Did you know that Albrecht Dürer was one of the first artists to start signing his art? Hi. My name is Carrie and today on Artist Strong, we’re going to answer the question should you sign your art?
During the Renaissance, most artists actually did not sign their artwork. Part of that was because they were hired by patrons to create art for their homes, and their name was known well enough within an art community or by the people hiring them they didn’t feel like they need to put their name down on anything.
There is one story about Michelangelo, however, when he created his masterpiece: the sculpture that’s called La Pietà . (This work is now in the Vatican.) He had overheard people admiring it and giving credit to another artist for that sculpture. That made him kind of cranky, so he went back in and carved across Mary’s chest his name, Michelangelo, to make sure that everyone knew that it was his work. That’s one of our first stories of people signing their art.
Another Renaissance artist, a Dutch master, Jan van Eyck, was also one of the first people to start signing his art. One reason this happened, especially in the Northern Renaissance, is you had people all of a sudden in the middle class, who were now starting to collect and buy artwork.
It wasn’t just the super wealthy like the Church or other people in high places of power who wanted art for their homes. Artists created art that was a little smaller and portable. What better way to make sure people knew that you were the artist? Van Eyck started doing it so that when people saw his work, they knew it was his. In a lot of ways, that’s a branding decision being made.
I’ve seen a lot of articles out there that give you rules about whether or not you should sign your art. One of the major arguments that I see is that art historians say it’s going to help provenance. It’s going to help us prove throughout history that this is your work. If we always have your signature, we’ll know it’s yours even after you’re dead.
Some people are annoyed by this while others feel a lot of pressure that every work they create then has to be perfect because they’re putting their name to it and because it might be in the history books (the secret wish, anyway!). Well, if this is pressuring you so that you don’t make art: stop signing your art.
I mean it.
This is a silly reason for us to not be making. I know I felt that pressure myself. Sometimes we place elevated pressure on ourselves: every mark we make should be perfect, because (whisper) what if art historians could look at it?
If we have left this world, it doesn’t really matter now, does it?
I want you to be making. That’s the most important thing to me. Don’t follow arbitrary rules that people give you online. Don’t even follow my rules. Find something that speaks to your heart and if it feels good to sign your work, then go for it.
I would recommend that if you are branding or trying to promote and sell your art that you have a consistent signature. I can’t say that I do yet and I need to be better at it and take my own advice. But if you really want people to recognize your work, it’s not just the style of your art that helps do that, right? Your signature can act as a kind of logo for your work and help people who don’t know you learn about you.
If someone sees your artwork at a friend’s home and they’re like, “Oh, who’s Carrie?” for example, it could start a dialog that gets you a new collector. That being said, I want you to break those rules if they don’t fit for you. Do what feels right for you. There is no right or wrong way to do it. You don’t always have to put it in the bottom left corner. I’ve seen lots of artists agonize over this and lose time on their actual art making because they’re worried about how they sign their work. It certainly doesn’t matter if you don’t finish any work!
This might have not been the answer you expected today, but that’s my answer to your question: should you sign your art?
Be Creatively Courageous: share in the comments below do you sign your art and if you do, do you have a unique way that you do that? What’s your signature style of adding a signature to your art? Share it in the comments below. If you don’t sign your art, tell us about that too. Why doesn’t it feel right to you?
I’d love to hear more from you and I look forward to talking to you in the comments below this video. Have a great days, guys, and please share this video if you feel someone else will benefit from it. Bye.
I use a bind rune made from my initials 🙂 I started using that a long time ago and I’ve just continued. I usually sign my name and add the date to the back these days but only when they’re sold
Sounds like a strategy that fits well with your style of art and branding!
Thanks 🙂
I do sign my pieces. Jsually on the lower right corner. Developed my signature several years Go with the year. Recently I have added a “chop” upper left corner.
Thanks for sharing Ramon!
It just came to my mind when I started oil painting to sign my work. That was long time ago and now I look back and notice the difference in my works and friends that let me know about seeing a painting and knowing it was mine because of my signing.
Thank you .
Thanks for reading!
Thank you for the information about signng art. I did not know some of the things you mentioned…!
I allways sign my art. And I never sign in the same place, like the right, for instance…what I do is to balance the painting with my name… so it can be in the right side or in the left, above or down…it is the most challenging part for me, hahaha
Thank you for sharing Maria!! I’m glad you learned something new 🙂
I use a bindrune as well! You’re the first artist I’ve met to also do this!
How cool! 🙂
Hi Carrie I liked your video very informative. I have always been signing my art work with my printed last name and then the year.
