What is the best way to sign one's name in clay?

[11-11]

Trying to figure out the best way to sign my name in the wet clay. No tool I've tried works well-- there's always weird edges that need to be smoothed, then the letters are sometimes obliterated. and have to be gone over...
I think I spend more time trying to sign my name than I do actually working on the piece!
Any tips?

[mantrid]

Originally Posted by 11-11

Trying to figure out the best way to sign my name in the wet clay. No tool I've tried works well-- there's always weird edges that need to be smoothed, then the letters are sometimes obliterated. and have to be gone over...
I think I spend more time trying to sign my name than I do actually working on the piece!
Any tips?

I use water based clay and sign when it has lost some water and stiffened up. You could also get a stamp made up, in wood or metal. A number of companiws specialize in this.

On this subject, I also like to put a date. I make limited editions in bronze from my clay original. Question is do I date the original or date the bronzes which are made as required so would have different dates of production. Sorry to hijack your thread there

[11-11]

I'm using oil based clay.
The stamp idea sounds good.
At one point I thought maybe I'd get a good signature in scrap clay and make a plaster cast of it. then I could press it into a finished piece. But it'll never really look like my signature.

[outsider]

get a pair of boots with a really thick sole. carve your name in the soles. backwards of course. put 'em on. then jump really high into the air landing squarely on top of the clay. that will imprint your name soundly into the clay

[rika]

Oooh, that's nasty, Outsider, but yeah, why fuss over a signature, fuss over the work.

[craigktx]

It would make a interesting piece, entitled lump with name.

[racine]

[mantrid, for bronze sign the waxes not the original]

11-11 u havnt said what this 'wet' oil clay is for..r u casting it? then put it in the casts..

have a slightly different usage of this.. [for years i never signed hating the idea] since making composite pieces i have just started making a 'sign stone' for each year, a small object that can be incorporated into the work presigned in the cast.

i worked in a foundry for a bit, there was a famous client. bit of a geezer.. and the boss had to sign for him cause he said his hands wouldnt work, probably tru as he didnt make his own work anyway for years.. old can..but what value the signature? and should anyone really care..
so im with outsider on this, so print it on yr butt [inverted] and sit on it [gravitationally]

think the sign stone for next year will be a rude word.

[solticeart]

Hey, I had the same problem and since some of my pieces are really small sculptures I cant write that small so.. the answer is to have a tiny stamp made. heres 2 places that make stamps of all sizes.. one is alot less money than the other but both are good places. one is: www.claystamps.com and the other is www.microstampusa.com
Rebecca Turner
www.solticeartstudio/blogspot.com

[dondougan]

Go to the hardware store and buy a piece of soapstone for marking on steel. Carve your 'chop' on it. Use that as a stamp. Less than 50 cents. As long as it is your design it doesn't matter if it is your 'signature' (which is for paper . . .) <grin>

For what it is worth because of the way I work the clay element doesn't get signed anyway - I use a little Dremel grinding bur or stone and sign it after it is fired.

Don

[blackcutwitch]

Let it go off a bit then sign it. I don't try to use my signature but have a sign which I've developed. It works as a recognisable logo that you can use elsewhere i.e. letterhead. I thought about a stamp but it's a bit impersonal I like to sign each one, but I don't like casting either. We've all got our own way eh?

[The Forge]

Since I create welded steel sculptures, I use a 'logo'. Just a simple geometric design that is easy for me to reproduce on my works. When I first started my sculpture career, I designed it and put that on a letterhead. Since then I have used it to 'sign' all my works. I had a simple steel stamp made for the pieces that are too small to weld a bead on. Using that idea it would be easy to inscribe on your clay pieces. With a little experimentation, you should be able to tell when it is the best time to apply it to your clay piece to get the best results.

[furby]

Yeah i want to make up a stamp, but one you can bang into bronze too if needed. Do youse think a stainless steel casting would be hard enough for that purpose?

[mantrid]

Originally Posted by furby

Yeah i want to make up a stamp, but one you can bang into bronze too if needed. Do youse think a stainless steel casting would be hard enough for that purpose?

Why bang it into the bronze just let it melt into the wax.

[The Forge]

The melting into the wax is a good way to go. But, you would have to decide if you wanted a raised or recessed signature and have a stamp made to fulfill that need. The stamp should be professionally made so that it can be properly hardened for that use.

[timblacktim]

Well jummping on the finished work with ur boots on .....wont be the best way I'm sure!!!!...but ive used a pencil to sign when my clay has reached leatherhardness. A descriet signiture or monogram is the way to go!!!

[purplecat]

hah, I read this thread and had a "eureka!" moment...Even though I wasnt the person who asked, thank you for the very helpful info.