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I love using texture in many of my paintings to achieve movement and dimension (the painting below is an example of this). That's why I'm excited to attend a three day workshop at the end of March hosted by The Visionary Projects in Miami Florida. Located in an industrial workshop loft in the Wynwood Arts District, they offer experiences with influential artists to promote personal growth, creativity, and an opportunity to connect with other artists. 

The workshop I've  registered for is “Nontraditional Tools and Techniques for Textured Acrylic Painting “ with  artist Ginger Thomas. We will be exploring techniques and tools for creating very  heavy texture to bring interest and depth to our paintings by building  layers. We will also be learning about adding color and color blending to compliment the multiple layers of texture. I can't wait to start a painting using Ginger's unique process. Her work is amazing and I am thrilled to have an opportunity to learn from such a talented artist. You can see her work on her website www.gingerthomasstudios.com.

Interacting with and learning from the other artists in the workshop is an added bonus. It's a huge part of enhancing this experience and making it more meaningful.  I hope to make lots of new artist friends!  I anticipate this will be a fun-filled three days creating our “masterpieces” and being infused with a heavy dose of inspiration! 

I'll be taking pictures throughout the workshop to share in a future blog and on my Instagram page @valerieblauvelt so stay tuned.

This is my first workshop of this caliber and I feel like a kid counting down the days until Christmas! Travel, hotel, meals, and the cost of the workshop make this an expensive endeavor but an important one.  I believe you have to invest in yourself if you want to grow as an artist. I enjoy continuously learning and I can't wait to apply these new skills to bring my art to the next level.

48 x 60 commissioned painting that used texturing medium to create interest and dimension.

I have been guilty of not signing my artwork until very recently for several reasons. First, being an abstract painter, I am never sure of the orientation my customer prefers. Many of my pieces can be hung horizontally or vertically depending on personal preference and the size of the wall.  Second, I felt it interfered with the painting. You would have to sign it  in a place on the composition where it would not be  cut off or covered up by framing. And lastly, I have a long name and didn't feel comfortable with how distracting it would look across the front of the painting. Consequently, I have always signed my artwork on the back.

Some experiences have caused me to change my thinking. I  brought one of my large paintings to the gallery and the owner suggested I start signing my paintings on the front because it actually adds value to the piece. Art buyers feel more comfortable buying a visibly signed piece of art because it identifies it as an authentic original painting. Over time you, as the artist, and your paintings will be recognized by your unique signature. If a painting is sold without your signature on the front, others will not know or remember who the artist was.

A designer sold one of my paintings to her client. After it was framed and installed, her client was disappointed that the artist signature was not visible.  Luckily I was able to sign the piece afterwards for the customer. Similarly after completing a large commissioned painting, my customer wanted it signed before she accepted it. These two examples reinforced how important it is to the customer to buy signed paintings. 

Not wanting to be the " forever forgotten "artist I will start focusing on putting my signature on the front of my work. After a little research here are some guidelines I'll follow:

1. Make my signature the same on all of my paintings for recognition over time

2. Since my name is long and possibly distracting, I'll use my initials but also sign the back with my full name.

3. Make my autograph visible but not overly large to avoid distraction.

4. Position my signature so that it will not be hidden by framing. Be careful not to put it too close to the edge or bottom.

5. Be consistent with where I locate my signature on every painting. 

If you are an artist,  what is your opinion? Do you sign your paintings on the front? If you are a buyer, do you want your paintings signed on the front? Please email me your thoughts and comments.