This year marks the 10th anniversary of leaving the art room. It was such a big decision to hang up my apron and not see my students each week. And while I was ready to move on with growing Deep Space Sparkle, my love of teaching has never ended.

If you find yourself thinking about retiring from the classroom but aren’t quite ready to leave the art world behind, I get it. In fact, many teachers just like you have found themselves in a similar situation and wondered just how to make this type of transition happen.

Would teaching art classes outside of school earn as much revenue as my salary?

Where would I find students?

Where would I set up classes?

You’re not alone visualizing how it could work.

It might help to see how other art educators just like you, took that first step toward building their own art teaching businesses. I hope this shows that every successful art studio starts with a single moment of saying YES.

Meet Molly: From Dream to 6-Figure Reality

For Molly, an art teacher in Charlottesville, Virginia, opening a brick-and-mortar art studio was a decade-long dream she held close to her heart.

Like many art teachers turned business owners, the creative tasks came easily for Molly but the back-end operations threatened to overshadow her creative vision.

But here’s the impressive part: When she learned how to manage registrations and promotions, she doubled her enrollment goals and surpassed 6-figures in her first year.

Dreams do come true, especially when supported by community and strategy.

Emily’s Story: From Overworked Teacher to Thriving Studio Owner

Imagine working three jobs as a single mom, trying to piece together enough time and income while longing for more moments with your child. That was Emily’s reality one year ago.

Starting in her garage with no business experience, Emily transformed her dream into Hot Potato Art Studio. The best part? She’s making more than she did as a teacher and she’s able to spend more time with her daughter.

Keshet: Growing from Garage Classes to a Flourishing Studio

For five years, Keshet taught summer camps from her garage and a church space, balancing her creative vision with raising teenagers. She grew her business slowly, testing out locations and different offers.

Today, she runs her own brick-and-mortar studio in California, offering everything from birthday parties to after school programs to family art night events with over 200 painters.

3 Powerful Steps to Turn Your Art Teaching Dream into Reality

These ladies didn’t start in perfect studios with waiting lists of students. They started exactly where you might be right now – with a dream and the courage to take the first step.

Let’s transform their experiences into your roadmap for success…

1. Start Small, Dream Big

The Secret No One Tells You: You don’t need a fancy studio or years of business experience to begin. Emily started in her garage as a single mom, and Keshet began with summer camps in borrowed spaces.

How to Take Action Today:

• Transform an under-used space in your home (yes, that cluttered garage counts!)
• Start with just 2-3 students for a weekly art class
• Focus on getting really good at one thing – whether it’s teaching watercolors or crafting the perfect preschool art experience.

Remember: Every successful studio owner started by teaching just one child.

2. Build Your Foundation First

The Truth About Growth: Molly’s journey from dream to 6-figure studio took a decade of preparation – but when she was ready, she soared.

Your Next Steps:

• Create a simple website as a home base for your business (even a Facebook page works!)
• Set up a simple way for families to register and pay (Venmo is perfectly fine to start)
• Learn the basic insurance or legal requirements for teaching art in your area (your local Chamber of Commerce is a great help)
• Start collecting email addresses from interested parents (this will be gold later)

3. Think Outside the Box

Finding the perfect location to teach your classes can really mess with your head, but Keshet proved that magic can happen anywhere – from church spaces to community centers.

Creative Solutions to Try:

• Host pop-up art parties in other people’s homes
• Partner with local coffee shops or libraries for special events
• Transform your patio into an outdoor art paradise
• Remember: “Your perfect teaching space might not look perfect at first”

Ready to Write Your Own Success Story?

I’ve created something special to help you map and plan your art teaching journey. It’s called Your Business Start-Up Guide and it will walk you through how to get started teaching art classes online or in-person.

You’ll learn:

• Discovering how to get started quickly with a trial class
• Planning your ideal space (whatever that looks like!)
• What revenue is possible for the different types of classes
• How to name your business
• A 7-step roadmap to success

Remember: Emily went from working three jobs to “having the time of my life” teaching art. Molly doubled her enrollment goals in her first year. Keshet grew from garage classes to a flourishing studio.

I’d love to hear what ideas you have about starting a business. Sometimes it’s fun to put ideas out there. I know that’s what I still do. Just voice that idea of yours and see what happens!

Share below: Which of these three steps feels most doable for you right now?