"Paintings With Personality"

Eye Contact, 18X24 on watercolor paper.

I met Hazel at Safari Park in Southern Virginia. She has a very haughty non-trusting stare.

My husband’s name is Bob, although I only call him that in very formal situations. I usually call him “Honey,” but sometimes call him “Ogh” which is an acronym for ‘old gray haired.’ When he is ignoring me, I very loudly call him “Hank.”

These are casual ‘I love you’ names and Honey answers to them all. When it comes to what artists call their creations, they need to take careful consideration. Coming up with the right title requires as much attention as naming their children.

Titles often pop into my mind during the course of the painting process. Sometimes I use one of them, but most of the time, I’m still struggling for a title when the painting is done. My friend, Jinnie, whom I call “Virgie,’ has the title before beginning a painting. That works particularly well in whimsical paintings and Jinnie’s work is both whimsical and mischievous.

Here are some things to think about when naming your work:

1. Look at your art and decide what you want the viewer to see. Listen to it, let your art talk to you. Is there a moral or political, or emotional message? Is there some hidden depth or is its purpose to express beauty?
2. What makes this particular art work different? What do you like most about the work? Is it the emotion? The power? What does the work make you think of?
3. Decide what you are trying to express. How were you feeling when you decided to create the art? How do you feel when you look at the piece? Describe the emotions with your title.
4. Let the title invite the viewer into your mind. Be creative in your thinking, describe in a few words what made you want to make this piece of art.
5. What do you really want to express in creating the art? Does the title describe that purpose?
6. You don’t have to say everything in your title. You can describe a place and time or decide to show your personality, or both. But refrain from telling everything.
7. Does the title you want add to the art or take away from it? Be creative in your thinking.
8. Look for things in the work, especially in the focal area, like figures, trees, roads, etc. Write them on paper, look at the listed words, and scratch out the ones that are least relevant.

As for today, my husband is ‘Honey.’ Who’s to say he won’t be Ogh or Hank later on? Virgie, will always be Virgie, unless she’s Jinnie. 

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