In Part 1, we explored ways to find inspiration for artwork titles. So, why does the title matter so much? Here’s how to make it work for you – and your audience.
- A Title Connects You to the Viewer
A good name offers insight into your intent while leaving room for interpretation. Listen to how other people describe your work: their perspective might surprise you!
Example: Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate sculpture is famously called The Bean by the public. His frustration with the unofficial name highlights a truth: once art is shared, the audience shapes its identity.
- Never Use “Untitled”
An unnamed piece can imply you don’t care. Buyers want to feel they’re investing in something meaningful. Even a simple title (Red Sky, Lost Moments) is better than none.
- Keep It Clear (Not Clever)
At art school, I used Latin to sound sophisticated and was criticised for alienating viewers. Now, I opt for clarity:
- Avoid pretension: Starry Night works; Cosmic Nebula of Infinite Sorrow might not.
- Short and memorable: The Hug (for pandemic-themed work) resonates more than a paragraph-long title.
Confidence
- Practical Perks of Good Titling
- Organisation: Names help track inventory. What does that mean? By giving your artwork a real name, such as Garden flowers at dawn, rather than Flowers 2020, and assigning it a folio/stock number you will be able to identify it easily as you continue on your art journey. You may think you will remember but five years on, I bet you will have forgotten.
- Re-use wisely: re-using names is perfectly acceptable a few years down the line. However, you can also re-use recently used names by adding something a little extra. So, Garden flowers at Dawn could become Blue Garden Flowers at Dawn, for instance.
Awoken Professionalism: Consistent titling and numbering streamlines sales and exhibitions. I will cover this fully in a future blog but if you put systems in place, have consistent numbering, naming and pricing, when you get that last-minute call to take part in an exhibition, are asked for a price on a piece of work, or even asked if you have some blue flowers in your collection, you will have all that information at your fingertips and you will appear much more professional in turn.
Final Tip: Ask for Help
Stuck? Consult another artist or friend. Their suggestion might spark the perfect fit.
Remember: A title is a tool, not a hurdle. Keep it authentic, and it should serve your art – and your audience – well. Watch for my upcoming blog on record-keeping for more organisational tips!
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