The Art of a Name: How Artists Choose a Name for Their Paintings
You might ask yourself “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet.” - William Shakespeare
Basically, in the play Romeo and Juliet, Juliet implies that names are meaningless. If Romeo changed his name, she would still love him just as much. This may have been true for Juliet, but names can be very important in the art world. When you stand before a painting, the title has the power to shape your entire experience. It can provide context, evoke emotion, or spark curiosity. If a name can hold that much power, have you ever wondered where they come from? How exactly do artists go about selecting names for their art. The process is as diverse as the artists themselves and often reflects personal journeys, experiences and emotions as well as themes of their work.
To me, the signing and naming of something that I’ve created is a special moment. It can invoke joy, pride, excitement, gratitude, etc…. It’s a personal stamp of approval that the work is done. The story is complete and is ready to be shared with the world.
My naming process almost always involves intuitive inspiration, it is not a step by step activity. Although some artists use descriptive titles like “Sunrise in Colorado,” I find this method flat and boring. Here’s a list of my main inspirations for selecting a name:
Music - I almost always listen to music when I paint. Often a particular song can become like an anthem for a painting. Sometimes I’ll listen to one song on repeat for an extended period because it just feels “right”. Call me crazy, but it’s like the painting is guiding its own identity. It’s very common for a word or phrase from a song to pop into my head and immediately I know what the name will be.
Emotion - This one is HUGE. Joy, struggles, anger, fear, determination….. The list is never ending and their impact on what shows up on a canvas is the same. Earlier this year I made the difficult choice to leave my studio space because it just wasn’t an energetic fit and it was suffocating my creativity. In the months after, I created some of my best art to date. One of my faves is titled “Everything is Coming Up Roses.” Yes, the painting has roses in it, but I chose the title because I truly felt uplifted, free and released.
Making a Statement - If you look closely you will see that I use this method often, and it is usually intertwined with emotion. Most statements that I make involve personal journeys and challenges that I have overcome. A few examples: “Take Me as I Am,” “Can’t Stop Me,” “Stand Out,” “Never Give Up,” “Stronger Than I Look,” “I Won’t Be Silenced.”
Collaboration - It doesn’t happen often, but every now and then I finish a piece and I just can’t come up with a name. I’ll try sitting with it but all I hear are crickets. This is a good time to toss it out to a community for title suggestions. This can be fun and people love to share ideas and opinions.
To wrap it up, naming a painting is a unique blend of personal reflection, creative intuition and the artist’s response to social and/or personal issues and experiences. Next time you have the opportunity to view art, take a moment to reflect on the title-what does it say about the work? How does the title make you feel? Does it change your connection to the painting? The art of naming is an important part of the entire creation process, enriching the entire experience and inviting deeper engagement with the artwork.