Signatures say something about yourself they say. Experts can tell much about a person just by a piece of handwriting. I notice depending on my mood, my level of 'awakeness', and the subject I write about the variation my handwriting. It alternates between cursive and printing and italics. And then come the signatures. I wonder about those often; really though, rarely does my signature look the same as the one I scribbled on that important document last week, or three months ago, or four years back. There's some similarity I guess, but it looks far from identical.
Today I was at the bank, and the advisor signed some of our paperwork. Noticing how quickly she moved her pen across the paper, writing beautifully, uniquely, authoritatively 'her name' on papers. Saying 'it's true, it's honest, and approved'. There's much power in a signature..
Perhaps my simple marking 'M.' at the end of emails, messages, letters, and notes isn't very professional. In fact I know it's not. When I was an educational assistant the students called me Miss V. That is then how I signed the agendas, the notes, whatever needed my approval. Was that not authoritative enough? I was nineteen at the the time - really, I didn't think I had that much authority. I didn't feel that legit.
According to a quick Google search a signature is (from Latin: signare, "to sign") is a handwritten (and often stylized) depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" or other mark that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and intent. So really, my signing with Miss V. or M. is acceptable, perhaps even legitimate.
Signatures on artwork shows that it is 'real', the original, authentic.
Signatures - it seals the deal.
I shall continue on signing my work with M., or my very inconsistent autograph. Because it seals the deal, it's legit, it comes from me. No need for fancy or professional.
M.
