Signatures

Sign on the backside.

Great thread, I need help as well! My signature ruins a painting, so I'm looking forward to seeing the ideas here.

I exhibit my photography at the local frame shop, and they have me use pencil on the mat just below the picture. More of those sell than not.

I spent a few hours practicing my signature, so now when its time to sign again I'll do a few practice on a sheet of paper and then sign a hand-full or more each time.

However, I'll be watching this thread to learn if there is a better way to do this.

Very good discussion Parker and congrats with all your recent sales your continued success these days is looking great. When I was young and signed my name it was quite large but it was my signature I perhaps did not write cursive very well but the painting was a master piece. Over the years I practiced writing my name. As confident you are with your photography your signature should be second nature and the final touch. I doodled a bit on paper until I found the right combination and used it throughout my professional career. Nothing to be nervous or have the jitters about go for it!!!!!!! As you view thr the viewfinder for that captivating photo think of your signature as equally as captivating. Sign on the invisible X............................... and year. It will become second nature and the thought will never cross your mind but years from now when you are signing your award wining photos you will think back on this day. "Does anyone have any suggestions about signing your name" and smile. Just as an artist signs his or hers painting your photo, the moment you strike the shutter that image becomes your canvas. Remember your signature will remain your entire life.

Something very important, go out and purchase different type of pens one you feel comfortable with, some use medium point some fine. Choose the one you are most satisfied with. And always sign the signature on the front usually in all cases on the lower right lower right on the actual photo. Also if you look at signed photos you will find some on a diagonal lower right side on the actual photo. In your particular case does the prints bleed or is there a white margin? If you are in doubt about it, go to a photographers gallery in your hometown and see for yourself and remember its not the signature which impressed the buyer but your masterpiece.

As years go by some photographer create a rubber stamp though not the same as a signed masterpiece photo but some do stamp their work. Practice makes perfect yet no two signatures are alike they are a similarity. Remember there will come a time and you may in the future have a photographers gallery show and as writers sign there award wining novels at a book signing photographers sign prints of their work as well, it is impressive for them to watch, they hover and smile when you put your signature upon your work they just purchased.

(Note: Ah, I just noticed its a stretched canvas does not matter sign the front, not the back)



Cheers, Michael Hoard Principal Actor, Artist and Photographer

Sorry to disagree, but the signature on the front becomes a great asset as people can see the name of the artist. When signed on the mat, that goes away when the piece is rematted. The mat can also be taken off and put on a different piece of artwork.

The signature should readable of course or you lose that aspect of getting you name out there.Signature on the back is not ever seen. When the piece is framed properly that signature is buried under the mounting board, if it is mounted, or behind the dust paper.

No one has worse penmanship than I do but I practiced until I could actually write my name where it can be read and not look awful on the piece. You can do that Parker... I know you can!

i just use a nice font. never had to hand sign an actual piece though.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

I agree with Floyd

I was told that signing on pencil below the image on the right hand side was the proper place. I do prefer just signing on the back though as to not ruin the photograph with an ugly signature. Its one thing if it is readable. Mine is not,no matter how much I practiced.

Here's the rub, You practice to make your signature readable. Well, is it really your signature or a derivative of it? And does it matter then? Mr Snyder, do u know the answer to this?

My signature on legal documents looks like two chicken scratches....But for my art I practiced until I got something pretty and legible.

Call me old fashioned but the signature goes at the bottom of the print in the margin in pencil.

Painters should work on and develop a signature. Its expected they can draw so they should be able to come up with a good signature.

Another option is creating an artist "chop".

There are plenty of fonts that you can download and use other than the standard photoshop ones.Do a search until you find one that you like and then like Mike said you wont have to actually sign anything.
Unless it is an original of course

We sign our canvases on the back in pencil with the title and date printed. On prints, we sign on the front and we always print our images with a small 1/8 inch white border and sign on that area, title on the left bottom and signature on the way right. If it is a limited edition numbered print, that goes right next to the title, example: 1/24 or 20/100, and so on, or however many your limited series is. Our mats are slightly bigger so the signature is visible when matted. I sign in black pen on prints, Dave signs in pencil. My signature is pretty, his is less pretty ;) but he has practiced to make it look a bit artistic...
Congrats on your sales Parker!! Great work!!
Celebrate life, Debra

I agree - canvas - sign on the back. Why risk ruining the piece?

