Should Artists have a Logo?
In my blog post yesterday I was discussing artist Amanda Bittar’s use of video to promote her art work. I commented about her use of her logo - the initials of her name - at the beginning of her films. She also uses her logo to brand her website. It got me thinking how professional that looked and how it made her work stand out and more recognisable. The question that came to my mind was why more artists don’t create a logo and use it to brand their art and promotional material?
As you know, all businesses want to create a recognisable brand, so why not artists? And if you need any more persuasion, just look at Picasso’s signature. The epitome of a fantastic logo - bold, simple, easily assimilated!
So what options are available to artists? Well you can either fork out and get a professional logo based on your name and use this with all your presentations, or if you already have a cool signature, scan it in or photograph it, do a bit of editing to remove the background, then use that as your logo….on everything you do! Look here at an example.
If you need any help editing your scanned signature for this use, just contact us and we’ll let you know how we can help.
What are your thoughts on artists logos and brands? Essential / a Bonus / Irrelevant?
Note to self: ehem….get this blog branded with Artdomain’s logo!
Posted: June 2nd, 2008 under Art Marketing, Build the Brand, To Do.
Comments: 2
Comments
Comment from Dan Anaka
Time: July 1, 2008, 8:50 am
I have had a logo for the last 12 years and it has stuck in peoples heads. I have been criticized for it by other artists, but they seem to remember me as well as the galleries. A simple DA followed by refined artist, my signature and a little blurb. People seem to love to hate ‘refined artist’, but it creates conversation … they seem to repeat it to themselves as I introduce myself in that way. They want to know what’s different about my work… I’ve branded myself … I had also started thinking about what best describes my personality … assisting my cocky logo … I now have a profile of my head with the playboy bunny ears. Considering I paint mainly figures and portrait art, the new symbol is easily related to playboy and I now have men and women begging to be painted or photographed. I’ve actually worked with Amanda Bittar, we had created an exhibition where I had painted a live nude figure in front of the public. I am now able to arrange large exhibitions with models volunteering to pose publicly in the nude …. it’s getting to the point where I tell them no. I see nothing wrong with branding as long as I stay personal and true in my artwork. I would rather ’sell out’ by marketing myself properly than change the style and subject matter of my artwork.
Take Care
Comment from Emma Brooks
Time: July 1, 2008, 10:08 am
Great comments Dan. Your site and your work are very interesting. I think it is fantastic your branding creates conversation and makes you and your work memorable. I like how you have chosen a controversial phrase to sum up your art (refined artist). The ‘love to hate’ emotion is an interesting one to work with to create a memorable brand.
From your experience the branding has definitely made your work more desirable and assisted your art career.
I like the playboy bunny profile - nice twist of a familiar image. I can imagine that would definitely get folks talking 
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