Adding a signature to your painting makes it easier for people to recognize you as the artist, even after your painting has been sold and moved elsewhere. The signature on your painting should be legible and clear without distraction. You want it to blend in with the rest of your painting so it doesn't look out of place. By taking the time to come up with a good signature and pick the right spot, you can ensure that you get the credit you deserve for the artwork you've created.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Making up a signature
Step 1. Sign your painting with your full name or surname
Don't sign with your initials or a monogram or people may not be able to recognize you as the artist. Even if some people still recognize your initials or monogram, this may not be the case for other people and you, as the artist of the painting, may at some point become unidentifiable if your full name or surname is not on it.
Step 2. Use a signature that is easy to read
If people can't read your signature, they can't designate you as the artist. It is true that some famous artists have illegible signatures, but they can get away with it because many people in the art world are familiar with them. If your signature is illegible, future owners of your painting will struggle to figure out who you are.
Practice a legible signature on paper. Then show some friends and ask if they can read it. If they can't, work on making it easier to read
Step 3. Use the same signature on all your paintings
That way, people will recognize your signature over time, making your artwork easier to place. If your signature is always different, people may not realize that your paintings were created by the same artist. If you don't like the signature you used in the past, make up a new one and use it on all your future paintings.
Step 4. Avoid an eye-catching signature
A signature that is too prominent can distract from the rest of your painting. Your signature should be visible enough that people looking for it can find it, but not so noticeable that it's the first thing people's eyes are drawn to. An easy way to blend your signature into the painting is to paint it with a color that is common in your painting.
Part 2 of 3: Choosing a place for your autograph
Step 1. Sign in a bottom corner of your painting if you want a traditional signature
You can sign in the lower left or right corner, although signing in the lower right corner is more common. If you do sign in the bottom corner, place your signature 2-5 cm from the edge of your painting. That way, your signature will remain visible, even if the painting is framed.
Step 2. Sign somewhere in the painting if you want a less obvious signature
You could place your signature inside an object in your painting, or put it vertically on the side of something. If you place your signature inside your painting, make sure it blends in with your painting by keeping it small and using a color that matches the colors around it.
For example, if your painting contains a bowl of apples, you can place your signature in one of the apples and give it a red color so that it blends in with the painting
Step 3. Put your full name on the back if your signature is not your full name
Then people can check the back of your painting for your full name if you only have your last name on the front. This makes it easier for someone to identify you as the artist later on.
Part 3 of 3: Adding your signature
Step 1. Sign your painting immediately after you're done
This helps to blend your signature into the rest of your painting. Waiting for your painting to dry before signing will make your signature stand out more and look like it was applied later. Collectors also prefer paintings where the signature was added at the time the painting was finished, because they are more difficult to forge.
Step 2. Sign your painting with the same medium you painted it with
Using the same medium will help your signature blend in with the rest of your painting. Avoid using any other medium to sign your signature or it may clash with your painting and appear strange.
- For example, if you use watercolors to create your painting, you should also use watercolors to sign it.
- If you made your painting with oil paint, do not sign with acrylic paint.
Step 3. Add the year you made the painting to your signature
It will help you and future owners of your art keep track of when it was painted. Immediately after the signature, put the year in which you made the painting. If you don't want the year on the front, paint it on the back so people can figure it out.