The Art of the Final Title

For those of us who have a passion for art, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of creating something beautiful. From start to finish, each artwork is a unique expression of our emotions and creativity. Yet, this isn’t the only aspect that makes artwork special; the title given to a piece can be just as important. In my own work, I use a working title while I’m in progress, then change it to a final title once the painting is complete. Let’s explore why this process is so important.

When I paint, I often have an idea in mind that inspires me through the creative process. This gives me focus and helps me create something meaningful. However, until the painting is finished I don’t always know what emotion or idea will be projected from it. As such, I give each painting a working title that identifies it simply as “Black Gold” or “Red Pink” when I am in progress so that I can easily refer to it without getting too attached to any particular name or feeling. I write this on the reverse during the creation process. 

Once my painting is complete and has had time to dry—giving me enough space to look at it with fresh eyes—I then assign it its final title. This might be inspired by the colors used or what feelings were projected from my artwork—perhaps ‘Eclectic’ for a bold piece with black and gold or ‘Pinks Flares’ for an abstract  with blues and pinks. Whatever emotion comes through strongly in the finished work becomes its official name on the back of its frame once completed and ready for viewing by others. The working title is striked through on the back side. 

The final titles assigned to my paintings are more than just words; they are symbols that help people relate to my artwork on an emotional level before even seeing them in person. By giving my pieces thought-provoking names, viewers can begin connecting with them even before entering an exhibition space or browsing online galleries where they are displayed for sale.

In conclusion, titles play an important role in artwork because they provide insight into an artist’s vision and can convey deeper meanings behind pieces. They also act as identifiers so that collectors can easily spot and remember particular works within an artist’s portfolio and help them stand out among other works in their genre or niche market when used strategically. Ultimately, titles help bring artwork alive by providing context and perspective—something every collector should consider when selecting pieces for their collection!