Step inside the colorful world of painter Sarah Jane Tart as she shares her inspirations, studio life, and journey as a full-time artist.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your work?
I’m an impressionistic painter, born and raised in North Carolina. I’ve always been interested in art and found my way to painting after college while I was working as a graphic designer.
Now, I’m thrilled to be painting full-time. I work primarily in acrylics, using vivid colors and expressive brushwork to create dreamlike landscapes. I release paintings and prints on my website throughout the year and take a limited number of commissions.
I am extremely grateful to have the kindest art collectors, both near and far. I’m not sure how I got so lucky.
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Of course I love what I do, but it makes it so much sweeter knowing that after a painting leaves my studio, it’s going to someone’s home!
What does your studio look like these days?
I have a home art studio with lots of windows and high ceilings. I paint directly on my wall easel for large works, or at the table in the window for smaller pieces. My Golden Retriever, Rosie, is often snoozing, snuggled on the blue couch in my studio while I’m painting.
Currently, I’m working on a couple of big commissions, both acrylic on linen canvas. I also have an oil painting on my table for an online class I’m taking with Christy M. King. I think it’s important to keep learning, so I try to take at least one class or workshop every year.
Do you have a favorite project from this year?
I worked with Hotel Poseidon Positano, a beautiful, family-run hotel in Italy, to create artwork celebrating their 70th anniversary. It was an extra special collaboration because I actually got to stay at the hotel a few years ago. You can check out that project here.
Do you have any favorite items in your studio that keep you inspired?
I keep a lot of books in the studio, so I can flip through a book about Georgia O’Keefe or Claude Monet, if I’m feeling stuck.
Are you someone who needs peace and quiet when you work—or do you like music, podcasts, or even a little creative chaos?
I typically have something playing in the background while I paint. Either a podcast like Creative Pep Talk, or an audiobook.
Where do you find the most inspiration for your work?
I find inspiration traveling and right here at home. We live on the coast, so I often paint outside by the marsh. Or I’ll go for a walk on the beach to see what ideas the ocean brings.
Recently, I traveled to France where I was an artist-in-residence at Chateau Orquevaux for two weeks. I did some traveling beforehand, exploring the French Riviera, Provence and Paris, which inspired the artwork I created there. This work became my most recent collection of paintings, The French Collection.
Do you sketch first, or dive right in with paint and see where it leads?
I typically sketch first, especially for larger paintings. I always keep a notebook for sketches, thoughts and my running to-do list. Sketching helps me loosen up and settle on an idea or composition, before I dive in.
How do you balance the “making” part with the “business” part of being an artist?
I try to set aside the last week of every month to do my big administrative tasks, like writing my monthly newsletter and bookkeeping. This leaves the rest of my month primarily for artmaking, in addition to filling orders and answering emails.
If I’m about to release a new collection or have an upcoming event, that takes a good chunk of my time to plan and communicate. So there are some longer stretches of time, sometimes two–four weeks that are entirely focused on the business side of things. I feel like it balances out in the end though, and it keeps things interesting!
What advice would you offer someone who’s dreaming of turning their creativity into a business?
Take the business one step at a time, and most importantly keep creating! Good things take time.
Where can people see your work?
You can view my work at www.sarahjanetart.com. You can also make an appointment to visit my art studio in Wilmington, NC, by emailing hello@sarahjanetart.com. There’s nothing like getting to see art in-person!
Interview posted August 2025
Browse through more paintings and inspiration on Create Whimsy.