Where do you sign a portrait?

laughingshoes · #1 07-09-2006, 11:55 AM

Definately showing my newbie status to portrait painting! I'm just curious as to how you guys who work in portraiture regularly handle this? On the back? At the bottom? Where ever it works?
In other styles of painting I usually find an iconspicuous place and sign small...I just didn't know if that was the norm with portraits.
Thanks for the advice in advance.
Holly

**Dana Design** · #2 07-09-2006, 12:14 PM

Quote:

...I just didn't know if that was the norm with portraits.

It is for me. Small, inconspicuous, bottom left or bottom right. Then I sign it again on the back with a copyright sign, name of painting and date.

RCrook · #3 07-09-2006, 12:17 PM

I expect that it what most people do, I generally keep my signature quite small at the bottom for everything, but there aren't any rules or anything, so I would say wherever and however large or small. But just bear in mind the overall affect it might have on the painting.
Rob.

Valri Ary · #4 07-13-2006, 05:16 AM

Where ever YOU want!!! It's your creation.....keep on creating - even in your siggie!
Love what you do and sign how much you love it.......OMG...you should see my sigs.

David Brown · #5 07-13-2006, 11:15 AM

Like most I sign small and inconspicuous, sometimes you gotta really look at my portraits. Then I sign conventionally on the back with medium, details etc.
Cheers
Dave

Rose Queen · #6 08-02-2006, 08:40 PM

Here's a cool site another WC member found and posted: http://www.findartinfo.com/browse/signatures.asp

Kate Mc · #7 08-03-2006, 02:54 AM

LOL, I usually forget to sign them! My framer keeps a special pen for me to sign my paintings with. No, that's not right, she keep several--black, white, and a soft ochre.

Then I sign them wherever the name will fit without interfering with the portrait.

Kate

BermudaArt · #8 08-03-2006, 03:29 PM

I always sign in either the bottm left or right corner, name and date. I do pick a spot and color that will not interfere with the compoistion or draw the eye down. I find that every time I look at a painting I make a point of seeing who the artist is, and bearing in mind that as well as creating art we are marketing ourselves, so make sure people can see your name! Subtle is always good.

leesmith · #9 08-05-2006, 06:45 PM

The signature should be in scale to the canvas, signed straight at least 1 " up and in from bottom and side of canvas. It should be signed in the same paint as the work is in, in a color the same as the background color the signature is against except 1 or 2 shades either lighter or darker than that background color, and signed legibly. IOW, the signature should not distract from the painting.

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