As Floyd and Michael said, learn to write your name, then sign on the face of the print.

I don't sign my POD work, as I dislike a printed 'font' signature, but I sign every piece I sell in the real world.

Back when I first started showing and selling my photography (yes, during the Jurassic era) buyers at shows would request that I sign, even though I'd printed all the details on the back of the print. I quickly learned that most buyers believe the visible, hand-applied signature adds value. I've only done two gallery shows (I usually show in 'alternative venues'), but in both instances they checked that my work was signed.

I've even had online buyers pay to ship a print to me, and back, for a signature. It matters.

Like you, Parker, my name is long, which means it's visible no matter how small and neat the signature might be. To minimize the impact, I use neutral-colored (black, grey/silver, brown, or white), acid free, medium-tip markers, and sign in the color that best coordinates with the work. (Fine-tip, for very small or miniature prints.)

'Zig' is my marker brand of choice.

I usually sign in the lower right corner, but will move to the left side if the image dictates that. I don't date the face of my prints (personal choice), and would cut off my fingers before adding a copyright symbol there.

*TIP -- To reduce the chance of identity theft, many legal experts suggest that you develop an artist's signature that's visibly different from your regular 'legal' signature.

Whatever signature you choose -- full name, first name, last name, initials, artistic 'mark', whatever -- get in the habit of doing it the same way every time, so collectors can recognize you.

And, yes -- some people do collect prints. The idea that prints have no value is ludicrous; they have intrinsic value to your fans / buyers / collectors.

Hope this helps! :-)

"*TIP -- To reduce the chance of identity theft, many legal experts suggest that you develop an artist's signature that's visibly different from your regular 'legal' signature."

Great...I am covered! LOL

There you go, Sharon! ;-)

Very useful advice everyone! Wendy, that is exactly what I was looking for. I just talked to the client and she gave me both of the canvases to sign by Sunday. She does not care how the signature looks, as long as it is readable as mine and is on the front. Will be off to purchase some markers and experiment on what color and the form of my signature now! This discussion has been very helpful!

Happy to help, Parker -- I'm excited for you! What your client said is exactly what I've heard from buyers for years.

Be sure your markers are labeled 'archival' or 'acid free'. You can find a broad range of them in art supply stores, or in the scrapbook section of places like Michael's and Hobby Lobby. Buying good quality pens and markers greatly reduces the chance of blobs or spills.

When you're ready to sign, first use a piece of scrap paper to check that the ink is flowing smoothly and cleanly, then be sure your signature is dry before handling the print.

Have fun! :-)

"I was told that signing on pencil below the image on the right hand side was the proper place. '

That is the way it was taught years ago and an old framer told me why one time. It had to do with the same reason that they used to cut mats in the "old days". I have no idea how valid it is but back when I first entered the framing business it was thought to be true. Keep in mind there was no PPFA or and standards for general framing to speak of in those day. (Going back 40 years) There were standards for conservative framing but never seen signing addressed in those standards.

According to him, we used to cut mats with the bottom of the mat being 1/4 or 1/2 inch wider than the other three sides. This was because in the early days, houses were built with higher ceilings and pictures were hung higher. A picture with the mat even all the way around, when viewed from that higher place on the wall gave, the illusion of falling out of the mat and or frame. By adding the extra 1/4 to 1/2 inch, that illusion was minimized or went away.

The signature was put on the mat, right under the picture so it would be easier to see form that higher position on the wall and not get lost in the image itself.

That is what I was taught and it served me well for all the years I was in the business. I have no idea if it was really part of any consensus of how to fame or sign a picture.

To be honest with you, I do not think there is any real protocol any longer of if there ever was. I think it is whatever makes you most comfortable.

I go with what I think gives me the most exposure for the longest period of time.

