John Lucas
Actually have a date this weekend but getting back to the real question. I've always dated mine. It's caused me headaches.
I've been looking for shows and competitions to enter. Many of them say, must be made within the last year or two. I have pieces that would be perfect for the theme of the show but because they were dated 4 or 5 years ago can't enter them. Remember I work full time and can't produce work constantly like full time artists. So here's my dilemma. Do I leave the date off and then basically lie about when it's made. Or do I continue to date things and pass up the opportunity to be in a show. Personally I don't think a date should matter. Some of Ansel Adams early photographs were some of his best. Should they be left out of a show simply because they weren't made in the last year?
I have never had a person who purchased my work worry about the date it was made. Or for that matter none ever even questioned it. I have however had gallery owners question it. What's with that.
Consequently I have been considering either dropping the date, or coding the date so only I know. Now I'm on the fence on the competition thing. I don't really want to cheat but have had many artists tell me it doesn't matter, it's about getting in the show and marketing yourself. Still I don't like lying about something.
Personally I like seeing a date on a piece. Hopefully my work is heirloom quality and someone will pass it on to their family. Having an easily recognizable date to me would be important for this. Eventually I hope to have my own show of work and I guess if they all have dates it will simply show that I've been working at this hard for many years. If someone feels they have to have a piece made currently then they'll have to wait in line and get the next one off the lathe.