Signing your work (question + dilemma) - Page 2

artyczar · #16 04-28-2012, 01:30 PM

When I was 14 I made up a new last name and started signing my paintings with it because i hated my last name so much. Later, I made this my legal name. Now, I hate this name, but I became known with this silly name made up by the mind of a 14 year old and I still sign my name this way, front and back. I've built my little world on this name, like it or not. Consider it a brand, so make up anything you like and incorporate it differently into each piece as art so that you're satisfied with how it looks.

Octave · #17 04-28-2012, 05:41 PM

I use a pen name for music I write. I don't see a problem with it. O

Octave · #18 04-28-2012, 05:42 PM

PS gives the art historians something to do and it makes you mysterious.

**birdhs** · #19 04-28-2012, 06:03 PM

I borrowed an idea from Albrect Durer who used a monogram.

My work is signed 2012 with a capital G inside the 0. My initials are GO and next year i will use 2013,, at 64 I won't need to worry what to do in 2100...

dating a work is almost as important as signing it, that way when you become famous enuf to be in art history books the students will not have to guess which year you painted it.....

Greg Long · #20 04-28-2012, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by birdhs

dating a work is almost as important as signing it, that way when you become famous enuf to be in art history books the students will not have to guess which year you painted it.....

I'd disagree with this Greg, from an art business point of view buyers don't want older work so dating work makes it almost unsaleable after 12 months or less while work undated is still new as far as a buyer is concerned.

**EyeSpy** · #21 04-29-2012, 06:57 AM

Agreed, even with prints/reproductions. Years ago, I stopped dating my prints, for that very reason.

Even though digital work and photography can be beautifully reproduced, countless times, I found that there was a 'buyer's bias' against my older work.

artyczar · #22 04-29-2012, 12:56 PM

Personally, I don't think it's right not to date your work for the reason to make it always appear "new." I think it's important to show the transparency of the artist's evolution over time. Galleries also will ask you for the date of the piece as well and that would push one into a corner to reveal the truth. Therefore, I see this as a basic dishonesty if one were to leave off the date.

Also, I have never had anyone not want to purchase an artwork because the date was a prior year, even if it were from 15 years back. What I find is that my commercial galleries tend to want to give me solo shows for my most recent work, but I have used older work in plenty, and I mean tons of group shows in many many commercial gallery group shows. I have not had any problems there. however, they do like the work to be within a five year range, but if they really want the work to fit into a theme, they usually are not sticklers about that.

And what about one day when you want to do a solo retrospective? You better keep track of those dates!

bleu · #23 04-30-2012, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artyczar

Personally, I don't think it's right not to date your work for the reason to make it always appear "new." I think it's important to show the transparency of the artist's evolution over time. Galleries also will ask you for the date of the piece as well and that would push one into a corner to reveal the truth. Therefore, I see this as a basic dishonesty if one were to leave off the date.

Also, I have never had anyone not want to purchase an artwork because the date was a prior year, even if it were from 15 years back. What I find is that my commercial galleries tend to want to give me solo shows for my most recent work, but I have used older work in plenty, and I mean tons of group shows in many many commercial gallery group shows. I have not had any problems there. however, they do like the work to be within a five year range, but if they really want the work to fit into a theme, they usually are not sticklers about that.

And what about one day when you want to do a solo retrospective? You better keep track of those dates!

I think it depends on your situation. Buyers may have the suspicion that if it hasn't sold in five years it must be a leftover. Sad as it is, people need all kinds of confirmation and support. Not every buyer is confident. Just now, a friend has two people who want the same painting. If the first buyer KNEW that there was somebody else who wanted it, he would snap it up. Somebody else wants it, it must be worth the money! Sad but true. As for that retrospective, there are many ways of keeping track of dates without writing on the front of the painting.

RedEquus · #24 04-30-2012, 10:57 PM

I use my maiden name to sign all my artwork, mainly because more people know me by that name than my married name. A friend uses her middle name only. Just two different suggestions.

I understand how people feel uncomfortable about signing work. I have signed the back of paintings. Then for awhile, I actually made my signature a part of the painting. Some you really had to look to find it. I quit doing it after a potential buyer gave me grief over it.

Morton · #25 05-01-2012, 04:59 AM

Maybe I'm just odd but I wouldn't care what date was on. I like to see a signature though because it shows it was hand made and to me shows pride or interest by the artist in the work, it becomes more than paint on a surface.

If you hate your surname you can legally change it.

DaveMak · #26 05-01-2012, 01:11 PM

I can understand what Greg and others have said about uniformed buyers or buyers that have no confidence in their own ability to recognize good art wanting only newer work, but from this collector's viewpoint you can't supply me with too much information about the work.

Who, what, when, where and even why are bits of information that are pertinent along with any prior ownership information, medium used, substrate and any restoration data such as a varnished being used.

Carcharhinus · #27 05-30-2012, 10:24 AM

Going slightly off track here but I used to hate my name when I was a child. Then as I got older it kind of grew on me and I realised that it was never really my choice and it should never really be my choice unless my parents became people that I dont want to associate with and my name gave me a tangible link to them, which thankfully they didn't. I think by embracing it I'm honouring and respecting my parents and their decision which I quite like.

I also realised recently that, although I've heard and seen my own surname every day of my life and it's normal to me, it's quite an unusual name and I've never met anyone else with it. It isn't the weirdest name in the world, and a few other people come up if I google it, but it's the kind of name that you'll probably only meet one of in your life. I think that's pretty cool.

It's a pain in the ass to come up with a nice looking signature though. My signature is just an evolution of the first time I ever needed to scribble something on an official document.

Salute to our Partners