Don’t Waste Another Naming Opportunity

Have ever you looked at an artwork, and felt that the experience obtained from visuals alone, doesn’t move you as much as the title does? This post explores that the naming or concept of a piece of artwork can be just as important as the visuals.

Don’t Waste Another Naming Opportunity

So I thought I would build upon my first post and share my thoughts about naming art, be it literature, music or in my case art.

I am constantly thinking about new titles for my artworks, this might be prompted by feelings of tenderness, sadness or nostalgia. If I come up with a name myself, whether I overhear or read something that catches my eye, I tend to make a note of it. I also make a note of ideas that come to me in dreams or while I’m asleep. When I wake up, I write down whatever I can remember on a pad by my bedside.

In the business world, company or product naming is such an important factor. The perfect name can set a company up for success, be memorable, and still be unique. Not only that, but the right name will encourage potential customers to do business with you

Why Naming is Important?

In a profound and philosophical sense, I often stop to think why something or someone ends up with a certain name. It always gives me a feeling that the name has some inherent meaning and I am always interested in finding out what it is. From inanimate objects to joyful parents naming their newborn DNA output. 

For me, the title of If Six Was Nine by The Jimi Hendrix Experience; off their second album Axis: Bold as Love (1967), sums this thought up.

Simply put a name is a critical element and term used for identification. Naming art can identify a class or category of things, or a single thing, either uniquely, or within a given context. The entity identified by a name is called its referent. A personal name identifies, not necessarily uniquely, a specific individual human. 

Would you rename yourself given the chance and what name would you pick?

Reasons For Naming Art – Why Did You Name It That?

I’ve sometimes viewed an artwork, and felt that the experience obtained from visuals alone doesn’t move me as much as the title does. Whether, it is literature, music or art, the naming, or concept of a piece can be just as important as the completed work.

The aim of the title may be to identify, to provide a frame of reference or to make it more memorable, thus ensuring distinctiveness or making it more emotionally appealing. 

Titles may help us to understand something that at first seems complex and confusing or they may have personal associations. A piece of art or music may have several names, as well as alternative titles, synonyms and nicknames.

Make A Statement

Although advertising uses psychological techniques in various ways, like appealing to your admiration of celebrities, or tactically through emotional appeal, convincing you that products can change your emotions or life. 

What many people don’t realise is that psychological techniques are also used in news media, which is why they’re so effective. In a society where most people believe what they hear on television, and then repeat it without knowing where it came from, this is a recipe for disaster. 

Or attempting to interest you in the exclusivity of owning a product or service directly from Ren Creative Works, for instance.

Equally, artwork can imply important thought-provoking messages, but with a purer soul, intent and purpose, or at least make you feel. I think that’s why I love art so much, it can take you on a journey.

In comparison, my online journey of developing my website has so far has taught me the importance of naming conventions, in the context of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). Image Optimisation for SEO not only deals with reducing file sizes, but also naming. An image uploaded to the Interweb as untitled.img is going to be quickly lost out there, anyway I have lots to learn in terms of best practices.

5 Tips for Naming Art

It can be difficult to name art pieces, and the process can become, in some cases, complicated. Most people are unaware of the amount of thought that goes into naming art. So how do I name my art, you can ease the process when viewing or during a naming opportunity of an artwork by following these five tips!

  • Factual: Maybe the artwork is a representation of a historical event, political/socio-economic commentary or documenting something purely because it is what it is.

  • Numerical: Common with limited edition prints or a series of artworks. ‘A still life of ten [10] red roses’, or the binary version, ‘A bunch of zero’s [0’s] and one’s [1’s]’.

As I discussed in my first blog, an artwork will not only speak to you, it may aid to initiate conversation with either friends or strangers, or at the very least the name of an artwork might prompt you to think.

Avoid cliché, unless used for irony, but will the audience understand the irony?  For example: ‘A marriage counsellor files for divorce – No. 1’, perhaps…

Be appropriate to the scale and spirit of the piece, and avoid being pretentious by attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed. 

Give your viewer information without stating the obvious. Make them think at least, and if the title is expansive then there is room for the viewer to have their own interpretation. Whatever you do, if you have to state the obvious to identify the piece try not to make it boring!

A shorter title is generally better. Unless, you’re from Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch of course.

Artwork Name Generator 

There are several online name generators on the web, that can help you come up with an fairly descriptive and original title for naming art.

If you’re really stuck, one click usually generates a name that you can use to easily title your piece, and if you don’t like it, just click again. This can even serve as a starting point for your composition, so you don’t have to worry about naming it later.

Here, the name doesn’t have to be serious, since humour is an excellent way to begin the conversation about art, but the decision is yours.

Let the art do the talking, and be receptive to the fact, that there is always the distinct possibility that apathetically, no-one cares what it’s called. Nevertheless, a good name can really aid distinguishing a piece of art. What will yours be?

Don't Waste Another Naming Opportunity!

If Six Was Nine!

Maybe you have an idea in mind, that Ren Creative Works will be able to apply creative skill and imagination too. So pull the trigger on making a purchase today, and Don’t Waste Another Naming Opportunity! We can do it all for you, from the original brainstorming session to the finished product.

What are some of your favorite titles? It’s a hard question to answer really. As I said above I tend to just grab titles out of a hat, but other times I can think about it for days on end… But whatever it is, don’t waste another naming opportunity.

Create a Stronger Emotional Connection in Your Home with Art

When it comes to creating a strong emotional connection in your home, art can be a powerful tool. Whether you commission an artist to create a custom piece or simply buy artwork that speaks to you, adding a few well-chosen pieces to your home décor can make a big impact.

One of the best things about art is that it can be used to express a wide range of emotions. If you want to create a feeling of happiness and love in your home, for example, you could choose pieces that feature joyful colours and images. Alternatively, if you are looking to add a sense of calmness and serenity, you might select art with more muted tones and peaceful scenes.

For example, when I am making art, I frequently write down my thoughts and feelings. I keep a journal while I am making art because it helps me discover common themes and motifs. This allows me to communicate more effectively when it comes time to title and relay the story and concept behind a piece.

Whatever emotions you want to evoke, there is bound to be art that can help. I know from my own consumer behaviour that you may first inquire about a product or service before purchasing it. However, if you want to create a stronger emotional connection in your home, do not overlook the power of art.

If you think a friend, family member, or business associate might be interested in this article, please feel free to share and subscribe.

Thank you for reading.

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Adrian Reynolds is a Dublin based abstract artist. His paintings are a response to the world that surrounds us. A world that is changing faster than ever before. His work is an exploration of colour, form and texture, placing his work at the intersection between abstraction and representation. His work has been featured in Ireland, the UK and the US.

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