Your artist signature . . .

[paintingsbydonna]

1.When was the last time you changed your artist signature? 2.Are you happy with your current signature? 3. Would you be concerned you might "lose" your identity if you changed it now? -- Edited by paintingsbydonna at 12/11/2010 7:13 PM PST

[lynneandjessica]

My signature that I've used for many, many years, is an L with a circle around it, that isn't quite closed, done in one fell motion, for Lynne Oliver. I've always been happy with it. It is perfect for little ACEO cards. Oliver is my was married last name. I kept it as everyone knew me by that name. It was simple and easy to spell. My maiden name is french and long, hard to remember and spell. I don't think the actual signature is what the artwork signature is though. Your name could change or the way you write it but the signature of your way of going in artwork will remain. Your s tyle IS your signature. Why do you ask? Interesting question. Lynne

[paintingsbydonna]

Thanks Lynne for your input. 🙂 The reason for the question is curiousity with a purpose. I only began offering my paintings for sale a few years ago, when I took an early retirement from the corporate art/design world and in turn had more time to paint. My husband (also an artist) remarked that both of us used our last names to sign our work. So,I developed a new artist signature using my first intital and last name. Now, several years later, I'm not sure if I am satisfied with what I've been using. I'm wondering if I developed a "new, improved" signature, what would be the impact if any. (I guess if I ever become famous B-) they could always use the old signature to identify my early work :^O

[crookedstempipe]

The advice I received from a departed western artist named Jerry Mackin or JD Mackin, those of you from Montana probably saw his work or own one, was to stick with your signature and never change it. Also, if you are a woman just use your initial for your first name and you will get more money from your paintings if they think you are a man. Jerry's occupation once was a used car salesman too and watched how women were getting less loan access than men so, maybe that had something to do with not releasing the gender. He also said that painting with greens as the overall tone of the painting and the portion of money sold for more too, for they appealed to the rich or those who like to show off their money. So take it all with a grain of salt and keep painting for there is someone out who will appreciate your green paintings 2 1/2x6, 5x12, or 10x24 with your intial and last name.;-) ~Patty~ -- Edited by crookedstempipe at 12/12/2010 10:21 AM PST

[sunshinesketches]

I have put my italicized KV on the front of my paintings forever. It's handy to have initials that are also fast and easy to embroider, all straight lines. I sign on the back, and that seems to have evolved over time, very gradually. The only exception is that I notice my signature changes very rapidly when I'm signing a credit card receipt after having consumed a few adult beverages. Talk about a scribble! I barely recognize my own name. Apparently I'm also a pretty good tipper when I've had a couple of drinks. Heh.

[lynneandjessica]

The best advice is don't use any name you can't cash a check by. :) Lynne

[poozybear]

I have put my italicized KV on the front of my paintings forever. Copycat. -- Kathy "You know you're putting a good thing out into the universe when you put on glitter." ~ Drew Barrymore

[paintingsbydonna]

Thanks all for responding. Since I started doing ACEOs I have gone back and forth. First, I had art sig on front, title and art sig on back. Then I decided it was too ditracting for a tiny painting, and puit both on the back, nothing on the front. Next, I started including initials on the front (meow), art sig and title on the back. Kinda sounds like I've been overthinking the whole thing. Darn it! I think my husband was right. "Stop worrying about it and just paint!"

[sunshinesketches]

...and apparently I have this regular buyer, who I think buys my work because my initials are the same as hers. I hope she sees more in my work than just that. 🙂

[paintingsbydonna]

. . . and I've been thinking what Patty said about someone buying and paying more for art because they thought the artist was a man. Mackin sounds like he actually believed it and may have started that theory himself. 😉 But what can I say, the money looks the same dispite the reason for the purchase.

[paintingsbydonna]

"...and apparently I have this regular buyer, who I think buys my work because my initials are the same as hers. I hope she sees more in my work than just that. :) ' hummmmm . . .(thinking, thinking) maybe I should change my intials to KV. :^O -- Edited by paintingsbydonna at 12/13/2010 11:14 AM PST

[crookedstempipe]

he actually believed it and may have started that theory himself sounds like you knew Jerry. 😉 Lola is still going to art shows with his prints. He did a lot of trading in his time for anything that didn't eat and but broke the rule once when he traded for some horses. Didn't last long with them as I recall.

[pinkshudders]

I don't sign the front because it looks messy - I just sign and date the back. I use my actual name, not my ebay sellername. :) Vena

[lynneandjessica]

Personal preference, that's what makes you unique and original. Sometimes it is just the character of the letters and the way(angle) they are placed. If you wish to change a signature, practice different ones and lettering, decide and stick with it. When Antique Roadshow comes through, when we are long dead, your earlier works, that you deem ucky, with the original signature, will be worth more. I do foretell a VINTAGE ACEO dept. WE will not see that. Big selling point: Artist is deceased. LIMITED EDITION. And we will groan at the prices they fetch then. Just think, our art will be there. People in Switzerland, Germany,Italy, Sweden, Australia etc. buy ACEO's!!!! It is all good. YOU are part of history. Lynne

[sunshinesketches]

It occurred to me that outsider art seems to be very popular. My last visit to our local art gallery seemed to have quite a bit of it. That is, by definition in Wikipedia: The term outsider art was coined by art critic Roger Cardinal in 1972 as an English synonym for art brut (French: , "raw art" or "rough art"), a label created by French artist Jean Dubuffet to describe art created outside the boundaries of official culture; Dubuffet focused particularly on art by insane-asylum inmates. While Dubuffet's term is quite specific, the English term "outsider art" is often applied more broadly, to include certain self-taught or Naïve art makers who were never institutionalized. Typically, those labeled as outsider artists have little or no contact with the mainstream art world or art institutions. In many cases, their work is discovered only after their deaths. Often, outsider art illustrates extreme mental states, unconventional ideas, or elaborate fantasy worlds. So the moral of the story is... consider having yourself committed to an institution and your art may be worth a lot more in the long run. Glad I could help. 🙂