“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet.”Shakespeare
Getting ready for @surreyartistopenstudios and uncharacteristically, I was stumped for a title for this ink study. Eventually, I had a light bulb moment to call it:
“Lean on me”
In “Romeo and Juliet” Juliet asks this very question. For her, it is not a name which gives a thing its essential qualities. A name in fact is arbitrary; a rose would still smell sweet even if it were not called a rose.
In “Julius Caesar the wrong Cinna is murdered! Just saying!
For me, choosing a name/title for an artwork is important. I may choose a title, before, during or after a piece. I often resort to literature, my emotional response, and occasionally, the literal. It has to be short, as encompassing and expansive as possible to enable room for the viewer to have their own interpretation. Allowing others to find their own meaning in your work is not just generous, but also increases the likelihood that someone will personally interpret and then, as a result, purchase your Art.
How do you choose a name for your artwork? Do you choose it before, during or after? Or do you sometimes give it a number? Does it need a name at all?