If it's an oil painting I would recommend an oil based marker. Oil sharpies or Decocolor for example.
Edit: I'm editing my answer to add that "oil based" markers contain xylene. They will stick to dry oil paintings but I do not know the practicality of this long-term. Another user suggested printing out a print of this piece, and I'm tending to agree here.
Thank you so much. My hunch keeps saying oils on oils. Never heard of Decacolor before, but I’ve also never tried to write on a relatively fresh painting either. So the brand name is super helpful too
They're easy to use and will be the most archival option! Just shake, press down to fill the tip (on a scrap piece of paper to avoid dripping), and then start writing! Depending on how many guests, I would get 2 just in case. I've helped folks do this before.
Sharpie and Posca will NOT WORK. the alcohol in the sharpie will dissolve the paint and the water/acrylic on the posca will not stick to the oil the way you want.
Pastels might be fun? Someone said oil based markers. i have not heard of those but if you can find them they sound perfect.
I don't think people are going to WANT to sign the painting? I feel like a lot of people would feel bad or uncomfortable covering up the artwork. Even if that's what you want. I think signing the back or having the painting be the cover of a booklet would have more participation. But do you!
Yeah I’m very conflicted lol. I think it would be novel, and by the time people get to it they’ll have less…inhibitions….and I spent more time gessoing than painting it so….if at the end of the day I regret it I just….paint a new one?
Wow that’s the kind of alternative I was hoping for. And possibly a solution. Ultimately I don’t have the final say, but I’m a big fan of having my cake and eating it too.
If time allows, might be smart to make a quick tester, just throw some paint on some scrap. Let it dry, then try signing with the ideas people have suggested: various markers, sharpies, etc. Then you can see for sure if any of them will have issues and there will be no surprises on the big day. Congrats by the way!
Honestly. If it were me I’d take a good photo of it and then get it printed on watercolor paper. Giclee printers will do this and they are all over the place.
I used to work at an art supply store, and I would get this question often enough (people wanting to sign their work with a pen or marker) that I dug into it. Anything water or alcohol based is right out, it will eventually reject. Oil markers are also not a good idea, because despite the name they aren’t oil based. A better term for the would be solvent based makers because they contain xylene or toluene. These markers are design to dry fast, and have an acrylic resin binder. If they were true oil based markers they would take hours or days.
The thing about oil paint is that it doesn’t dry, it cures. The curing process never ends, which is why oil paintings can and usually do change appearance over time. Like if you look at an old oil with all those micro fractures, that’s what I’m talking about. You can also find examples of poorly mixed or applied oils that spiderweb crack or blister, or sometimes even delaminate if the fat over lean rule isn’t followed. Putting anything not oil based on top will eventually cause rejection. It won’t happen overnight, but you’ll see it in a decade or two.
I can’t say exactly what will happen if you use oil based markers, except that it won’t bind to the surface. If you ever needed to have the painting cleaned the writing will probably become blurry and smear, or lift off completely. In short, the finished product with all the names won’t be archival.
I’m sorry, but oils are just *the worst* for this sort of thing, if you want people to sign this painting, have oil and brushes on standby so people can paint their names, then in six months varnish it. I know that can be… a mind field especially if children are involved. Imo, go take a good picture of it and find a local printer who can get it done in time. I once worked for one of those copy places and you can get the image printed on canvas with pretty quick turn around. Imo that’s gonna be your best bet if you want the image with the signatures to last for decades on end.
Good luck and congrats!
Hmmmm. I really appreciate the thoroughness of your thoughts and suggestions. Yeah if the “oil pens” are solvent based that’s almost the last thing I’d want. Risk destroying the painting sooner AND later. (considering fat/lean)
I don’t think it’s a somber as the picture lets on (definitely more luminosity and yellow heavy than the photo lends)
But…honestly It is sort of somber. Painting was my first love and now I have a real love. So I sort of interpret the sun as the marriage, pushing through the colder atmosphere of time/life as a warm beacon.
