Signature Your artwork will come to you numbered and signed. The signature itself can be one of a number of different forms depending on the painting, the medium, and the color scheme of the artwork. My name in Vietnamese can be signed in multiple ways, ranging from the most modern Vietnamese script called Quốc Ngữ (National Script), Chữ Nôm (traditional Southern Script) which was used starting in the 12th Century in Vietnam, or the most ancient Hán Việt (Classical Vietnamese), which was based on classical Chinese script. Traditionally this signature is in black, with a red seal. On some paintings, especially those with a dark background (such as the one shown here) or a painting of highly abstract geometric forms, I will simply use a seal.
Seal Imprints Your paintings will be signed, then imprinted with a seal. Known in Vietnamese as Triện Khắc (篆刻), zhuànkè in Mandarin Chinese, tenkoku (篆刻) or inkan (印鑑) in Japanese, and jeonjak (전각) in Korean, this traditional art form originated in China and later spread across East Asia among the four East Asian cultures. Considered a cornerstone of Eastern fine arts, it involves carving characters, phrases, or designs onto small stones or other materials to create seals that are then used as signatures, marks of authority, or artistic elements in poetry, calligraphy, and paintings.
Seal Placement Traditional calligraphy, poetry, or artwork all have a specific order of seal placement, shown in this example. Some artists deviate from this form for aesthetic purpose, but classically trained artists are expected to recognize it. Unless you specifically request not to have it, your painting will be signed, imprinted with one or more seals, and the seals will be expressing all the appropriate personal sentiments and my wishes for your journey in the arts.
As shown in the example here, the signature starts with a dedication on the left side of the painting indicating whom this work is dedicated to or given to, followed by a personal or family seal by the artist, a signature and a personal motto or family motto, or a nice proverb that appropriate for the art work. The upper right side of the work is for additional seals, phrases or proverbs meaningful to the artist or the recipient of the artwork. If an owner of the artwork wishes to add his or her own seal, it would be appropriate here as well. If you would like to have your own seal added or made, please reach out and I will see that it is accommodated.