Did you know that Vincent often had his last name mispronounced? He typically signed his work by his first name. Some of his signatures appear on the bottom left-hand side of the canvas. You can sign on the left side where collectors are looking, or you can sign in the bottom right-hand corner. There isn’t any right or wrong way to sign your artwork. See what I did there? The preference is all yours. I encourage you to sign your painting- it’s a great way to gage how you are progressing as an artist too. I typically add a date after my first name and a symbol – I love hearts- no pun intended. There are several options for your Vincent. You can sign your first, last, initials- or a symbol. Whatever you decide to make your signature- use it! The signature is one of the most important components of the painting. It’s what makes your painting unique. It’s a statement and a declaration that you are finished, complete, finite, done! You are telling everyone that I’ve finished this creation, and I’ve added my unique identifier, which is just short of a fingerprint. You are also telling the art community that it’s for sale. While I’ll never be a Vincent, I do like to have fun. Especially when I tell the barista that my name is Vincent Van, and I’ll have this cocoa to Go- she’ll likely look at me dead pan in the face and I’ll chuckle at my artistic joke but kidding aside- sign your artwork. You don’t have to be a Vincent to sign your artwork. Anyone who creates art has earned the right to sign their artwork. Your signature is your brand stamp. Thanks for humoring me; I must go make Monet so I can make my Van Gogh as I’m an artist after all!
20 Things I wish I knew when I first started painting!