I’m getting ready for a shop update with new watercolor artwork next week, and I thought it would be interesting to share a behind-the-scenes look at my process. From planning the paintings, to listing them on my website, to packaging and shipping once they're purchased, I’ll walk you through how a piece or collection goes from an initial idea to being available for sale. Whether you’re a customer interested in my creative process or an artist looking for insight into how another creator works, I hope you enjoy learning more about how I bring my art to your doorstep.
Planning and Ideas
I'm never short on ideas. Like many artists, I often find myself wanting to paint so many different things that it can be tough to narrow down what to focus on. I'll admit, planning ahead is something I struggle with—I tend to be a bit of a mood painter. I want to create what inspires me in the moment, which can make it challenging to prepare seasonal artwork in advance or coordinate marketing efforts before a release. While I’m working towards being more organized and planning ahead, I’m not quite there yet. For example, I'm still working on fall-themed art with less than a week before my next collection goes live. I also have plans for another mini shop update just a couple of weeks later, and I’m still creating pieces for that release as well. Although I work better under a deadline and this spontaneous approach suits me, I’m making an effort to be more intentional and stay ahead with my marketing and art planning.
When I take the time to plan ahead, I focus on the seasons and occasions when I want to launch a shop update. Fall is my favorite season—I love everything cozy, autumn-inspired, and book-related—so I typically plan an autumn collection that blends fall themes with bookish art. I also enjoy creating holiday and Christmas-themed pieces, so those are the two main collections I prepare for each year. Throughout the year, I’m always saving reference photos from sites like Unsplash, Pixabay, and Free Reference Photos for Artists Facebook pages. These are some of my go-to sources for finding images that are legally safe to use for artwork. As each season approaches, I start painting based on the reference photos I’ve collected, choosing ones that excite me and fit the upcoming collection’s theme. I prefer to use a coordinated color palette for each release, but I also select colors that best suit each individual piece—so sometimes the collection looks especially cohesive, and other times, each painting stands out on its own.
Scanning, Matting and Photographing
Once I have several watercolor paintings ready to go, I begin to work on scanning, matting and photographing each piece. I scan each piece of art using an Epson V600 Photo Scanner. The quality of scans is amazing, and it allows me to create prints of each piece in a variety of sizes. Most of my original art is small enough to fit on the scanner bed, so I haven't experimented much with scanning multiple parts of a larger watercolor painting yet. Photographing the final piece is also an option, but I find it very difficult to get a good, high-quality image to use for my prints. My prints have definitely improved in quality since I've started using this scanner. I can create prints that are larger than the original because I'm able to scan them at a higher DPI.
When I'm painting, I usually take photos and record short videos to use for content marketing. Afterwards, I make sure to photograph the finished artwork for my website listings. I always mat each piece before photographing it, because I believe a mat gives my art a more professional and polished appearance, whether it's on display at local art fairs, in shops, or online. While framing is a personal preference—everyone has their own style and frames can make shipping more expensive—a mat offers a touch of protection and a clean, finished look without the added cost or weight of a frame. This way, my watercolor paintings arrive ready to frame, making it easy for buyers to display them however they like.
I use a plain white posterboard backdrop when photographing each completed watercolor painting, so I can have plain images with a focus on the art. I also edit the photos onto assorted frame mockups in Canva, so I can share how each piece will look once framed on a wall.
Adding to Inventory
Before I list each painting on my website, I add them to my inventory spreadsheet. I do this to stay better organized, so I can keep track of what I have created, what is selling well, and to have an accurate account of everything when tax time arrives. I currently use spreadsheets from Paper and Spark. Side note: if you are a small business owner, looking for some great spreadsheets to help track inventory and bookkeeping expenses, these are wonderful! I use them to track all of my materials before painting, and then to track completed paintings, prints and more. I am not well versed in spreadsheets enough to create my own with all the formulas I need, so her spread sheets have been a big help in that area!
Adding to my Website
Once I have all the paintings matted, photographed and added to inventory, I create the listings for my website. I make sure to include as much information as possible; the size(s), materials used, etc, as well as including several images of the painting to allow each person to get a feel for the painting without being able to see it in person. I create the listings in the days/weeks leading up to the shop update, using a draft setting. I don't want to accidentally release the paintings and prints too early!
When release day arrives, I convert all the draft listings to active listings, and I add a password to my website. I then send an email to those who subscribe to my email newsletter, Studio Snippets, to let them know that the shop update is live and let them know that they have 3 hours of early access to shop with the exclusive password. Once the time comes for the general release, I remove the password to my website, and everyone has access to shop. This way, my email subscribers have first dibs on any original paintings that are being released.
Packing and Shipping
I currently pack my art in 1 inch thick cardboard boxes. I wrap the matted paintings with tissue paper and add more paper to fill in the empty space behind and in front of the watercolor painting/print. Orders are shipped within several days of placing the order, except for print pre-orders which are shipped within several days of receiving my print order. I typically order prints in bulk whenever possible, to save on shipping costs. I use a professional printing service to make sure I have high-quality prints available. I use print pre-orders during my shop updates to get a good idea of which prints my customers are most interested in, so I can be sure to keep favorites on hand. I have often found that the paintings that I love the most are not the same as the ones my customers love.
Rinse and Repeat
Once a release is done, I begin working on the next release. Unless I have a specific collection in mind, I just begin painting things that I want to paint and work on ideas for a future collection. I also take watercolor commissions, so I am typically working on those throughout the process as well. I currently have a small, mini shop update scheduled just after my current shop update, followed by a holiday shop update shortly after that. Then I will take a break for a bit and just experiment with some ideas. I hope you enjoyed this little peek into my process. Please let me know if you have any questions about a particular part of the process. I'd love to share more.
