Painting Titles - The Great Quest
June 7, 2010 
Keith Haring - Untitled
Some artists are content with no title; some will simply number their works… or will use that inventive title ‘untitled’. However, I prefer to give some direction for the viewer to aid in their understanding where I was coming from in creating the work, or to spark something in their viewing of it – something, hopefully that moves the painting into a more elevated realm.
Sometimes the title for a painting will come before the painting has begun. It can sometimes be the source for the painting exploration. However, most often, it arises during the painting process or, more usually, at the end when the painting is finished and about to enter my inventory list.
Many times coming up with the title seems more difficult than doing the actual painting. To help me in this endeavor, I am constantly noting good titles that other artists have come up with. I write them down in a special folder on my computer. I also note words that are interesting, musical terms, descriptive foreign words, adjectives that appeal to me and short snippets of poetry. That way, when I get ‘stuck’ I have a pool of ideas to reference and, hopefully, spark an idea.
Reader Comments (1)
What would you name Mr. Haring's work? The Captive comes to my mind. I find it easier to name others' work rather than my own. Perhaps I am too close to what I have done.