I’ve been wanting to ask your opinion on an important matter for a long time.
I’ve never been sure if the way I title my artwork is effective. That is, does the name represent the artwork and does it foster curiosity?
The way my mind works is that the title locates the subject of the painting and brings back memories of standing at that spot, creating the drawing, setting up the composition, looking for details to highlight, etc. etc.
But I now realize that no one else has had that experience except me.
Everyone loves a good name.
Suzanne Gernandt is a wonderful teacher I’ve worked with who uses the most tantalizing titles for her work. Examples include, “How to Find Poetry,” “Peeking through the Haze,” and “Cool Summer Drink.” In fact, I met Suzanne through a week-long workshop I took with her at the Appalachian Center for Craft in Tennessee because I was intrigued by the title of the class, “Layers of Color, Layers of Meaning.” That title still tantalizes me to this day.
Everyone loves a good story.
I have a sneaking suspicion that others may prefer more romantic, evocative names. It’s true that Suzanne’s textile art is abstract, whereas mine is place-based. Does that matter? For example, should this painting, below, which I titled, “354 Milledge Circle, Athens, GA. Fred Orr, Architect,” instead be called, “Waiting for the Sun” or “Exciting Times Arose in the Sleepy Afternoon”?
Or, for example, this delicious cushion, below, is now called “Raven.”
Would it be more tempting to own if it were called, “Lavender Bird Traverses the Sky Before the Moon Rises?”
And here we have the soft silk broadcloth cushion,"Whip-poor-will."
Shall it be “Hearing the song of the Whip-poor-will at Dusk Makes My Heart Soar?”
I suppose another way to phrase this question is:
Do you pick up a book because of its title or its cover?
Let me know what you think! Hit “reply” and send me your thoughts. Will the winner be descriptive or factual?
All of the items listed here are for sale online in the shop.
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Have a lovely weekend,
-René
Les Toits d'Aubusson, detail (or shall we call it "Green Swims Over Blue?")