There was an exhibit of Chinese paintings years ago, at the Houston MFA, that I remember. It was not the paintings that stick in my mind (although the landscapes were lovely) but rather the rectangular signature seals that the artists used to initial their work. It seemed such a designerly approach to a signature, one that appeared so…official, important, secret club-like. To some people it might look little more than a notarized stamp, an insitutionalized seal of authenticity. But for the simple reason of liking them, I decided the kids should have their own simple seals. Plus, the boys like stamps; it has a very satisfactory feel, the stamping of their artwork. I sense that this act makes their work feel more “official” once it’s done, too. It’s the little satisfactory things. And they’re so easy to carve from a piece of linoleum or rubber blocks. Just collect from your artists a pencil-written signature, with letters big enough to carve, and transfer the signature onto the stamp by rubbing the opposite side of the paper. Carve. Stamp. Voila! Repeat as necessary (and in our case, that’s quite often, indeed).
