When I decided to become a sort-of professional photographer, I signed my photos Deborah C. Bailey. This is the name I used at doctor's offices and other important official places.
As I got involved in our town's art community, people addressed me as Deborah. This made me cringe, because I was getting to know them on a personal level. People that I care about call me Debbie.
I signed my childhood artwork Debbie Bailey. Through the years I have also signed Debbie C. Bailey and D.C. Bailey. I was having an identity crisis.
I've finally figured out why I've gone through so many name changes...I think. As a child I signed my art as Debbie Bailey, because that is who I was. As I got older, I thought that was too simple a name, so I signed in what I thought was more sophisticated ways.
For the last two years, I've been playing with different names in my mind. I have gone from Deborah C. Bailey to Deborah Bailey and finally to Debbie Bailey again. The pretensions have been dropped and I've again become 'just me'. I'm sure that's a good thing. It'll be interesting to see how, and if, that affects my art. Note: I should have said, "I signed my childhold art Debbie Collins." See comments for explanation.
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