Connect to the Viewer's Senses

One who gets recognized is the person:
who shows off his ideas first (even if it is shoes lined up and you think anyone can do that!)
who makes you hesitate and stick around for more
who makes you question
who makes you stop and think and start relating

Same goes for titles of paintings. Some artists say their paintings should speak for themselves and should not be titled. Do you find “untitled” paintings as “grabbing” as titled paintings? I believe that a painting with a boring title or obvious title will not get as much “attention” as one with a title that connects with the viewer’s emotions and senses or makes him/her question. For example: take the “Voice of Fire” – acrylic by Barnett Newman 1967 in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada - (with no discussion as to media, advertising etc) if this painting was called Red Stripe – I can see myself passing over it quicker and thinking it initially boring than if it was called Voice of Fire. Why, because I hesitate at reading the title. I start to think: “why would the artist call this painting Voice of Fire?” Then I start to ask myself why would I call this painting Voice of Fire? Then I think “what does this mean?” Already I’ve spent more time in front of this painting.

Maybe grabbing your audience at the title can be the first step at making them stay longer at your painting. I think the longer they stay the longer they look, the more they think and hopefully find something they can relate to (emotions, senses). The more people relate to a painting (even knowing the history of how it was made, or feeling like they “know” the artists from meeting him/her, or having been to the same place in the painting etc.) the more they connect. The more they connect, the more likely they will purchase. Do you think?