Celeste: I prefer a really small signature..I am working on it, trying to get it to be very small..but its a challenge. I am showing a painting I own by Eric Jacobsen. I love how small his signature is! I am also showing a couple of paintings where my signature turned out pleasant enough. I used a rigger brush. (In the past I have practiced signing on an old failed painting)
Loretta: I used to sign my full name, but I was encouraged to just go with Unger...so that is how I've been signing most recently. I also prefer the small unobtrusive signature. I'm working on it!
Peggie: I went to Glacier to paint in my residency. It was not all smooth --there was a closed road and I had to go on a two hour detour! There was crazy weather. I am showing my paintings from my experience there. I sign just my last name.
Geri: It is a lot of fun to check out famous artist's signatures. I have agonized over my own. I currently just use a printed method...block letters. I am showing a painting that I signed!
Ken: I used to sign using an "oil pen". It seemed to work well, though I don't sign in this way any longer. I brought an older painting, so you can see my signature. Most of the time I try to really blend it in...so that it is not demanding any attention.
Wendy: I don't have a signature...! I haven't signed any of my paintings!
Donna: I've always struggled with how to do my signature. When I was in my 20's my (now ex) husband took credit for a painting I had just signed with our last name. After that I always put my full name down. "Donna Sires" doesn't really lend itself to anything fancy or graphic, so I just use all caps and sign in a lower corner unobtrusively.
I am showing two pastel paintings.
Tim: I went painting with Dave McBride -- I "whittled" a couple of sticks that day to sign with (I put points on them)...I still have those sticks! I scratch my name into the wet paint. I have almost always done it that way.
Tom D: I am sort of a self-effacing guy....and my signature is the same, except, come to think of it, I do put sort of a flourish on the "s" of Daniels! (Laughter)! I don't sign anything unless there is a good reason to sign it. I am participating in the Lake Oswego plein air..this is a painting from Luscher Farms.
Becky: It's been hard for me...because I am not a big fan of some of the letters in my name. I tried signing digitally on my ipad over and over until I landed on what I consider decent shapes. I am showing a painting....that I recently signed!
Dotty: I have always signed initials with my last name...to me, if I signed first and last name it would just be too long. (and further...you know, "Dotty" is sort of an old woman name)! (Laughter)! I am showing two recent pastels from the Lake Oswego plein air event.
Joanne T: I wanted to talk about "finishing touches" too! I am learning in my class with Matt Smith about glazing. You can use any paint with medium and spread it all over a dry painting. Then, you wipe it back and now you have an improved harmony. I am showing two recent paintings.
Tom K: There is a famous illustrator who used to "embed" his daughter's name into all his illustrations. I thought, that is really interesting...maybe I should try to hide my name! (Laughter)! I abandoned that idea. I am showing this painting that I started at Sauvie Island. I think how we all paint, the way we each approach it is also a "signature". When you can synthesize an idea that is identifiable, perhaps even universal and create a statement that covers it, you can die a happy person.
“What color you lay down doesn’t matter... What color you lay down next to it does matter”.
Greg: I have metal letters that I have used...you "stamp" them into wet paint and when that is dry you can fill the space with a color. (It's a contemporary approach).
Thomas: For me, a painting has two clear stages. Stage one is the "set up" ...it is all setting up for the finish! It is the "top work". It is the blocking in and making the initial decisions. (I sometimes wipe it out at this stage and put it back in). Stage two is thicker paint and smaller shapes on top of stage one. The opaque highlights are part of the finishing touches. Yves gave me my first show and he wanted me to sign my full name, Thomas Jefferson Kitts. Over the years I have signed in all manner of ways. Thomas Jefferson Kitts takes up way too much room. I've signed Thomas Kitts, Thos Kitts and recently I've gone to Kitts. That should confuse any of the historians in the future...should they care! (Laughter)! I do recommend legibility. I have been contacted by collectors who liked my painting and were able to contact me because they could read my name. And that brings up an important point, I always sign the back and put my website information on the back also. I'm showing watercolors from my recent trip to the coast.
Dianna: I was at an art convention in Seattle. From a distance I saw a wonderful abstract painting that was so exciting. I ran up to it from quite a distance away...and when I came face to face with it I realized that the signature destroyed it! The artist had signed her first name and dotted the i with a heart! (collective groan)! She defaced her own painting. Now, my last name is "Shyne" which is "cute" also...but I have never wanted to be gimmicky and I never want to be "cute"! I just sign Shyne, no first name. I am showing this painting that I did as a demo for my students. I liked how these trees felt like musical notes. I like to consider the abstract quality of shapes.
Mark: I used to sign in a vigorous way...(illegible perhaps) and then I changed to a more considered signature. My name is three names (to distinquish me from the scads of other Mark Coles). I went with M.I. Cole for a time but I realized it read like Micole (Laughter)! Currently I'm signing M. Cole. I am showing a recent pastel.
Lisa: I have to leave it up for a time before I sign it. I don't sign it unless I am satisfied. I also only sign it if the painting "leaves me" (If it goes into a show, or if I sell it). I am showing a recent painting (I am participating in my first Lavender Festival).
