Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Andrea Cermanski. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Andrea thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I spent 18 years as a public school teacher, working my way up to what felt like the perfect position – teaching English, Photography, and Art at the high school level. My last nine years were in a dream art teaching job that I genuinely loved. But when Covid hit, everything shifted. Like many people, I started questioning the path I was on.
Returning to the classroom post-Covid was incredibly challenging, and I found myself at a crossroads. I realized I wanted to focus entirely on creating art and teaching people who shared my passion for abstract painting – those who were truly excited to be there, rather than students who were just fulfilling a requirement.
So I took the leap. I rented a beautiful space in downtown Santa Fe where I operated my own gallery and taught painting classes and retreats. The business grew beyond what I’d imagined – I even had other instructors teaching for me. It was thriving until April 2024, when my landlords decided to sell the building and I had to relocate.
Rather than see this as a setback, I embraced the opportunity to create something even more intentional. I moved my operations to my home studio, where I continue making art and teaching. I’ve also built a YouTube channel that’s been monetized for about a year now, adding another revenue stream to the mix.
What I love most about being self-employed is that it requires the same creativity I bring to my art. I get to constantly brainstorm new ways to generate income from my talents – whether that’s selling my knowledge through classes and workshops, my artwork to collectors, or content through digital platforms. Every challenge becomes a creative problem to solve.
The journey has been incredibly fulfilling, though I’d be lying if I said there weren’t stressful moments – especially those early days when making rent each month felt uncertain. But I wouldn’t trade this path for anything. I wake up excited about my work, and I’m fortunate to be well-compensated for doing what I love.
Looking back, I didn’t really have major missteps, but my biggest milestones came from investing in courses and mentors who helped me level up my business. This was hard to justify at first when profit margins were tight, but it was transformative. If I could go back, I’d spend less money on advertising and invest more heavily in education and mentorship from the very beginning. That’s where the real growth happened – learning from people who had already built successful creative businesses and could show me the way forward.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My journey into the art world began with a single college painting class that completely changed my life’s trajectory. I fell so deeply in love with the process of creating that I knew art would be central to everything I did moving forward. While I studied art history in college, my heart was always with the hands-on creative process, and I’ve been making art ever since that first transformative class nearly three decades ago.
My career has been dedicated to art in various forms – I spent 18 years as a public school teacher, sharing my passion with students while continuing to develop my own artistic practice. During my last nine years in education, I had what many would consider a dream job teaching high school art, but when Covid shifted everything, I realized I wanted to focus entirely on reaching people who were genuinely excited about learning to paint.
Today, I teach abstract painting through multiple channels – my YouTube channel, in-person classes, and workshops from my Santa Fe studio. What I bring to my students is a unique combination of formal education and real-world experience: a Master’s in Art Education, a Bachelor’s in Art History, 30 years of teaching experience, and nearly 15 years of professional art sales. This background allows me to speak to both the technical and business sides of art-making, whether someone wants to paint for pure joy or build a professional practice.
My teaching approach addresses several key challenges people face. For beginners, I solve the intimidation factor – that voice that says “I’m not artistic” or “I don’t know where to start.” I break down abstract painting into approachable steps that build confidence quickly. For more advanced students, I help with the business side: how to price work, find galleries, build a collector base, and navigate the professional art world. But honestly, what sets me apart is my genuine belief that everyone can benefit from making art, regardless of their goals or skill level.
What I’m most proud of is the sheer number of lives I’ve touched through art education – we’re talking thousands of students over the years. This reach is incredibly fulfilling because my mission goes far beyond just teaching painting techniques. I’m passionate about getting more people to paint, period. Whether someone wants to sell their work professionally or simply needs a creative outlet after a stressful day, I want to help them access the profound benefits that art-making provides.
The science backs this up – art creation has been proven to relax our nervous system, reduce cortisol levels, and increase overall happiness. In our device-heavy world, painting offers something invaluable: it gets us off our screens and reconnects us with our creative selves. It’s meditative, grounding, and deeply satisfying in ways that passive consumption simply can’t match.
I care equally about the person who’s never held a paintbrush and the emerging artist ready to show in galleries. My goal is to reach as many people as possible with quality instruction from someone who truly understands both the craft and the business. Whether you’re looking for stress relief, creative fulfillment, or professional development, I want to meet you where you are and help you discover what’s possible when you give yourself permission to create.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Continuous education has been absolutely crucial to my success as an entrepreneur. I believe staying current on trends and constantly expanding your business knowledge is non-negotiable when you’re building a creative business.
Several resources have significantly shaped my thinking and philosophy. Books like “Profit First” by Mike Michalowicz, “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki, and “Story Brand” by Donald Miller completely shifted how I approach business finances and storytelling. These fundamentals gave me the foundation I needed to think like a business owner, not just an artist.
For ongoing education, I’m a devoted listener of Amy Porterfield’s podcast, Jenna Kutcher’s podcast, and the Launch Lounge Podcast. These shows keep me connected to current marketing strategies and remind me that I’m not alone in navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship.
But the real game-changers were the deeper investments I made in formal programs. Amy Porterfield’s Digital Course Academy was transformative – it taught me how to package my knowledge and teaching into scalable digital products. That program literally changed how I think about delivering value to my students beyond just in-person instruction.
Being part of Emily Hirsch’s programs was equally impactful, particularly for understanding how to market authentically as a creative entrepreneur. Her approach to advertising and audience building helped me reach people who genuinely wanted what I was offering, rather than just casting a wide net and hoping for the best.
What I’ve learned is that investing in education – especially from people who’ve already built successful businesses – pays dividends far beyond the initial cost. These mentors and programs didn’t just teach me tactics; they shifted my entire mindset about what was possible with my art and teaching practice.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson I had to unlearn was that I could do everything myself. As a school teacher for 18 years, I was used to operating as a one-woman show. Sure, I followed district standards, but I created my own curriculums, managed my timelines, handled classroom management, graded papers – essentially everything was up to me. That mindset of total self-reliance became deeply ingrained.
When I transitioned to entrepreneurship, I initially brought that same approach with me. I thought I needed to handle every aspect of my business personally – from creating art and teaching classes to writing blog posts, managing social media, sending emails, updating my website, handling customer service, and managing finances. I wore that “doing it all” mentality like a badge of honor.
But here’s what I learned: while that approach might work when you’re employed by someone else, it’s actually a limitation when you’re building your own business. To scale and truly succeed as an entrepreneur, you must be willing to get help.
The turning point came when I hired a Virtual Assistant for just 5 hours per week. This might sound small, but it was huge for my business. She helps write blogs, craft emails, and create social media posts – all the content marketing that keeps my business visible and consistent but was eating up hours of my time every week. Having her support means I can focus on what I do best: creating art and teaching, while knowing my content strategy stays strong and consistent.
My advice to any creative entrepreneur: Stop thinking you can do everything, and hire out help as soon as you can afford it. Even just a few hours a week of assistance can free you up to focus on the high-value activities that actually grow your business. Your time is your most valuable resource – use it wisely.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.santafepaintingworkshops.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/santafepaintingworkshops/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andreajcermanski
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@andreacermanskipainting

Image Credits

Audrey Derell, Sheena Chakeres