I have only had to sign one big piece, a metal print. Which I did on the back, due to my handwriting that is also atrocious. But after reading this helpful thread I am wanting to practice for next time! Thanks for opening this thread Parker :)

Agree with Wendy, avoid by all means (C) the misconception the general public has about a copyright, the moment you created the piece it becomes your copyright and it is highly suggest you then register the work officially. The moment you snap the shutter the copyright is solely yours and it advised you get the work registered. If in doubt call the National Library of Copyright Office in Washington, DC I do suggest signing of course placing the signature along with the year the work was completed. And do not forget make sure your marker is water and smudge proof permanent. I would not worry so much about a color but that is your preference I have seen gold signatures other than that black would be the suggested color. I am sure everyone is aware there are instances where the color of a signed legal document varies from place to place in courts of law..

Disagree with Sharon, not necessarily the case , anything can be forged by a professional take paper money for instance how many detailed symbols are included and yet millions are counterfeit Does not matter a symbol can just as easily be forged as well. Having a symbol does not reduce identify theft.

Cheers, Michael Hoard Principal Actor, Artist and Photographer

My media is traditional so my signature is part of the art work. The signature I use on my art does differ from my "legal" signature which is cursive. My signature on my art work is just block letters with two of them stylized somewhat to make it unique. I've never signed a print, but I do make labels for my originals which I glue and seal to the back and that label includes my "legal" signature.

No one wants a "staged" signature. They want the real signature signed by the real artist. Just be yourself.

I like the piece signed under the image, but with the matt cut tall enough so that you can see the name on the actual piece.
This is harder for photographers who don't leave borders. Signing the matt is an option but the matt does not always have to stay with that piece.
Canvases is another story - if you are the type that paint the edges/sides of the stretched canvas it is an option there and agree that your art sig will take some time and practice to develop and perfect. Good luck.

David, I use labels, too -- laminated, adhesive labels which I stick to the back of framed prints. The label includes:

My name
Title of the artwork
My email address
My About.me page address (where all my links can be found)

Someday, when I have a dedicated phone number for my art business, I'll add that to the label, too.

Airshows.....

When we did airshows back in the day everyone wanted our autograph. They started out, "To Tommy, Best Wishes, James C Findley B1-B pilot."

After a few thousand in an afternoon, it became something that looked like a J, something that looked like a C and then something that looked like an F and a bunch of squiggles. It still looks JUST like that today.

Hey Parker..

My first thought is.... parker... but as mentioned above.. develop a signature unique to your artwork... and experiment with all lower case or all upper case as well. either script or whatever we call the opposite of script ;O) but make it artistic.

I just include a tiny version of my company logo on the bottom corner and it saves on all my photos (except my portraits). I have had to sign a few pieces and I don't have the best hand writing either, but there is an art to my signature lol. I practiced and practiced when I was in school (years ago). Now my mom makes fun of it because it looks like a Dr.'s signature. You can't read it. I don't want anyone copying it so that's why it's unique. Your name should be artistic since you are an artists. Just play around with it. You're young. You'll eventually find something you like and it'll stick with you.

Parker, this is a problem I have had for years, and I still don't know what the answer is.

I think my general handwriting is neat and ok, I have been told on occasions it is flamboyant! That I think is part of the problem, whenever I sign a piece my signature seems to dominant, and try as I might I never feel happy with it.

I have even thrown away what I consider to be good prints because I felt my signature spoils them. The best solution I have come up with is a computer generated signature courtesy of Photoshop. Not great I know, but it has cut down on the number of prints I have had to throw in my trash bin, spoiled by a rubbish signature attempt.

I legally changed my name to Fine Art America. I put a light white signature at the bottom right of each piece.

lol @ Edward

I draw a dragonfly outline with a capital AC in the wings. Lower right :)

I used to sign my paintings "ME" because those were my initials (before I got married). People thought that was strange.

Seriously, though, if your think your handwriting is really bad, maybe you could make something unusual just out of your initials. Have a middle name?

Love seeing the ideas here. I am thinking going with initials, possibly write out Parker and have an artistic looking C. I will show you guys the final result tomorrow!