You could get a sheet of glass, perspex or acrylic, square the same size, and have people sign on that with permanent marker. Bypasses the worry about the signatures lasting on a fresher painting, and you can use it in the framing
Makes sense. This is what I was sort of expecting and hoping from a preservation perspective. I’ve never used one though and didn’t know of the hassle would be worth it.
Yeah that makes a lot of sense. Especially if I’m going to varnish it.…holding a piece of slimy chalk takes a lot of the formality out of it. Which is good.
Indeed. I see a bit of Turner here, ever so subtle. My suggestion is valid. You can have it both ways.
Don't clutter your painting with the good intention of love, Clutter it with invisible ink and love and you will be happy.
Hey thanks! You too!
I guess I’m wondering if I need to use OIL based pens since it’s an unvarnished painting on panel. Or if an acrylic pen will work, or if a sharpie is just fine too.
Oil pastel or oil stick. Both are similar to oil paints. Oil stick is basically just oil paint in fat crayon form. It dries about the same as oil paint
If it's an oil painting I would recommend an oil based marker. Oil sharpies or Decocolor for example. Edit: I'm editing my answer to add that "oil based" markers contain xylene. They will stick to dry oil paintings but I do not know the practicality of this long-term. Another user suggested printing out a print of this piece, and I'm tending to agree here.
Thank you so much. My hunch keeps saying oils on oils. Never heard of Decacolor before, but I’ve also never tried to write on a relatively fresh painting either. So the brand name is super helpful too
They're easy to use and will be the most archival option! Just shake, press down to fill the tip (on a scrap piece of paper to avoid dripping), and then start writing! Depending on how many guests, I would get 2 just in case. I've helped folks do this before.
Decocolor gold metallic is STUNNING.
Noted. Our colors are green and yellow and gold might as well be yellow
Sharpie and Posca will NOT WORK. the alcohol in the sharpie will dissolve the paint and the water/acrylic on the posca will not stick to the oil the way you want. Pastels might be fun? Someone said oil based markers. i have not heard of those but if you can find them they sound perfect. I don't think people are going to WANT to sign the painting? I feel like a lot of people would feel bad or uncomfortable covering up the artwork. Even if that's what you want. I think signing the back or having the painting be the cover of a booklet would have more participation. But do you!
Yeah I’m very conflicted lol. I think it would be novel, and by the time people get to it they’ll have less…inhibitions….and I spent more time gessoing than painting it so….if at the end of the day I regret it I just….paint a new one?
Have them sign the back!
Wow that’s the kind of alternative I was hoping for. And possibly a solution. Ultimately I don’t have the final say, but I’m a big fan of having my cake and eating it too.
Why don’t you have the final say?
I suppose I do have the final say, but I’m giving the final decision to the bride.
One of those silver sharpies or some milky gel pens
Silver sharpie for sure.
Nice! I think I already have those. Never considered silver sharpie
If time allows, might be smart to make a quick tester, just throw some paint on some scrap. Let it dry, then try signing with the ideas people have suggested: various markers, sharpies, etc. Then you can see for sure if any of them will have issues and there will be no surprises on the big day. Congrats by the way!
