TANYA FREEDMAN

“Love what you do” isn’t just a motto this artist, author, entrepreneur, and mentor has on her business card, it’s what she lives and breathes.

Thanks to her latest endeavours, including a recently released book titled Start & Run an Art Teaching Business, Richmond Hill, Ont. resident Tanya Freedman now continues to guide other creative souls to follow their dreams.

“My grandfather-in-law said to me, ‘Don’t ever hide your talents; share them,” said Freedman. “I believe God gives us guiding messages through people and other things around us, and I realized I had some role to play in helping others through my talents thanks to God.”

The inspiration for Freedman’s book came from her own experiences running the successful Jolly Good Art School out of her home studio for about six years. She shared her passion for art with children and adults, as well as children with special needs.

While her book is geared toward those interested in teaching art, the majority of the content is transferable to any type of creative business. She covers every aspect of running a business, including networking, organizing classes, business plans, marketing, legal issues, and becoming an entrepreneur.

There are also numerous sample forms, exercises, and resources throughout the book, as well as in an included CD-ROM. The CD also features more than 50 images of paintings and other works of art produced by some of Freedman’s former students, as well as her own paintings. 

Born in Russia and later raised in England, Freedman grew up watching her parents run a clothing business. Having been surrounded by entrepreneurs, she knew one day she’d become one, too.

Her love for painting and art surfaced at age 10 and has blossomed since. Having also had a passion for creative writing, she also enjoyed penning poetry and romance novels

Later, she created, exhibited, and sold her own art, including paintings and greeting cards. 

After moving to Canada with her husband, Austin, an industrial pharmacist, in 1999, Freedman managed a business importing English antiques. 

About a year later, her career direction took another turn following a Shabbat dinner she attended at a rabbi’s home. The rabbi’s wife admired one of Freedman’s greeting cards that she gave her and asked if she would teach art at a local community centre. 

Although she didn’t have teaching experience, Freedman agreed to take on the opportunity.

“My attitude is always I can do,” said Freedman.

She soon founded the Jolly Good Art School. As a result of word of mouth and customers’ requests, she also ended up giving art demonstrations and classes at local birthday parties, summer camps, and schools.

Some of her students went on to win awards and showcase their work at local art exhibits.

“Writing and art feed my soul,” said Freedman. “It’s like a spiritual reenergizing. I’m able to express how I feel and how I see nature and things around me.

“And when I’m teaching, I like that I can bring that out in my students. I can draw from them their own creativity and their own talents. It was a very rewarding experience for me.”

Freedman’s daughter, Natalia, now 11, had assisted her a bit with the classes. Inspired by the experience, Natalia had created a local crafts for charity event to raise money for programs for children with autism and childhood cancers. 

Little did Freedman know her life would soon take an unexpected turn when cancer entered into her own family.

In 2003, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She came to Canada to be with her daughter and recuperate. 

“When I watched my mother go through the cancer and depression as a cause of the illness,” reminisced Freedman, “I said to myself that if I don’t pursue my other dream of writing and getting published now, when will I?”

As a result, Freedman stopped running the art school near the end of 2005 and began working on her writing full-time. She soon received a contract for her book and set out to complete it.

But on Mother’s Day Weekend last year, just before her 43^rd birthday, Freedman received the same diagnosis. Despite the treatments she had to undergo, she was determined to maintain her goals and continued working on the book. 

By her birthday this year, Freedman had completely recovered from the cancer. Looking back, she said she realized the illness actually served as a “wakeup call” to set her on her next path.

Freedman now devotes most of her time to writing and mentoring others pursuing creative endeavours. She also tries to balance her busy schedule with activities such as yoga and meditation, and she is an active member of Toastmasters, a non-profit organization aimed at helping individuals hone their public speaking and leadership skills.

Throughout this year and the next, Freedman will be providing workshops and presentations based on what she has learned through her own experiences as an entrepreneur and mentor at various locations, including Seneca College and the University of Toronto, where her book will be part of the course material. She said she is very open to sharing what she knows and assisting others on their paths.

“People really don’t know how much help there is around them if they would only ask,” said Freedman. “People come to me and are shocked at how much I share. Some people think maybe because someone is successful or famous he would be too busy to talk to them.

“But if you don’t ask you don’t get. Networking has been everything for me. Even mentors have good mentors.”

While being an entrepreneur comes with various challenges, Freedman encourages those considering going that route to explore their options. “If it’s a creative business – or anything that has nagged them for ages – they owe it to themselves to at least do a little research. Even if you don’t think you’ve got what it takes, or the money or time, look around you for resources.

“If you’re passionate about something, you will excel in that.”

For more information visit www.tanyafreedman.com.