Signing Your Work.
One question that comes up in every encaustic class I teach is: How should I sign my artwork?
There’s no single “right” way to sign your work—only the method that feels most authentic to you. Here are several creative, professional options artists use when finishing their encaustic pieces:
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Add a text overlay to your original photograph in Photoshop.
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Sign the back of your artwork.
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Carve your name directly into the wax or use a custom metal stamp, then fill the lines with pigment.
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Use a rubber stamp with India ink or an oil stick.
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Create a stencil of your signature for consistent results.
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Sign a piece of paper, photograph your signature, invert it, and transfer it onto your encaustic piece.
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Write your signature on tissue paper with graphite pencil and embed it into the wax layers.
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Sign the cooled surface of your artwork with Pacific Arc water-soluble graphite sticks for a clean pencil-like mark.
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If working on a cradled panel, sign the wooden edges.
No matter which method you choose, your signature is part of your artistic identity—make it both intentional and archival.
Tell me, how do you go about signing your work?
Be well….be creative,
Clare
Learn how photographs, wax, and intuition come together.
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Thanks for the tips Clare! If I sign with Pacific Arc’s water-soluble graphite sticks, do I then need to put encaustic over it & fuse to protect it? Thanks.
If it doesn’t drop into the layer below when you fuse then you will need to encase it in medium and fuse.
So many great suggestions. I’m considering having a stamp made of my signature to place on the side of a cradled board or on the back. I can use it for my platinum/palladium/cyanotype images as well. Maybe not as personal as an actual signature by hand but good for multiple prints of a series (for the photography).
I like the carving into the wax method but might that disappear over time with polishing or if you refused for any reason? The signature on tissue paper is great because it becomes one with the work as does a signature on the frame….
So many options! Thanks for this tidbit of your wisdom Clare. Enjoy your time in Boston. Happy Thanksgiving!
Glad the post gave you some things to think about Diana:)
I usually just sign the back of the board, but these are great ideas.
Love these tips! Thank you!
Great tips, thanks. I usually carve my initials in just warm wax and fill with pigment stick the side of the cradleboard for large paintings or the front on small. I then sign properly with a sharpie on the back with painting’s details. Signing painting makes me really anxious because I’ve ruined a few finished pieces right at this point. My family is aware of what has happened if they hear my wails of agony from the studio.lol Imbedded signing has got my interest. I’ll have to give that a try!