Chris: Well, when you sign a painting that is an indication that you are done...but not necessarily, in my case! (Laughter)! I sometimes see things to change after it has been signed. I had a memorable bad experience as a child..the teacher told me that my handwriting was bad and I built up some insecurity over that! I like my married name better than my unmarried name. It is a nice length and I like the "t" in it!
Pam: I used to sign everything with my cool name and then I got married and his whole family wondered why I wasn't using "their" name...wasn't it good enough for me, ecetera! I added it. I am showing two recent paintings...one is in-progress. I finally have time to paint again after fulfilling a lot of obligations.
Jim: When you put the final touches on..you have to be happy with it. The highlights are satisfying to put in. When I was in business I had to sign thousands of things...no exaggeration. So signing was no fun then! It is still a challenge for me, the letters in my name are not easy to sign. I was in the 6x6 show and I didn't want to destroy the design of my painting..so I signed it up the side. Well, they hung the painting wrong, because they figured the painting "should" go this way. Funny thing was...it SOLD in that orientation! (Laughter)! I am showing my painting from the Grice Farm paint out.
Tedd: I sign in block letters. I painted this at Wayward Inn. (apologies, Tedd, you told a story that involved a beach towel and I couldn't hear it properly!)
Annie: I didn't sign anything until recently. I was in a show at OSA. Frankly, my painting looked bland on the wall. Later, however, Ward Stroud leaned over and said to me: "I like your signature" (Laughter)! I am in Za's class and she gave me a lesson on how she would draw a dog and it was a revelation to me. I have been practicing since. I did some illustrations of mice for a project and during that time I signed my name like this (demonstrated signing Annie, with a "mouse" for the "A") (Applause)!
Susan: When I was teaching children at my studio they would all say..."is it done...can I sign it?" I had a chair that I called the thinking chair. I'd have them sit in it and look at their painting. It seemed very effective, they would come to their own conclusions. One student I will always remember did an outstanding rose. She decided that it was time to sign it and when I looked back she signed SOPHIA across the entire thing...across the entire rose! (Laughter)! When her Mom picked her up I told her...keep this painting (this will be a funny family thing later)! I found this painting that I did way way back. I signed just like I do now! I like my last name (Kuznitsky) and I always wanted people to know I am a woman artist (Susan)!
Raphael: Poster artists (which is what I was) spent a lot of time devising good signatures. It was part of the deal of being a poster artist. I use an stylized "R" on my website and I incorporate it into my paintings too. It is a symbol for me! I am showing paintings I did for the Lavender festival.
Jeanie: I glazed this large painting with Indian yellow. I sign with my first name...I don't exactly know why, that it just what I've always done. I am also showing other recent paintings.
Eunice: I think plein air painters could put their signatures in unusual places if they wanted...they could put their name in a street sign or on a mail box! Then the collector could say.."You didn't sign it" and you could say..."Yes, I did" (Laughter)!
Judith: I'm in the witness protection program*..so I use a nom de plume (Laughter)..I might sign one of your names next. (Laughter)! *she's kidding.......I think (?)
Announcements
Tedd Chilless July 14 3-6pm Invitation to Artist Reception with Tedd Chilless
Date: Sunday, July 14, 2019
Time: 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Venue: Stoller Family Estate, 16161 NE McDougall Rd, Dayton, OR 97114
For more information about event, see his video:
https://youtu.be/rE2dq_9rqv4
RSVP: https://www.stollerfamilyestate.com/events/Artist-Reception-with-Tedd-Chilless
POSTPONED (for better weather) June 28 Friday Paint out at Hansen Property with host Carol Hansen (see information below) check blog and facebook for updates
Tom Daniels show is up until July at the First Presbyterian Church Downtown
Peggie Moje: 2 paintings on display at Cannon Beach Gallery
Elisabeth Jones Gallery Elo Wobig, Za Vue, Annie Cannon, Joanne Kollman and others: July 13 https://www.elisabethjones.art/neighborhood-associations-rock.html
Za Vue classes (write for details and/or to be put on wait list): studioza@me.com
Tuesday Figure Sessions facilitated by Bhavani Krishnan Tuesdays 3-6pm email Bhavani for location (outdoors when weather permits): bhavani.krishnan@gmail.com
Dianna Shyne introduction to acrylics 9-12 in her Portland studio on Saturdays (ongoing) and Camino Island in July: https://diannashyne.com/workshops
Dianna Shyne has accepted the position of Executive Organizer for the Lavender Festival (applause)!
Susan Kuznitsky ongoing Saturday classes at OSA, July workshop and one day introduction to pastel workshop in July at OSA https://susankuznitsky.com/workshops
Friday Figure Session Friday June 28 at OSA 1:15-4:00 Joanne Radmilovich Kollman
Hiatus Drawing club meets after the Alla Prima Meeting at French Quarter
https://www.facebook.com/groups/333152383542909/
(As an aside, Raphael demonstrated how Bernard Buffett signs a painting): https://www.facebook.com/groups/222304114527014/
(As an aside, Raphael demonstrated how Bernard Buffett signs a painting): https://www.facebook.com/groups/222304114527014/
Next Meeting Thursday July 4, "Fourth of July memories" Tell us about a memorable 4th of July holiday during your lifetime! (bonus points if you can weave anything about art into your recollection) ---Let's Discuss!
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