I suppose you could sign it on the bottom or side since its a canvas. I always thought signatures on photographs looked strange. Unless its a 8x10 glossy of an actor.

On a painting it makes sense - you sign it when you finish it with the same brushes you used to paint it. With a drawing you use your pencil. Prints, photographs, silkscreens etc get penciled at the bottom margin with name, title, date, edition.

If you sign it right on the canvas - go big and bold. Nice thick metallic silver marker. Now that takes guts!

I agree Edward. I would rather sign the back or bottom, but the client is adamant it is on the front!

Parker,

Practice with a Sharpie and do the deed.

Dave

Since you are signing canvas I'd suggest an artist quality acrylic marker, that way you know the signature will last at least as long as the canvas.

Here are some top photographers signing their work:

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/Video-Library/video/Professional-Imaging_Product-Types_Fine-Art/Signature-Worthy-Fine-Art-Paper-Collection/950843434001?UseCookie=yes

Another take: http://www.martinbaileyphotography.com/2010/11/01/podcast-266-signing-fine-art-prints-and-canvases/

DK,

Thanks for mentioning the right marker.

Dave

I would recommend always signing on the art and in the image not on the mat, on the front not the back. Some sign in the border of a print some on the image. When framing if the signature is outside the image, in the border, framers (I have been a professional framer for over 45 years) will always try to keep it visible so you will always get a white border around the image which may not be the best look or more specifically it limits your framing design options. Some do prefer signing the back for aesthetic reasons (in my experience that is rare and usually on abstracts) but then the signature is never visible. Buyers and collectors like to see signatures. Don't worry what it looks like too much. Many signatures are not legible. Painters usually sign in the image and many print. Cursive is not required. It's difficult to do cursive with a brush on rough canvases. I print on my oils and add a cursive signature to my prints if needed. Limited and open editions are signed with a graphite pencil on papers traditionally it never fades over time (hundreds of years) however that doesn't work very well on canvas and some other surfaces. Do not sign an oil painting with acrylics, it will not last, it will eventually fall off. India ink works on many photographic surfaces. Permanent markers are often not so permanent and fade. I've seen it fade on sports jerseys, baseballs, etc. Be careful. Pigmented inks or markers will not fade in theory although that depends on the pigments. DO NOT SIGN NEAR THE BORDER OF THE IMAGE. If it's being framed or matted the signature may be covered or worse partially covered, a problem. I have no issue with a bold signature and have only seen one that was over the top big. Too many are afraid to sign their work at all. Get over it. If signing is an issue maybe you'd best get into something other.

Many Sharpies will fade over time. Use markers that specifically say they do not fade and use pigments not dyes.

I find photographers are less accustomed to signing the image. Not sure why. Maybe less an issue if it's, "fine art photography" vs more commercial work but photographers in general seem uncomfortable with signatures on the front than painters. Most painters know it's value after they grow a following. Folks want the signature. It authenticates it. For some strange reason more and more want a, "certificate of authenticity." as well. Isn't that a signature? Anyone can print out another piece of paper. Oh well.

What Randal says.

I don't know if anyone has already said this, but when signing a print, I think it is best to use the same recognizable signature every time.

I use my initials in a group altogether I came up with, a stylist looking double N with a O in the middle making it look like a Q, standing for Nathan Quinn Noss. I even drew up with a neat looking logo that you can view on my home page of my blog at https://nqnossart.wordpress.com/. Don't know if it helps but learning about these signatures is interesting.

I'm no help at all with photography, except to say that I've almost never seen a signature on a photograph that I didn't think detracted from the photograph. That said, I understand the need to sign photography, so you probably have to choose something.

I draw & paint. I don't like signing my work, it almost never improves the drawing or painting, I sign my work because, well, it's expected. My approach to the signature is try to place it where it won't ruin the composition, to use colors that go with the color scheme of the painting, so it blends, and to use a value that is close to, but not exactly the same as the area of the painting where I placed the signature. What I don't want to do is create an area of high contrast where the contrast is created by the signature -- I want it to be legible, but not change the painting by standing out as a visual element. I try to find a space in a lower corner, mainly because that's where I think people expect to see the signatures.

