addition to signing the front of my paintings, I write some details on the back like the date, technique, and so on.
- Sign your name, first name or your artist pseudo in a very clear way.
GOOD TO KNOW: Artworks with initials, monograms or symbols usually meet the same fate as illegibly signed artworks.
- Sign without affecting your art
GOOD TO KNOW: Put a balanced signature (not too large) that fits in and does not conflict with your art (unless it’s chosen for a reason)
- Sign your work in a consistent way.
GOOD TO KNOW: Over the years, authentication will be much easier and much more valid if your signature has similarities across all your artworks (same style, same size, same colour, same location)
Materials for creating an Authentic Signature
- Sign your creations using the same technique as your creative process.
EXAMPLE: Use acrylic paint with an acrylic painting or oil paint for an oil painting to sign your art. This method allows for better authentication of the artwork.
- Always sign before varnishing to seal your signature to your art
EXAMPLE: Signatures put on top of dried varnish often trigger questions during authentication.
- Sign with appropriate tools
EXAMPLE: Depending on the signature style, artists will adapt their gestures. A rounded, flexible writing style will require a fine tip brush (numbers 1, 2 or 3). An over-stretched writing will be easily created with a cerne relief outliner. A dynamic and square signature will make it to the marker.
The signature is quite a story but it is above all the official mark of the artist. You must bear in mind that today’s buyers will not necessarily be those of tomorrow’s.
Remember that the legibility of the signature, shows more care, respect and provides a lasting memory that avoids ending in the bin.
Information for this article was provided by professional fine artist, Amylee Paris. You can visit her colourful portfolio or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Find all Amylee’s posts published in GreatArt online Magazine by clicking here!
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I have never considered not signing my art; might as well not sign a letter! In the 1950s I used to use a full ‘DAVID -A- HARDY’ in a block, but I felt this took up too much room, so for many years I’ve used a stylised ‘HARDY’ with a line through the H and A, and from the tail of the Y as an underline. See my website (below).