Start Small, Think Big: Lessons in Marketing from the Classroom to the Real World
A couple decades ago, before “business” and “art” began to share the same space, I, a new art teacher, worked with the high school’s business department to create a brand-new course. It connected the principles of advertising with the creative world of art. That was my starting point in blending the two subjects, and I’ve been bridging those worlds ever since.
Today, I teach advertising and marketing alongside art, showing young entrepreneurs that creativity doesn’t just bring about something beautiful—it’s a skill that can help them network, build a reputation, and earn a living.
Why Marketing Belongs in the Art Room
Artists, whether painters, designers, or innovators, need to know how to market themselves and their work. I help them understand this by teaching with an entrepreneurial mindset, grounded in the realities of profitability and financial sustainability.
For my students, this isn’t a “just for fun” class. It’s an opportunity to build skills that translate into careers in art, design, tech, and beyond. Their parents also begin to see the wide world of innovation and artistry as creative thinkers are now often leading the job market.
A Tool Students Love
One online tool that’s very popular with students is Canva [an easy-to-use online design platform]. I’m surprised by the ease of the program. The amount of work students can put out with speed and good design is amazing, and the opportunities available to them are limitless. The tool is used by seasoned professionals, so that’s just one more connection between the classroom and the business world.” While the “next big thing” will eventually replace it, for now, Canva is a favorite.
Owning a Business To Help Clients Work Through Challenges
In class, I teach students that people go into business for many different reasons. Ultimately, though, their business helps clients work through challenges. So, we start with students’ personal passions—fashion, cars, food, art—and then research the needs and opportunities in those areas for increasing sales and the expansion of new products and markets.
It’s not just about asking, “What can I sell?” It’s about asking, “What fun can I have helping clients meet challenges, and what would my life look like if I did this?”
From there, we work on elevator pitches and one-liners. One method I use is what I call word elimination: write a full paragraph, then work together to delete every unnecessary word until you’ve created the most “cost-effective” sentence possible.
Thinking Big: Goals, Growth, and Exploration
Setting goals is about breaking things down into steps and keeping forward momentum. For young entrepreneurs, exploration often comes from experiences: a field trip, a job shadow, something they saw online, or meeting someone inspiring. Exposure is as important as exploration.
I’ve seen this firsthand in my own business,Creative Synergy. My small paint parties for friends grew into corporate events, neighborhood gatherings, and customer appreciation pop-ups. None of it was in the original plan—it grew organically from relationships and opportunities I was willing to explore.
For Parents and Supporters: What Helps Most
If you’re supporting a young entrepreneur:
- Don’t do it for them, but do applaud their initiative and efforts
- Keep connecting them with people and resources, and while they do their research, show interest and stay engaged
- Help build their confidence so they can take ownership of their ideas.
The most powerful thing you can say to a teen or young adult is: “I believe in you.” And when a young person begins to say, “I believe in me,” they’re ready.
Never Give Up
My one piece of advice for entrepreneurs of any age is: Never give up. If one path is blocked, try another. Go under, over, sideways, backwards, forwards—there’s always a way around if you keep looking. Think differently, see opportunity.
How Smallbizmke’s Emerging Entrepreneurs Zone Fits In
The Emerging Entrepreneurs Zone can help young people believe in themselves, connect with resources, and create a plan—while involving their families in the process. Parents, business owners, and community members all bring valuable connections and perspectives.
With the right encouragement, young entrepreneurs in Milwaukee can start small, think big, and create futures they’re excited to live.
Paula Keene. Artist. Educator. Entrepreneur. Designer. Decorator. She has been a practicing artist for almost 4 decades, an advertising and marketing professional supporting small businesses for over 3 decades, and a very proud public high school art teacher for over 2 decades. In addition, she has firsthand knowledge in running her own successful businesses. Paula teaches classes and hosts paint parties in her private studio.
Invite me, Paula Keene with Creative Synergy, to your next meeting or gathering. Let’s start a conversation. Call me at (262) 443-1665 or email me at [email protected].