Comments on: To sign or not to sign (your artwork)

By: Alyson B. Stanfield

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 23:52:32 +0000

Gam: No. Collectors shouldn’t sign unless it’s some kind of collaborative piece or the “thing” the artist does to be different. Otherwise, it’s kind of strange. Jay Dee: That’s fine. I guess the historian in me wants to know the dates–always.

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By: Jay Dee

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:20:00 +0000

With regards to dating the piece. I come from a printmaking background and used to add the date to the front of pieces with my signature until told by another printmaker that it could be detrimental to sales. Basically, people can be put off sometimes from buying if they think that the work is ‘old’. So now, to avoid this prejudice, I sign and title + edition on the front (under the image) and then date the back and add here the process used for that print. That way, people are not influenced by the age of the piece – only its artistic merit.

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By: Laura Murphy

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:14:40 +0000

I have a strong preference for signing the back. For me, it’s about the work, not identity. 99% of the time, I find a signature obtrusive, regardless of how small. The only exception to this are those who sign with a symbol. I find that intriguing somehow, like the examples given above. Judith Leyster used to sign her works “J” and a “star”. I also heard that story about Picasso and, given his personality, I always assumed he said that because he didn’t like the work, that he was being sarcastic!

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By: Gam

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:11:36 +0000

Curious as to why the date is included. Do you think the collectors should sign as well? They do become part of the “legacy” of the artwork too, and are often part of the means that allows further generations to have the opportunity to consider the artwork as well ….

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By: Suzette Fram

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:51:31 +0000

I sign my paintings on the front as small and tastefully as possible. Whenever possible I make the signature part of the design. I never date paintings. People don’t want to be buying an ‘old’ painting and dating them makes them harder to sell.

Whenever I look at arwork, I find it annoying if there isn’t a signature. Let’s remember that you can’t pick up a work and look at the back for the signature when you’re in a store or gallery. Besides, I find a work without a signature incomplete somehow. To me, the work needs a signature, it’s like the period at the end of a sentence. Necessary.

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By: AnnaMaria Windisch Hunt

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:13:40 +0000

Just did a walk though the gallery to see where my featured artists signed. Each has signature in front bottom right, in an unobtrusive manner. The subject intrigued me as my husband for years has signed with a fish, yes with a fish. It seems many years ago there was a well known flamboyant artist who had a fabulous name and signed with flair much like Picasso, what could he do? He had a two four letter name Fred Hunt. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. How does one look up a fish signature. The one identifying signature is his color palette. I’ve always found that large signatures was more about the artists personality than the art.

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By: Patrice Erickson

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:25:53 +0000

On the back I stick on a label I make in Photoshop that includes the following information: title, medium (detailed – for example: oil on linen mounted with BEVA 372 on gatorfoam), size, date completed, varnished date including the type of varnish used, my name, phone, website, email, physical address. The detail regarding the medium and varnish is important down the road for conservation sake.

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By: Karen Lynn Ingalls

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:42:16 +0000

On the back, I write the title,copyright symbol, my name, and the year. On the front, I write my name, small and subtle – it’s there if you look, but doesn’t distract from the work that way. I wouldn’t include a phone number (because it may change) or a website address – it’s easy enough for people to run a search on the web and find you.

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By: Patricia Oblack

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:04:44 +0000

I always thought the signature was a matter of preference, mine runs up the side of the work & is almost a logo on my website. But because my work is abstract, I am finding that many buyers, want to hang it in other directions, leaving the signature floating on a wild corner. With this happening more often than not, I have gone to signing on the back. I am questioning more about other info. I have had requests from rep’s & galleries to leave off my web address. How does anyone feel about that?

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By: Shelley Lieber

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:54:04 +0000

I read this story once about Picasso. Asked by a young artist for a review of his work, the great master looked over the painting and after a few moments of silence had only one thing to say: “Sign your name larger.” I think it’s good advice, especially if your signature is distinctive. Look at Fabian Perez and Pino, two highly successful artists, who signatures are bold and very noticeable on the canvas.

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