How to sign a painting?

[Michele Rushworth]

Here's what I do when I sign my oil paintings:

I wait until the lower left area is completely finished and dry and then I put a thin layer of 50/50 linseed/OMS over it, and wipe almost all of the oil off. This helps the brush glide.

Then I draw a straight horizontal line, in paint, using a level, about an inch below the area where I will put my signature. This is so my signature is level also. I have a tendency to angle my signature upwards or to have a very wobbly and sloppy looking baseline. The horizontal line keeps me straight.

Then I sign my name in paint that is very thin (thinned using the linseed/OMS mixture. If I mess it up, I wipe off the messy parts and do it again.

Finally, when I'm happy with it, I wipe off the horizontal guideline.

(I think it would surprise our clients and collectors how much thought and effort goes into something like the signature that they probably believe is just dashed off with bravado at the completion of a painting!)