When it comes to polymer clay (especially earrings), earring cards and shipping boxes seem to receive a lot of attention. But what about the items themselves? Do you sign your work? Long after the packaging has been discarded, will your buyer or recipient have a way of knowing that the artist was you? Signing your work is a great way to accomplish this and it’s a really special touch that helps to elevate your item to the level of art!
This article was originally published in Blue Bottle Insiders and is part of the members-only course “Level Up Your Claying”. This course will help you take your work to the next level.
Painters sign their work when finished, typically with a brush in a contrasting color in the lower right corner. Potters press a stamp or carve their signature into the bottom of their pots. Glass is often engraved or given a sticker to show where it originates. Even diamond rings have a maker’s mark stamped into the band! Doesn’t your work deserve the same?
How to Sign Your Work
We’re lucky with polymer clay because it’s easy to sign our work. And there are many ways to do it. The simplest way is to press a signature stamp into your work. Even your initials, simply pressed in with tiny letter stamps, will go a long way toward creating a great impression. But if you have a logo, emblem, or crest that is meaningful to you, this is a perfect opportunity to express yourself! There are plenty of stamp makers, 3-D printers, and laser etching makers who can work with you to create a custom stamp.
You can also make a signature cane (or hire someone to do it for you). Just press a tiny slice onto the back or bottom of the item before the last baking. Yes, even earrings! Canes can be reduced very small, after all! You could even slice and bake the slices, applying them afterward with glue. Try making one with your initials or even your entire signature.
Of course, the signature cane doesn’t have to be in black and white. Make whatever color makes sense for you. Or you could even use a flower, a scene, a logo, or a character.
You could even make small tabs of clay, stamped with your logo and perhaps low-lighted (antiqued) with dark paint. Just glue this tab to the back and you have a simple, easy-to-make, and professional signature.
Skip the Sharpie!
By the way, please don’t use a black permanent marker to sign your work. Sharpies and alcohol markers are made with dyes, not pigments. While they look great when you do it, they fade over time and often turn weird colors as the dyes migrate into the baked clay. I have a lot of polymer art in my collection, and nearly all the Sharpie signatures are now weirdly purple. To elevate your work, go for a more refined option. If you really want to use an actual signature, please use a pigment-based marker (affiliate link) or use acrylic ink (affiliate) and a fine brush to do your magic. Here’s more info about choosing a black pen to sign your work.
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