MARINO ’19
like that. what do you think?
I think that’s just fine Tony! The only reason I’ve heard some people don’t include the date is if they are promoting and selling their art, sometimes it can take a few years to sell a work and sometimes consumers think an older work means something must be wrong, when really in the art world it’s all about finding our right match. Thanks so much for commenting and sharing!
I signed my name on the bottom right of my original graphite drawing.
I have had several prints made of this drawing – so my signature shows on the print, but is a copy.
I also need to number my prints. So do I sign the prints again even tho my signature shows up on the print? If so where should I sign a second time?
Doesn’t the number of the print go on the bottom left front?
01/10 like this?
Hi there! Numbering prints – you’ve got it right. And you could sign on top of your signature already there if you like, but you don’t need to sign it again somewhere else.
Its an honest answer which liberates the artist from personal pressures and honesty to his or herself…..i am greatly encouraged…thank you very much…
You are very welcome Rex Carlo!
Art is my hobby….Im learning art on my own… I love to try different mediums, diffrent styles … I love to sign my artwork… Although i m not an artist…. But i feel guilty to sign, since i take reference from other artists work n use my own style. I always have this question, m i supposed to sign!!!!🙄
(1) You ARE an artist Sonali if you are making art <3
(2) There is nothing wrong with copying or referencing other artists as you practice and learn techniques. The ONLY situation in which it's not ethical is to sign and sell the art as if it's entirely yours.
If you want to sign the art, go for it! But if you feel uncomfortable, you certainly don't have to, I just hope it's not guilt or shame holding you back from owning your amazing efforts towards improving your art skills.
My signature is huge on my paintings but they’re mine and i sign with a smile every time
Own it! I love it!
I sign all of artwork. I don’t always sign in the same place. It is almost always on the bottom but which side depends on which side it will be noticed and to help balance out the piece. I always include the year below my name and I only use my last name but I have a very unique last name.
Thanks for sharing Connie!
What is a bind rune?
Great Q. I found this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bind_rune since I’m not sure Linda will see your Q!
People tell me for being a talented artist you sure cant write very good!…true I have sloppy writing my signature is different every time, so I started signing GoodBaD and now I’m called GoodBaD I put it in random places….hmmm is it good or bad?
Having a signature is different than painting! Imagine if that was reversed…
Thanks for sharing your signature style. I think artists should do what feels right to them. And it sounds like you found your way!
I paint miniature abstracts and only sign my name on the back. Why? Because I do not want my signature to influence the orientation of the painting. I leave the orientain, portrait or landscape, up to the client to decide. And as I have neurological issues that prevent me from being able to actually paint my signature with a brush legibly, I simply title the painting, add my signature (my first name only, which I’ve used since I was 12, [now 53]), and the date with a permanent marker on the back. No complaints and clients seem to enjoy choosing the orientation themselves.
Hi Phyllis! There are so many ways to sign. I like the idea of letting your clients choose placement – that’s a nice way to add a touch of service for your collectors.
Phyllis – I work in large abstracts, but do the same for the same reason. I feel more free to sign when it is on the back. I also put the title and date as well. My spontaneous abstracts lend themselves to various orientations as well. Clients seem to appreciate
Thanks for sharing Ruth!
Brilliant idea… I also have neurological issues and have been trying to find away around this!
I’m glad the conversations here have helped Dee.
I do that too…
I sign my work with my first initial and last name right now. When I first started painting, I signed with my whole name, but that takes too long. I’ve played with my initials, trying to make a distinctive mark, but haven’t been happy with this. So will probably continue with my first iniyial and last name. I will pencil a date on the back. When I frame my work, then I put the title, date, location, and any backstory on the back. I do this for all my quilts, too.
I’m always interested to hear how different artists handle this. It’s really smart to put all the details you mention on the back of framed work. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I used to be timid about putting my signature on the front of my work until someone stole a copy of a painting I did of my father’s home place where he grew up. From the stolen photo copy, a number of prints were produced and sold. No signature. I now sign all work that I do in pencil, oils, watercolor and acrillacs. When I do a drawing from a book, online,etc., I make changes to the pic then sign before storing away in a portfolio. If my drawing is identical to another owner’s piece of work, I DO NOT sign.
I hope this helps someone decide what they want to do about their signature. My signature is script, first initial and last name. Date of year underneath
Nancy I’m so sorry to hear of your awful experience but I am thankful you’d share it here with us and help everyone make informed decisions about their art and signing it. <3
I sign back of painting then add identifying code for date then I emboss the painting with name