Post 386: How Do You Sign Your Artwork?

How Do You Sign Your Artwork? 

Updated 7/7/25. 

An artist's signature identifies his or her work for all the world to identify. Whether the artist's full name, first or last name, nickname, initial(s) or logo, that telltale mark helps to identify that it is yours, for time eternal. 

Why Signing Your Art Is So Important

Perhaps it isn't enough to say how, as to DO you sign your artwork?

I recently had a relative say that she hated seeing a name of a person painted across the face of a painting. I had to explain to her that how else can you, as the viewer, identify and verify who created it except by having the artist's name or initials marking it consistently in such a way to let the world know beyond a reasonable doubt, that the work is BY that artist now and into the future?

 

For the artist and his/her paintings, the value of that signature being recognized and verified is all important to its value as well. Any of your artwork should be easily identifiable as your original piece. Think about the greatest artists and how valuable their works are because of a recognizable signature. Do you happen to have a Rembrandt in the attic?

It's a big deal, your signature. An original piece of artwork should never be left to "Anonymous".

Photo by Geordanna Cordero on Unsplash 

Putting your signature on your artwork is a personal choice on how you want to do it and perhaps where, but there are "standards".

Typically, signatures are found in the lower right corner (most common), in full (best), initials or some specific design. Occasionally, perhaps for aesthetics, it might be located elsewhere, or incorporated into the painting somewhere, but the standard is on the right side.

"Bourbon and Cigar" by Donna Liguria - look for the signature

The back of the painting should include:

• Your full name - sign the back of your painting -on the canvas- with your full name especially if your signature on the front is not your full name.
  
• The title of the artwork
• The inventory, SKU, or reference number (if you use one)
• The year it was completed

And remember:

• Sign the painting as soon as it is finished or near finished so that it will not look like it was added later.
• There are reasons to not use a sticker label (it can eventually peel off).
• Do not sign the canvas framing (it can be re-framed later and your signature is gone).
• There is the idea of not too big and not too small, but just right in the size of your signature - so your artwork isn't overwhelmed by your name (hence, making my relative's observation about the artist signature justified). 
• Sign your painting BEFORE varnishing it. 
• Allow space when placing your signature for framing or matting, especially in anticipation of making art prints. You don't want the signature to get buried in the presentation of the piece.

I'm surprised at every art show that the Prince William Art Society is involved in, when art is being delivered on the check in date and we check the back for the wiring, that there is not a signature on a lot of the artwork. To me, that's unfathomable.

On the flip side of that, especially at an art gallery with art coming in from so many artists, an artwork with little to no info on who it belongs to can get dicey too. 

Find Your Signature

Do you use your whole name or just initials? You might try playing with your initials to see if you can make an interesting "brand logo" with them. Once you hit upon your 'go to signature' keep it consistent going forward so anyone can recognize that its you.

It is more commonly recommended to sign your name in full though, so there is no dispute over plain initials.

Try various fonts. Trace your signature on tracing paper to try it out and to transfer it onto the canvas then paint it in.

Try watercolor pencil on acrylic paintings then paint it in. Or use the watercolor pencil and ruler to draw in a line to sign on then remove the line. Research your options.

Some artists will "blend" their signature into the painting so that it is not quite so obvious and/or less distracting from the overall work. No one says it has to be horizontal either.

Still other artists will scratch their signature into the wet paint. So you see, there are a lot of ways to do it, you'll just need to find and develop your own style.

Art is the signature of man.

Other People Finding Your Signature

When you are trying to become a known artist, would it not make sense to sign your full name so that someone could do an internet search on you and find your other artwork? 

This makes sense and I'll have to change up what I have been doing! I've been just doing initials on the front and signing the back so I have to change this immediately! Not everyone will ever see the back of a painting so I will need to work on an actual full name signature too - IMMEDIATELY!

Signing Different Types of Artwork

There is definitely more to learn about signing your artwork and I recommend learning as much as you can especially as there are "industry standards" that are not just recommended or suggested, but are expected for paintings, art prints, etc.

 

Here are a few good links I came across:

https://www.artbusinessinfo.com/artist-signatures.html

https://makingamark.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-to-sign-art-print.html

https://seasideart.com/blogs/blog/artist-signatures-how-do-they-impact-the-value-of-art

https://www.roisinofarrell.com/2303/ 

Do you have any other information you could add to this?

I would love to know more about how you sign your artwork and how has your signature evolved over time? Please leave a comment below.

This article was previously posted on the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog on September 16, 2021 and updated on July by Donna Liguria

BLOG ECHO: I'm looking for a specific quote 'hidden' in the blog post (above). Find it and pop it in the comments below with the name of who said it and let's see who gets it first! 

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Author: Donna Liguria
Artistry Spin Blogmaster and an artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, her Donna's Esty site and her Blog at Donna’s Cave Paintings.

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BLOG ECHO: A new feature on some blog posts. I'm looking for a specific reference to a movie, a TV show or series, a quote, or common saying 'hidden' in the blog post. Find it and pop it in the comments below with the show or item it is referencing to see who gets it first! 

Gilbert K. Chesterton