From Art Teacher to Full-Time Artist: How Paula Freeman Rebuilt Her Life, Her Health & Her Dream
Release Date: 12/16/2025
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info_outlineIn this powerful and emotional episode of Fanatical DreamHer, host April Kemp sits down with coastal artist Paula Freeman, whose journey from longtime art teacher to thriving full-time artist is a testament to courage, reinvention, and trusting your gut.
After twenty years of teaching, raising three children in two years, and giving everything she had to her students, Paula reached a breaking point when stress and illness forced her to reevaluate her life. What came next was terrifying—but transformational. She stepped away from the classroom, reclaimed her health, rediscovered her joy, and began building Paula Freeman Art into a flourishing creative business rooted in ocean-inspired work, meaningful relationships, and relentless determination.
Whether you are navigating a major life transition, dreaming of turning your passion into your profession, or learning to listen to your inner voice, Paula’s story will encourage you to be brave enough to choose yourself.
Key Discussion Points (with time stamps):
- (01:43) Early love of art—drawing at her grandmother’s kitchen counter
- (02:13) Choosing between marine biology and art school; VCU acceptance against all odds
- (03:49) 20 years of teaching: from alternative schools to K–12 art education
- (04:42–06:45) Motherhood, burnout, and serious health concerns that forced her to stop teaching
- (07:37) The moment she finally chose herself—“My gut was saying you have to make a change.”
- (08:30–09:55) Quietly reaching out to a coastal shop and the unexpected validation that changed everything
- (10:47) The hardest part of becoming a business owner: the business side of art
- (11:21) Learning to build systems, plan her days like lesson plans, and invest in what she’s not good at
- (12:20) Her husband as truth-teller, coach, and business realist
- (13:27) How one shop became many — and why relationships mattered at every step
- (14:19) Art shows: vulnerability, confidence-building, and learning from customer reactions
- (15:22) Why she returns to ocean themes and how her childhood shaped her artistic voice
- (16:35) Why her winding path was necessary—she wasn’t ready earlier, but she is now
- (17:29) Milestones: the first shop, building her website, and investing in a massive industrial printer
- (18:57) Diversifying: prints, puzzles, wholesale, and partnering with fulfillment companies
- (19:20–21:16) The importance of community and an artist friend who “gets it”
- (21:33) Her go-to self-talk on tough days: “You can figure it out.”
- (22:58) Feeling blessed, proud, and grateful as her business grows
- (24:00) Advice for young artists: keep learning, keep trying, put yourself out there, and expect rejection
- (25:11) Reflections on motherhood and raising children to be kind, grounded humans
- (26:52) The difference between a wish and a dream — dreams require investment
- (28:35) Why she believes in helping others and maintaining genuine relationships
Notable Quotes:
- “You can’t have a dream and not work at it.”
- “My gut was saying you have to make a change.”
- “Every sale, every person… is the little bump forward that says it’s going to be OK.”
- “You hire what you’re terrible at first.”
- “You can figure anything out. Just calm down and figure it out.”
- “I wasn’t ready then. But now I have the skill set to make this happen.”
- “Sometimes the bad things are leading up to something wonderful.”
- “Relationships matter. Community matters.”
Takeaways:
- Your body and intuition will tell you when it’s time for a change—listen.
- Reinvention often begins at the hardest moment.
- You do not have to do everything yourself; invest in your weaknesses.
- Consistent work over time is what turns talent into a business.
- Rejection is part of the journey; don’t let it define your story.
- The right people—friends, mentors, partners—can change the direction of your dream.
- Every step of your life prepares you for the dream you are meant to build.
Connect with Guest:
• Website: https://www.paulafreemanart.com/
• Email: paula@paulafreemanart.com
• Instagram: @the_artsyfreeman
Connect with Us:
• Follow April on Instagram: @fanaticaldreamher
• Stay updated on new episodes: https://www.fanaticaldreamher.com/
• Email April: april@fanaticaldreamher.com
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