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11″ x 11″ oil on canvas
All three of the pieces I had in the Town and Country show have sold, which is nice. The gallery asked me to bring a couple more pieces down and I delivered them today. Since I hadn’t really been thinking about selling, I hadn’t signed any of the work I took to the gallery and since I hadn’t decided on how to present the work, when I took it to the framer, some of the work is now difficult to sign permanently in the frame. The gallery owner asked me to sign them on the back.
I have never gotten comfortable signing work on the image. I think it can be especially distracting with these really small works. Next time, I’ll have to plan better.
I recently did some scenic backdrop painting for a local theater company and I really enjoyed painting large. I’ve painted large in the past and there are several problems it brings that I’m not eager to deal with. One is storage, and another is the cost of framing.
The painting above is a bit larger than I’ve been painting but not much. I can deal with this.
Note that the figure on the sidewalk is knee deep in concrete or, perhaps is walking on his knees.
Bill Sharp - paintings blog 
Or is short, fat with short legs. Good painting! I like the ‘feel” of it, from what i can assess on my screen. That Mars red building just glows! G
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Bill,
Congratulations, reloading must feel great! Especially since the economy has galleries closing all over the place. I know of one gallery/studio closing in Bend, and several on the island of Hawaii.
Starting this year, I have been using two different signatures; one small one [RCL] for small paintings, and a large full one [Rog Lyngaas] for 11×14 and larger. That seems to work since I do only Alla Prima now. So I sign immediately at the end of the session.
Like you, I have several older paintings without signatures. However, if I add them into another show, I will have to go through the hassle of signing them.
Now, about the figure, it looks fine since in the composition it fits with the tall and mid-size buildings in color and squatness… IMHO.
…rog
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BEAUTIFUL painting, and congratulations on the sales!! I totally agree about signing on the front, I hate it and haven’t done it since I was a student. I sign on the back, or on the canvas wrapping around the side if it’s a stretched canvas.
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Congratulations Bill! I love that the gallery sold everything you gave them and then asked you for more. This cityscape is really great! Very painterly. I’m especially fond of the green traffic signal. The figure on the sidewalk just has short legs is all. No need to be mean to him.
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This is a great piece, Bill. Everything about it is quality.
I am surprised that you were not killed by oncoming traffic.
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Hi there, Suburban life. That red building was really what drew me to this scene and the contrast between that beautiful old western style architecture with the new buildings down the street. I really enjoy the older Portland buildings.
Hi Rog, thanks for your thoughts. Frankly, my paintings are selling because they’re cheap ( I mean inexpensive ). I have the advantage of being unknown and can set my prices wherever I want. Other artists who’ve been showing have a more difficult time since they’ve established a price point. It’s tricky to lower your prices.
Kathy, I occasionally have etched my initials into the paint of a wet painting, but, otherwise, I’ve never signed on the front much. I think I’ll sign on the back, as you suggest. I’m really enjoying the freedom you seem to be feeling in your new work.
Hi Silvina. I’m sorry about what I said about the figure. Obviously his shortcomings are not his fault. As I said above, I’ve discovered the secret to selling out a show.
Bill, I’ve become very agile while doing these urban landscapes. You have to!
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It’s been too long since I last visited! But it’s wonderful to see how your work has matured. Congratulations on the successful show. I was delighted to see the conversation about signing the paintings because it’s something that’s always bugged me too, particularly with oil paintings. It seems harder to do it inconspicuously with oil than with watercolor. When I sold an oil painting recently I had to look up what to do when it hasn’t been signed and the answer was to sign the back, which I did.
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Congratulations Bill on everything! On getting into the show, on selling and on this new painting! I agree about the signing thing..But you and I are fortunate that our last names aren’t very long–so maybe you can experiment and get it on the front without compromising the painting. Well, you have such a nice name–and it goes so well with your paintings. My brother always said things were sharp when he liked them. A early 60’s thing.
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Hi Jana, thanks for visiting and for the kind words. Regarding signatures, most of my writing is done on a keyboard now and my handwriting as degraded terribly, so I’m not inclined to want it to appear in the image so I think signing on the back is the way to go for me.
Celeste, Thanks so much. I got a lot of kidding about my name when I was a kid so I’m very familiar with that use of ‘sharp’. Congratulations to you on your show and sales. You work very hard at getting yourself out there and I admire that. You’re also very generous at supporting others. I admire that even more. Thanks again for your comment.
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Hi Bill,
Love this painting – feels very solid. I’m with you regarding signing – I think it can be really distracting. You mentioned that you etch your name in – I do the same. I always have a few large nails with me – I simply use my initials, and the year. You really have to look for it – but its there! And wonderful congratulations on selling the paintings, and delivering more! And you know, people only buy what they love – low priced or high priced.
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maybe he is just short! but i see someone else had the same idea.
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