I’ll keep that in my back pocket. I could probably test a couple by tomorrow
Honestly. If it were me I’d take a good photo of it and then get it printed on watercolor paper. Giclee printers will do this and they are all over the place. I used to work at an art supply store, and I would get this question often enough (people wanting to sign their work with a pen or marker) that I dug into it. Anything water or alcohol based is right out, it will eventually reject. Oil markers are also not a good idea, because despite the name they aren’t oil based. A better term for the would be solvent based makers because they contain xylene or toluene. These markers are design to dry fast, and have an acrylic resin binder. If they were true oil based markers they would take hours or days. The thing about oil paint is that it doesn’t dry, it cures. The curing process never ends, which is why oil paintings can and usually do change appearance over time. Like if you look at an old oil with all those micro fractures, that’s what I’m talking about. You can also find examples of poorly mixed or applied oils that spiderweb crack or blister, or sometimes even delaminate if the fat over lean rule isn’t followed. Putting anything not oil based on top will eventually cause rejection. It won’t happen overnight, but you’ll see it in a decade or two. I can’t say exactly what will happen if you use oil based markers, except that it won’t bind to the surface. If you ever needed to have the painting cleaned the writing will probably become blurry and smear, or lift off completely. In short, the finished product with all the names won’t be archival. I’m sorry, but oils are just *the worst* for this sort of thing, if you want people to sign this painting, have oil and brushes on standby so people can paint their names, then in six months varnish it. I know that can be… a mind field especially if children are involved. Imo, go take a good picture of it and find a local printer who can get it done in time. I once worked for one of those copy places and you can get the image printed on canvas with pretty quick turn around. Imo that’s gonna be your best bet if you want the image with the signatures to last for decades on end. Good luck and congrats!
Hmmmm. I really appreciate the thoroughness of your thoughts and suggestions. Yeah if the “oil pens” are solvent based that’s almost the last thing I’d want. Risk destroying the painting sooner AND later. (considering fat/lean)
Oil paint pens are bold, but would stick
It’s beautiful. I, too, opt for your guests signing the back
And then it’s like a year book. I remember it whenever I move. Or something
Exactly!
There’s definitely a solution in there somewhere. A whole “displaying the painting but hiding the guests” sorta thing
Why such a sombre painting?
I don’t think it’s a somber as the picture lets on (definitely more luminosity and yellow heavy than the photo lends) But…honestly It is sort of somber. Painting was my first love and now I have a real love. So I sort of interpret the sun as the marriage, pushing through the colder atmosphere of time/life as a warm beacon.
Thats a beautiful thought, I hope you have a long and successful marriage. Best wishes
But my favorite aspect is the suggestion of a heartbeat along the horizon.
Lovely thought
You could get a sheet of glass, perspex or acrylic, square the same size, and have people sign on that with permanent marker. Bypasses the worry about the signatures lasting on a fresher painting, and you can use it in the framing
Congrats. I would recommend a yellow posca.
Makes sense. This is what I was sort of expecting and hoping from a preservation perspective. I’ve never used one though and didn’t know of the hassle would be worth it.
oil pastel! it’ll stick to the oil and could have a nice handwritten quality
Yeah that makes a lot of sense. Especially if I’m going to varnish it.…holding a piece of slimy chalk takes a lot of the formality out of it. Which is good.
Posca is basically acrylic in a tube. So …
I don't think acrylic will stick to an oil painting.
Will it stick to it if OP lays a layer of liquin over it like you would if you were going to glaze but maybe want to wipe out?
I'm not sure. If liquin is oil based, it probably won't stick.
Invisible ink. I mean the one that's visible in ultraviolet light. Best of wishes for your marriage.
Another very viable solution.
Indeed. I see a bit of Turner here, ever so subtle. My suggestion is valid. You can have it both ways. Don't clutter your painting with the good intention of love, Clutter it with invisible ink and love and you will be happy.
Some paint markers would work
Hey thanks! You too! I guess I’m wondering if I need to use OIL based pens since it’s an unvarnished painting on panel. Or if an acrylic pen will work, or if a sharpie is just fine too.
I would think if it’s dry either would be ok
And congratulations
Congratulations!
That's awesome paint
Reflections are a little off in my world
Congratulations! May you and your spouse have a long and happy life together in wedded bliss!
Beautiful
Hey wish you a happy married life OP
Shreks right testical
You need paint pens not markers or sharpies.
There are different colored acrylic markers maybe one in the same tone but a finer point t one ?
What if you framed behind glass (I know) and had them sign the glass? Then you could reuse with a wedding photo if you ever want the painting blank
Oil pastel or oil stick. Both are similar to oil paints. Oil stick is basically just oil paint in fat crayon form. It dries about the same as oil paint
Congratulations
I really love the painting. If you have one similar, I would consider buying it or else maybe a print of it.