Collection Launch Process
Have you ever wondered what goes into creating and launching a collection of paintings? It’s a process I’ve been slowly refining with each new collection, but here is a walkthrough of what each step looked like for the Wonder collection!
Photo by Allison Nichole Photography
1. Dream
I start off letting myself daydream. I imagine what the collection will look and feel like, how many paintings there will be, what sizes I’ll paint and when I’ll release them to you! I gather any inspiration and references I’ll need, so for the Wonder collection I made a folder on my phone with all of the Bald Head Island photos I’ve taken over the years.
I’m mostly doing a lot of thinking at this stage. I don’t write out anything formal yet, so my ideas have room to evolve and change. This also leaves me a little breathing room to give myself grace if I’m overly ambitious with my initial ideas, which is typically the case!
2. Order Supplies
I get way too excited about ordering art supplies! I do any necessary research first, especially if I’m trying a different material, and I always try to get a few new colors (Golden is my go to acrylic paint). For the Wonder collection I ordered a couple of panels at a time from my favorite art supply store BLICK, until I knew exactly how many paintings I was going to have time to do!
3. Sit and Stare
Yep, I just stare at the blank panel for a while, picturing what it’s going to be! I ordered panels that were already primed for the Wonder collection, that way I could get straight to painting. Otherwise, I prep the surface first with a few layers of Gesso, etc.
4. Paint!
This is the fun part! I started the first painting one Sunday while Brantley grilled in the backyard. We had an excellent sermon that morning at church, and I just kept thinking of pretty sunset clouds. So that evening I cranked up the music, poured a glass of wine, pulled up one of my photo references and started painting! I finished the sky that evening, and it was magical! And you guessed it, after that I stared at it all week before going back and adding the marsh the following weekend.
The painting step continued for five months for the Wonder collection! I focused on one painting at a time, before moving on to the next one with commissions sprinkled in between.
5. Take Photos
As I near the end of a collection I start planning the photoshoot. I knew I wanted to release the Wonder collection in March, so I scheduled a photoshoot with Allison Nichole Photography in January. You can read a detailed account about the photoshoot and the steps involved with planning it here!
I like bringing in an outside expert when I can. It allows me to focus on the art and let the photographer focus on showing you an accurate representation of each piece and what it looks like hung up! That way you can imagine what it would look like in your own home!
6. Naming and Website Prep
I typically name paintings last, I like to sit with them a little while first. My husband is great to run ideas by and he helps me simplify the names. My initial ideas tend to be pretty lengthy! Once I’ve decided all of the names, I create the listings for each painting on my website and get everything ready for the release!
Photo by Allison Nichole Photography
7. Wiring
Next up, Brantley and I add the wires to the back of each panel. That way they are ready to hang in your home! (Brantley jokes that this is his contribution to each Sarah Jane Tart original!)
8. Installation
In this case I had a solo show lined up, so we loaded the car and took all of the paintings to Urban Durham Realty to get them installed. (Again, my OCD came in when it came to packing the car to get the paintings there safely!)
I had already visited the space, so I had an idea about how I wanted to display the collection. So on the day of the installation Brantley and I were able to get right to work!
9. Release!
After six months of work these babies went live on March 6 for you to purchase for your home!
I’m always excited and nervous on launch day. After so much work it’s a bit weird to be done with a collection! The release went smoothly, and then we had a fun opening reception the following morning at Urban Durham Realty.
Of course the show didn’t stay up as long as planned because of COVID-19 and the stay-at-home order. But that meant that I got to deliver the paintings that sold in the first month to their new homes, which is the best part!