What do you use as your business name?
 

I've been using "Kimber Scott Studios" for the last few years on my invoices, etc. as my business name, but as my "studios" is one dining room, it doesn't seem right. I do a lot of mural and graphic work for interior design companies, (model homes, and such - it helps pay the bills while I'm in school), so I justified the "studioS" with the fact anywhere is my studio. It's never been a permanent name in my head and I'd like to find what my "permanent" business name is. It looks weird to just put my own name. I feel like I need more than that. I've thought of "Kimber Scott, Artist," and I'm not sure that looks right, either. What do you use? What is commonly acceptable?

I asked a similar question here a couple of years ago and just settled on "Michele Rushworth Fine Art". I figured that gave me flexibility to create whatever I felt like doing.

I think you're on the right track using your name in identifying yourself.

Starting out, I thought I needed a business name because my own name is difficult to spell and hard to pronounce (Fis'-nick) if you're not familiar with it. . . So I went with 'Southboro Canvas' (Southboro=the town where I live). . . now am thinking that if we ever move, the 'Southboro' will be meaningless, and wish I'd just come up with something involving my name (like Michele's "... Fine Art" concept) . Name recognition is a good thing :)

Indeed, what both michele and Terri suggested about name recognition is the utmost priority for artists. In fact, i took ideas from mission statements from companies, and fashioned it such that people can immediately know what i do. I've used this as my main header for my invoices since then.

Thank you, all for the input. Yes, Marcus, name recognition is very important. I've decided to stick with the "Kimber Scott Studios" and I've added "Fine Art and Graphics." Yes, it's still one studio in my dining room, but who cares. I paint all over the place.

I took a perusal of the phone book to see how other artists in my area have approached the problem and it appears they all had the same "problem." Many used their last name and put Studio, or Studios on the end, or "Studio and Gallery.". A few used a "business" name. I realized after reading through those, the ones with the "business" name left me with little idea of WHO they are. Not good for an artist. So, I guess I was on the right track to begin with.

Now, I have another question. Since high school I have always signed my paintings with just "Kim." I started doing that with the idea my last name might change. Well, it has, three times. Now, I'm older and more serious about my work, I'm wondering if I should change that. I mean, I don't expect any of my work, up until now, to make it into any art history classes. I doubt any of it after now will make it into any art history classes, but one can always hope. Anyway, I'm wondering if there would be any consequences to changing the way I sign my paintings, or should I just leave well enough alone?

Thank you all for your help!

For me and the rest of the artists here, we take my art business seriously that i think of my clients' points of views often. So while we can hope for the day our success goes down in history, it's more important now to let the clients feel they can trust our professionalism. So changing signatures is a big thing for us, and we should inform them of the new changes, so that they know they are not forgotten and left behind.
But of course that doesn't make us naturally have the right to just change our signatures at our whim and fancy; what we want is to continue to have their support through our consistency. And besides, clients might just see you on their children or grandchildren's history texts then... ;)

For signing your paintings, I think whatever you are most comfortable with is best. If you want to switch to your last name, you could include Kim with it and then eventually change Kim Scott to K. Scott. I think customers will be fine with your choice. It might be a fun way to date your work over the years. When you are famous, museums will date your paintings by "pre-kim" "kim" and "post-kim". They can call it the "Kim Retrospect" show. Remember, though, that signing just a first name puts you in good company with the likes of Vincent VanGogh. :0)

On another note, for a business name, I've actually been marketing two different names. Year's ago another artist and myself decided to share studio expense so that we could both get our studios out of our homes. We had to come up with a name for the location and after the long name selection process we came up with the name "Creative Brush Studio". Since part of our studio includes gallery space, we've been marketing our location as "Creative Brush Studio/Gallery" but I have continued to market my portraits as "Oil Portraiture by Mary Reilly". I thought that would cause a problem having two professional names, but surprisingly it has not.
Our lease is up this October and the other artist has decided to leave our studio to seek other endeavors. I've decided to stay and infact expand. My first thought was "Should I change the business name to just my name?" However, last month I am happy to say that the area newspaper had a "Readers Choice Survey" and Creative Brush was voted the Best Art Gallery in the county. That pretty much made my decision for me. I am going to continue to market myself as "Oil Portraiture by Mary Reilly of Creative Brush Studio". I think the most important thing is just getting your name out infront of the public in whatever way possible.

Mary