Signing your painting

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Artists haven’t always signed their work.

The role of the artist began to shift during the Renaissance, when ideas of individual creativity and the artist’s status as an intellectual rather than a craftsman became prominent. It was only then that signing artwork became common. Earlier art is often unsigned, although artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Albrecht Dürer, and Michelangelo did sign their works.

What do you write as a signature?

Sometimes, the question arises in my courses: how should one sign a watercolor painting? There’s no straightforward answer to this question, as there are many good ways to sign. Some artists use their full signature as they would on a contract. Others print neatly, while some use their initials or a monogram. Some include their full name—both first and last—while others use only their last name, or just their first name. Some artists add the year the painting was made, while others don’t. If you do include a date, make sure to write the full year, such as 2024, not just -24.

Personally, I sign with my first and last name as well as the year. Including the year can make the painting harder to sell after a while. Many art buyers don’t want to purchase “old” art, so this can affect marketability if the painting isn’t sold in the same year it was created. On the other hand, I think it’s important to document when a piece of art was made.

What should you sign with?

Signing with pencil is traditional and always works. You can also use watercolor paint, though it can be tricky with a brush unless you have excellent brush control—or if you don’t mind making a larger signature. In this case, using watercolor with a dip pen might work better. Of course, a dip pen can also be used with ink.

I usually sign with either pencil or watercolor paint using a dip pen; both methods work well. Avoid using ballpoint pens or markers. These tools can make the lines look too rigid and mechanical, and I’m also skeptical about their long-term durability, even for pens labeled as permanent.

Where should the signature be placed?

The most traditional spot is in the lower-right corner of the painting. Occasionally, you might see signatures in the lower-left corner, though this is less common. Some artists place their signatures in unexpected locations within the artwork itself. For example, in an etching by Rembrandt, the signature might be found in the least expected spot. Modern artists like Joan Miró or Salvador Dalí also sometimes signed their work in surprising places.

An art dealer I know once made an exciting find at an auction. He bought a painting for a very modest amount. The artwork, which was abstract, had been created by an artist known for placing the signature in the upper-left corner. Unaware of this, the auction house had naturally hung the painting upside down, so the signature ended up in the “correct” spot but became unreadable. The painting was listed as being by an “unknown artist” and was thus purchased cheaply by the dealer, who recognized the artist’s unique signature placement.

My recommendation for beginners

If you are an active artist, whether amateur or professional, you likely already have an established way of signing your work. However, for those new to signing art, here are my recommendations:

• Always sign with your full name, first and last. You’re not yet well-known enough for just a first name or initials to suffice. Many students prefer to use initials or just their first name—perhaps to remain somewhat anonymous—but this modesty is not justified. Raphael and Michelangelo signed with their first names and were also known under these names. But until you reach their status, a first name alone isn’t enough.
• Sign with anything except ballpoint pens or markers. Pencil is a great choice—traditional, aesthetically pleasing, and unobtrusive.
• Place your signature in the lower-right corner. If that doesn’t work—for example, if the spot is too dark, busy, or otherwise important to the composition—place it in the lower-left corner. If neither works, get creative and choose another spot. Always write the signature horizontally, never diagonally. Vertical placement can sometimes work, though.

The best signature, in my opinion, consists of your first and last name and the full year the painting was made. It should be written horizontally in pencil or with a dip pen in one of the lower corners of the painting.