Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Hoerster.
Hi Kim, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up taking weekly lessons in both art and competitive gymnastics. In 1977, I began my studies at Sam Houston State University (SHSU) as an art major and worked as a lifeguard. It was not uncommon to find me doing back handsprings and tumbling in the grassy areas around the pool. I was approached by a mother who asked if I would teach gymnastics to her two daughters. I was paying my own way through college plus loved gymnastics, I had no idea that saying yes to that opportunity would put me on a path for the next 40+ years. During my freshman year, I changed my major to dance which furthered my career as a choreographer and gymnastics coach. Before I knew it, I had opened three gymnastics schools and performed as a dancer in four college musicals as a full-time college student! The opportunities were clearly God, not me, opening the doors.
My husband, Gerry, and I were college sweethearts at Sam Houston State University. Gerry played four years of football for SHSU and we married soon after his graduation. A few short years later, he joined me to help manage the gymnastics schools, and together we expanded the business to seven locations. Over 45 years and raising two sons, we sold each gymnastics school. We now take great joy in spending time with our grandchildren and our hobbies—training birddogs and quail hunting for Gerry, and art for myself.
Many doors have opened for me and still do. Over the years I’ve learned that prayer is crucial if wanting to be led down the right path, even without knowing exactly what’s on the other side, Psalm 23:3. It doesn’t take long to realize when my path is not from God—I’ve learned that lesson the hard way many times. After almost 30 years since discontinuing my SHSU art, I picked it up again in 2004. I took lessons at several art studios—eager to learn—then enrolled in art classes at Austin Community College (ACC). At ACC, I took nine college level I & II courses in Drawing, Life Drawing, Painting, Design, and Watercolor. I took Art History in Florence, Italy at the Florence University of the Arts. I am continually amazed at how God has blessed my life with two passions—from my childhood to now, it’s always been two subjects, art and gymnastics.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I am passionate about teaching. I love seeing my students progress and find joy in their work. My studio struggled with the challenges presented by Covid and I had to pivot to online learning. I taught online for two years during this period and found it extremely rewarding to connect with students from California, Arkansas, and all over Texas. However, upon returning to in-studio lessons, I was shocked to find that students were not able to achieve even the most basic skills. It became clear to me that the absence of a teacher’s guiding eye and encouragement was a significant factor in their challenges. That’s when I dropped online teaching and went back to in-studio only so my students could find both success and joy in the process. Wanting each student to find their individual success stems from the coach in me. It’s so much more fun when you have a room full of people learning together and students can get help from a teacher who is in-person. The progress of mastering skills happens dramatically faster in person versus online. I am not against online learning, but I feel that achievement is more successful if in-person learning comes first so bad habits don’t form.
Another challenge my studio has faced post-Covid is marketing. Marketing in-studio lessons to people with an online mindset, instead off coming to the studio in-person has proven to be difficult. Word of mouth has been a primary driver for my class growth for many years. Paid marketing for a small studio quickly becomes cost prohibitive.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Teaching art feels natural to me after many years of coaching. I opened my art studio in September 2012 and I teach adult drawing and watercolor painting courses. My studio is very spacious and is located upstairs in the Georgetown Acrotex Gymnastics building.
My favorite medium is watercolor and I love teaching beginners how attainable it is with simplified techniques. Also, painting watercolor “en plein air” (painting outdoors) has become a passion of mine for the adventure, travel, and social connections it provides.
I also love attending watercolor workshops with the mindset of “never stop learning.” I have participated in many Plein Air events including the Adirondacks, Banff, Cuba, Door County, WI, Fall Color Week in Maine, New Zealand, Winter Escape in St. Augustine, FL and more. For the last 9 years, I have also attended Art In The Open (AITO) Ireland, Europe’s largest plein air event with 200+ artists from around the world.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is to stay flexible and be open to pivots. Creativity isn’t a straight line—both my art and my studio have grown when I embraced unexpected opportunities, adapted to changing needs, and learned from setbacks. Being willing to shift direction keeps my work fresh, strengthens the community I serve, and ultimately makes the studio more resilient and relevant.
In the last six months of 2025, I continually prayed, asking the Lord for his promised guidance regarding how to pivot my studio. I leaned heavy with anticipation on Psalm 23:3 “He guides me along the right path…”
Pricing:
- Pricing is per lesson, but bundled as a whole course. Not offered as standalone lessons.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.KimHoerster.com
- Facebook: fhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064592115534#
- Other: ArtseaStudioGtown@gmail.com
