Be invited to show prints at a public exhibit

06Honda

Senior Member
Showing prints at a public exhibit

I will be doing my first Nature Exhibit for next months Earth Day Celebrations in my local city and all is going well. Photos (glossy paper) are printed and materials gathered to mount them. One thing I have thought about is it a good idea to put a one or two word title of what the photo is. Some of the bird & butterfly species some people will not know. So where or how should I do this IE: Say the image is a Indigo Bunting, should the name put written on the corner of the mat or on a separate sticker etc. All my 8 x 10's and 5 x 7's will be secured on white foam board and with a white mat. No point in siging my name anywhere and it will be unreadable (I have a doctor type signature - unreadable to all except my wife
happy.gif
Thanks for any tips or info.

Image added is a sample of what will be displayed.
Atlantic Puffin

35520093140_36c7060904_c.jpg


Paul
 
Last edited:

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
Congratulations on your invite.

You might want to consider developing a readable version of your signature to put on your prints. That way viewers know who to contact for a print copy. You really don't want to use the same signature you sign checks and legal documents with on your photos anyway for security reasons.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I will be doing my first Nature Exhibit for next months Earth Day Celebrations in my local city and all is going well. Photos (glossy paper) are printed and materials gathered to mount them. One thing I have thought about is it a good idea to put a one or two word title of what the photo is. Some of the bird & butterfly species some people will not know. So where or how should I do this IE: Say the image is a Indigo Bunting, should the name put written on the corner of the mat or on a separate sticker etc. All my 8 x 10's and 5 x 7's will be secured on white foam board and with a white mat. No point in siging my name anywhere and it will be unreadable (I have a doctor type signature - unreadable to all except my wife
happy.gif
Thanks for any tips or info.l
When I want to include explanatory information with a photo I do so by putting a sticker on the back, usually on the mat. Signed photos have my signature on the mat in the bottom right corner.

Another option would be watermarking. You can convert your signature, or image title, into a custom brush for free using Photoshop. Most often this technique is used for watermarking but there's no reason you can't use it for titles. Reputable places online will convert your signature professionally for something like $30 or $40.
 
Last edited:

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
It might be easy to print the name on a sticker as long as it looks nice. Maybe a clear sticker with black writing.
If you have somebody with a nice handwriting, that would probably look better IMHO. Just write it on the mat. I would sacrifice two mats and see which one looks best rather than take a chance.

Your other option would be a printed card mounted next to the photo like they do in some museums. I like that the best.

I love that puffin image.
 
Last edited:

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
I would never put any explanatory data on the front of a print. You can use the logo company above to "create" your signature so that it's legible... nothing says that the one on the face of the work says it needs to be your legal signature... It's just one that "identifies" YOU... Leonardo da Vinci didn't write the titles of his work on the front, you shouldn't either... ;)

BTW... Congrats on being selected...
 

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
Earth Day, is about learning and appreciation. I am liking the info card like in a museum. Hey Ansel Adams exhibits have them. Just sayin'. Much neater and agrees with @FredKingston. He has a good point. :D.

Congratulations.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Well if we're talking about hanging a show then typically the works have labels on the wall or pedestal supporting them. Some of the lower-end galleries simply use adhesive labels but IMO, those look a little tacky. The more upscale galleries will use adhesive stickers on a piece of foam core. The trick it is to put a label on a piece of foam core and then put another, tiny square of foam core on the back of the foam core label, and mount the whole thing to the wall. The reason for all of this is the foam core gives the tag some depth, some dimension, since it's not just flat and flush against the wall or pedestal. In short, it looks far more professional and if you're trying to sell work, or want to be recognized as a serious artist, these little details matter.

Typically, a display tag for a gallery would be formatted to look like this, assuming the piece is for sale; if the piece is not for sale use "NFS" in place of the price:


Artist's Name
Title of the Piece
Date Created
Medium
Size in Inches
Price (or NFS)​


e.g.

Paul Cézanne
The Card Players
1892-1893
Oil on canvas
38 x 51 inches
$259,000.00​


This is all probably much more than anyone wanted to know...
 

06Honda

Senior Member
Wonderful advice and this will give me something to do for it. I have decided that I will just go with some 8 x 10's, use core form board for each and have a mat put over them. As that are for display only will not bother with frames as that really adds to the cost for this kind of event. Will do up a display tag for them as well. Thanks again.
 
Top