Episode 138: Beyond an Educator Business: A Soulful Conversation with the Remarkable League 2025

I know the feeling of building an art business from the ground up. It’s thrilling, scary, and sometimes, if we’re honest, a bit overwhelming to imagine turning your real passions and creative strengths into not just a side hustle, but a truly sustainable business. If you’re like me and so many of the Remarkable League members, you may have wondered: Is it possible to do what you love, all while staying true to who you are, and make a good living at the same time?

I’m here to tell you, yes, it is! In today’s blog, inspired by Episode 138 of the Made Remarkable podcast, I want to walk you through some of the powerful lessons we’ve learned on our journey to going “beyond the educator business.” This is for you, whether you’re looking to expand your income with courses and memberships or simply trying to build a creative brand that feels like home.

If you’re ready for a fresh start, craving authenticity, or want to start thinking like a business, that’s exactly what this episode (and this blog) is about!

Let’s Ditch Perfection—It’s Time to Get Whole!

A running theme in this powerful conversation was the idea of integration. So many of us are taught to compartmentalize—artist here, business owner there, teacher somewhere else. We worry that if we put it all out there (the art, the teaching, the messy bits, the fun), we might not be taken seriously. But, as I shared on the show:

“I’m finding all the pieces of me and putting it back together again to be whole, to not just be one thing... I have been shunning my artist side for the last couple of years. I’ve not really fully embraced the things that I’ve taught — which is be more of you.”

You don’t need to hide the parts of you that make you, well, YOU. Your wholeness is your superpower, both in your life and your business.

Meet the Remarkable League – Real Stories, Real Inspiration

Want a taste of what’s possible when women step fully into their creative voice? Here are some highlights and takeaways from the powerful League members featured in the episode:

1. Tish Reed – Play, Permission, and Authenticity

• Known for playful florals and landscapes that invite freedom, not conformity

• “It’s really through play that [you] can experience your own creative voice at a deeper level.”

• Dream? To run courses and a creative hub called Create to Breathe, leaving behind traditional gallery work.

2. Tania Ahmed – Telling Your Story Through Art

• UK-based mixed media artist and serial gel printer.

• “Perfection is overrated... most things that are shared on social media is just a highlight reel.”

• Found a breakthrough (and a viral post!) by infusing her personal heritage and family memories into art.

• Her new course, Story Printer, is about bringing your story front and center in your creative process.

3. Susan Yeates – Mindful Sketching, Community, and Empowerment

• Fine art printmaker turned sketchbook challenge leader (and published author!)

• Launched the annual 30 Day Sketchbook Challenge and Inspire membership.

• “You don’t have to be sketching for a masterpiece. It’s about expressing yourself, finding wellness, and learning to enjoy the journey.”

• Bringing all her facets together, yoga, plants, and art, into a new online retreat, Inspired by Nature.

4. Margie Woods – Art for Healing and Wholeness

• 18 years of teaching women using art for self-care and healing, now stepping confidently into the online space.

• “I realized after grad school that art was my lifeline... It kept me connected with myself and regulated.”

• Focused on joyful, healing retreats and group coaching, grounded in play and authenticity.

5. Amy K. Murray – Embracing Change for Joy

• A lifelong teacher, now stepping out of school education to build a business supporting women in their creative rediscovery.

• “There are so many of us with high schoolers or empty nests, and we’re asking: Who am I? Where’s my creative soul?”

• Her dream: To create a legacy—and a lakeside art retreat—by following her own whimsical, joy-filled creative path.

5 Game-Changers to Go Beyond the Traditional Educator Model

From the wisdom of these amazing women, here are some truths you might need to hear today:

1. You Do NOT Have to Do It Alone
Seeking mentorship, community, or coaching is not a sign of failure. It’s the “cheat code” for moving through doubts and finding clarity faster.

2. You Can’t “Should” Your Way to Success
Let go of the outside noise telling you the “right way” to build a brand. Focus on the one thing you truly love, and you’ll become a magnet for your ideal clients.

3. Selling is Serving
If you believe deeply in your offer, be it a course, membership, or artwork, selling is an act of connection and service.
Tish put it beautifully:

“It’s not about selling something; I’m just sharing something I’m really excited about.”

4. Burnout is Not a Badge of Honor
Hustle culture? Hard pass. It’s okay (and smart!) to honor your season, set boundaries, and build at a sustainable pace.

5. Give Yourself Permission to Be Big
Ambition is not a dirty word! You are allowed to want financial abundance, creative fulfillment, AND to leave a legacy for your family. Margie said it perfectly:

“I’m ready to let myself be the biggest version of myself so that I can contribute to the world and also give back to myself.”

How to Start Your Remarkable Transformation Today

Ready to build that whole creative business? Here are steps you can put into action right now:

Write Your Story (Literally!)

• What parts of yourself have you been shunning, hiding, or downplaying?

• How could those very elements become the heartbeat of your brand?

Connect & Co-Create

• Join a community (like the Remarkable League!) or seek artists walking this path alongside you.

Commit to Play

• Block time for creative exploration without expectation of outcome.

• Try Tish’s “permission to play” exercise in your next painting session!

Celebrate Your Wins—Big AND Small

• Did your Instagram post connect deeply, even with just one person? THAT’S impact.

• Sold your first course, or filled your first class? Celebrate it—like Tania’s 75-student launch breakthrough!

Reframe Selling as Sharing

• Make a list of all the reasons your offer is truly needed by your people.

• Practice “shut up and take my money” moments in your own life—and notice it feels good to be sold to when the offer fits!

You Can Go Beyond “Just an Educator”—Are You Ready?

If you relate to these stories and crave a new chapter that blends all of you, your art, your teaching, your business brain, your heart—I invite you to take your first step today.

Want to be the first to know about upcoming opportunities, masterclasses, and behind-the-scenes changes in my own creative journey? Hop on my waitlist here!

The more successful, whole-hearted artists we have, the better the world will be. You in? Let’s embrace the remarkable together—2024 is your year to shine.

Follow Kellee on her Instagram account @kelleewynne

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Click here for the full written transcript