Friday, November 7, 2008

Signatures and Lines

With the use of computers, writing is becoming a lost art. But we all sign our names. When you sign your name, you are expressing yourself with an element of art: line. On a sheet of scrap paper, write your name as you normally sign your name. Every time you write your name, you have expressed yourself in your own uniqueness. Try writing your name in three different styles. Look at the lines and let yourself respond to the nonverbal message each signature gives through the lines. A loose style implicates someone who is social, wears bright colors, and dramatic. A tighter signature says that a person could be quiet, reliable, and somewhat unadventurous. I might be wrong but a signature with sharp lines makes me think that a person is bold, easily angered, and stressed. Betty Edwards, from Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain says, “Your signature, however, does more than identify you. It also expresses you and your creativity. Your signature is true to yourself. In this sense, you already speak the nonverbal language of art: you are using the basic element of drawing, line, in an expressive way, unique to yourself.” I'm more of the tighter signature type, quiet, reliable, and somewhat unadventurous. What signature style are you?

1 comment:

Teresa Mallen said...

Hi Valerie,

My signature is a combination of loose and tight. It is consistent in that my signature always looks the same. It has some bold gestures (a sense of flourish),yet it is orderly too. The non capital letters are all the same size and I would say that my signature is neat. Maybe it makes sense that my signature is a bit of a combo as I am social, am apt to wear bright colours, could be considered dramatic at times and yet I am also quiet and reliable.

Our handwriting seems to capture something of the very essence of who we are. Seeing my Mother's handwriting still throws me, five years after her death. My Dad recently passed away and now as I go through his things, I find I am hoarding up all the scraps of paper he made notes on. His handwriting seems to be so 'alive', if anyone knows what I mean.

On another note, as an art instructor, when I encounter folks who say they can't draw, I ask if they can write their name. Of course they can and I go on to tell them that the same hand control and dexterity that is used to create the art of their signature is all they need to draw. We all learned how to print and write and anyone can learn to draw. Of course you have to want to learn the skills but their is no hidden magic to it.

Oops, sorry this is such a long comment. I do that sometimes. :-)