work signatures

[northwood bob]

OK, we've asked a vast number of what we do as carvers. Who are we, What style do we carve, When do we carve, Where do we carve, and Why do we carve. Let's try a different tack on this.

How do you sign your work or how do you assure the carving is related to you to future generations? I've been using the attached signature freformed in an inconspicuous place on the carving of on the base for about 20 years or so. It would be interesting to see what others are doing.

Bob

[Mitchell]

Sign your work?

Do you mark / sign your work? If so, how?

Newbie question! Burn or Carve Signature?

There are most likely more threads out there, but it'll give you a start.

Mitch

[oldbearx2]

Right Bob I had never signed any of my carvings until I joined a carving club, one the guys explained that you sign and date for two reasons, to remind everyone who did the carving or to remind yourself when you did it. Helps to see your progression. I either woodburn or sign with a pen before the finish coat. I use my intials like this and the date.

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I'd suggest forgetting the pen and either burn or carve your name into your piece. A painter certainly wouldn't use a pen to sign his/her canvas. They write their name with paint. A bronze artist signs his name in the clay prior to casting so the signature becomes a permanent part of the work. Your work deserves a proper signature not a ballpoint pen scrawl somewhere on the bottom of the piece. As for dating, that can work for and against you. Naturally everyone wants your latest piece as it should represent your best work assuming that your skill is progressing the longer you carve. Unfortunately, or those pieces that for some reason don't seem to move and old date can kill a sale for that same reason. Some might not think that's very important but to some collectors it is a factor they consider.

[Lonewolfcarver]

I use a wood burner and sign and date every piece I do. Shawn

[Buffalo Bif]

I tried the woodburning needle first, then a rotary shaft tool, and finally settled on a good old Bic medium point pen. For me it comes out neater, is more visible than the burr, and I can fit a legible sig in someplace small on the little things I like to do. Crude, maybe, but so are my whittlin's.

[Soggy]

I have always signed any thing that I have made, be it a powderhorn,or some leatherwork or whatever I happen to be interested in at the time of compleation. It is only recently that I have started putting the date on the piece. For my carvings I now use a Razor-Tip burner with a medium writing tip.
I just learned one thing!....................It's a lot easier to burn my initials into a piece of basswood than it is to write it using the Paint programme on this darn laptop........
Soggy aka W D S

[markken5889]

I use my Colewood to burn my initials & month/year in each piece

Mark

[Robson Valley]

I sign and date every carving on the bottom or the back.
I use a "Sharpie" as it is permanent and soaks into the wood.

For wood-cut prints, I carve my initials and make a few other changes to the block face AFTER the print run is finished. That way, the print run cannot be duplicated by anybody and the prints themselves (numbered, titled and signed) maintain their value.

The diamond willow guy down the street had a simple branding iron made up. Looks elegant.

[Kaledrub]

I carve an "RA" and use a CD black pen to fill it, and then seal it over.
I wish I had a tiny branding iron like those used for marking cadle tho...