If anyone wants to critique how I do my signatures -- for purposes of the discussion on signatures, that's fine with me.

New to this community...
Since FAA prints & ships products how does one sign?
What is the standard here for signatures
Thanks Karen

I had a gallery wrap canvas print that needed to be re-printed, so I kept the bad one to practice writing on. For gallery wraps, I like to sign on the side. For a framed, matted print, the framing shop recommended the pencil signing on the mat and since the mat could be changed, I also put the title and sig on the back of the print.

I've seen some mention they do a hand-signature and then mask it into the corner of their photograph. I haven't tried that approach yet and don't know how well that is 'accepted' by those buyers who care about signatures, any thoughts on that?

The signature does matter and it shold be visible, not on the back of the image.

At art shows I've seen people look at my works and then say "I like that, who painted it?" They would then look at the signature and say "A. Pyrah - never heard of him".
This happens even though I have a large sign above the display with my name on it (as well as the painting medium), and also a table with among other things my bio.

A computerized font signature--wha?? Ok, only by remote control.

Good information here. Mike, I didn't go through your entire gallery, but I noticed on a few later pieces you are signing with your name, copyright and year. Is there a reason you've decided to add them? They look very nicely done, understated and not obvious. Does the copyright symbol and year offer some measure of protection?

I sign my paintings on the front at the bottom right.

I sign prints on the back (with title of work and the date) and also on the mat (in pencil).

I would never, ever, buy a print -- or any art other than a cheap Wal-Mart poster -- that has a copyright symbol on the front.

What does that visible copyright symbol say to the buyer?

"Buy this print but I'm warning you NOT to STEAL it, you potentially thieving Scumbag!" ;-/

@Andy -- That's when you step forward, with a friendly, outstretched hand, and say -- "Well, you have now! I'm Andy Pyrah -- it's nice to meet you!"

A not-to-be-ignored conversation starter! :-)

Patricia,
At present, in the United States you are not required to put a copyright symbol on your work to protect your copyright. I'm going to stop short of stating that a copyright symbol has no effect in the eyes of the law... but that's very close to a true statement, in my opinion.

Regardless of the legal effectiveness or lack thereof, sometimes artists, myself included, include the copyright symbol or other language on their work (with me, it's on the back of the cards I sell places other than FAA) to remind the great teeming masses who usually know little or nothing about copyright, that this is a copyrighted work and let people know who holds the copyright -- so they don't make a good faith mistake & take it for a public domain work -- the Fine Art America watermark I use serves the same general purpose.

That said, there are a lot of people who argue that using a watermark doesn't protect your work either, and drives away customers -- not interested in debating that right now, it's my own personal and possibly ill advised decision to use the watermark on my own work.

So it's Mike Savad's personal judgement call to include the copyright symbol. If you want to understand copyright, and the use of the copyright symbol in more detail: www.copyright.gov

Disclaimer: Not legal advice, just my opinion.

I sign all of my art prints, including canvases etc. I have clients asking to make certain that I sign a commissioned piece,
Depending on the density of the print, I'll use, gold, black or white acid free/archival pens.

My penmanship is also nothing to write home about.... but my signature is stylish and has not changed in the last 20-25 years.

I used to sign the mat with a pencil, but as mentioned, that goes out the window should the client wish to remat/reframe the photograph....though Karen R Jones has a good suggestion which I may consider.

Best of luck!

Michel Soucy
Visit me on my Facebook fan page

I agree with Mary,...maybe your initials done in an interesting and neat style.

I also have a poor signature that looks anything but artistic and neat.

On my photographs I just place my first and last name in a small script font using photoshop,...unobtrusively as I can,...on the bottom right corner.

Years ago I signed several mats in pencil,...IMO it detracted from my work.

I could hand print out my name quite nicely though,...following a many year working career as a draftsman when everything had to be hand lettered very exacting in free hand (BC) before computers.

Signing the back sounds like another safer solution.