My High School Art Teacher Crushed my Creativity for 15 Years

When you told about having trolls yourself, I was pretty shocked. For my life, I cannot imagine someone with your magnificent talent and quiet, kind spirit having a troll. I was so happy to hear you say you don't give them even one second of thought. You are so much appreciated. Thank you.

Your recovery from that abusive nincompoop is inspiring. Your art is magnificent, and your attitude makes you a beautiful person who has blessed countless artists of all ages. You shall forever tower above that little pipsqueak!

Louise, my heart hurts for the damage your art teacher did to you- but you have overcome that and are a wonderful artist- thank you for sharing the life lessons you gained through that painful experience

My 8th grade teacher accused me of tracing a rabbit I had drawn in front of the whole class. It was mortifying. I didn’t show any of my artwork to anyone for years!! So glad my husband surprised me with watercolor classes for my birthday! Enjoy and am amazed by your beautiful art!!

This is a painting of you! You plunged past the cruel containment of the glass and plain boring gray—and became a passionate hot pink watercolor—surrounded by refreshing water—free to flow and grow! Love your heart! 🩷

Similar experience. My year 8 art teacher laughed when I showed him my work and said “it looks like a child did it”. I was so embarrassed I didn’t attempt again til I was in my late 40s. I found your classes on utube and picked up a paint brush Thank you so much. You are a great teacher and I’m enjoying art again.

My kindergarten teacher crushed my creativity for over 30 years. Thank you for this.

For me it was my mother. She would compare my (elementary school for context) stuff to other kids and ask me why mine could t look like the other kids. I was so young, I didn’t really know why mine looked messy. I just figured I sucked in general. That’s just one of many incidents. This hit home and I thank you so much for this video!

This is such a valuable post! As a retired K-12 art instructor, I am horrified that an art teacher, of all people, would do this to a student!! I have heard stories like this from my own students in the past. You are such a wonderful artist and I respect and appreciate your time and your wisdom! Thank you for posting !

I've heard several artist encouraging others to not be affected by negative feedback. But your advice is the best by far. Not only do you say that, you give countermeasures that we can use. I'm going to use them. Thank you so much. You are just a jewel.❤

As a working professional in the games industry these videos have done more for me than any conference speaker ever has. I just wanna say thank you Louise x

Please let me tell you that I keep a picture on my office wall of a painting I did in high school! At 83 I see it every day, and it reminds me that I always loved what I did! I was fortunate that no one told me it wasn’t good! I’m telling you that your art is beautiful! Thanks, Karen Dirmish who loves your art and your stories!🙋‍♀️🌈

Louise, your story put me in tears, both for you and for me. First I just want to apologize on behalf of the old bald curmudgeon who thought he’d randomly devastate a young impressionable and blooming artist. His words and actions are shameful and abhorrent behavior for a supposedly revered art teacher. Obviously he was unhappy about himself and felt the need to project his inadequacy onto you, I suspect he felt intimidated by your progress and wanted to slap you down for fear you’d soon surpass him. He may not have admitted his harmful behavior but I’m apologizing now for his pathetic lack of tact. You’re a wonderful artist and he could never measure up to you. I had many similar humiliations in my elementary school days, in grades 3-5 I had a secondary “enrichment” teacher as part of an accelerated gifted program I was in, and this man couldn’t stand me, was always hurling insults at me and many other precocious classmates, and it felt horrible then and still feels really yucky now. I’m so sorry that some teachers get away with heinous behavior, that children of any age are subjected to such atrocities. But!! I do want to celebrate you, for overcoming that experience and for consistently making beautiful artwork and for teaching others in a most loving manner how to achieve greatness. If only the “adults” in the room during our childhoods could have recognized the amazing potential in their students. You are a HUGE inspiration to me and so many others. Thank you. ❤⭐️

Thank you for sharing your story. I had a similar experience with my 8th grade art teacher. Her name was Mrs. Gross. She was a very stern woman. She never smiled. She never offered encouragement or kindness. One day, I was drawing in class and in one swift motion she grabbed my drawing, crumpled it up and threw it in the trash. I will never forget that moment but I don’t live in it now. My husband is very supportive of me and my art and I joined a group of Plein Air artists about 5 years ago. They have become wonderful and very supportive friends.

What a horrific experience! I would like to add that the opposite can happen as well. I had a 5th grade teacher when I was 11 who praised my work in watercolor and asked me to help other students with their work. Being a shy person it was a tremendous confidence booster. I’m now 70 and have gone back to doing art and loving it!

Late in life I came to the understanding that hypercritical comments come from people with their own inner pain. Words matter. They hurt innocent people the most. Your beautiful soul shines through your videos. Bless you.

What a terrible thing to do to a child. Shame on him. I'm sure you were a wonderful art teacher and that your students were fortunate to have you.

I had a very similar experience in high school art class. I could always draw fairly well - it came a bit naturally. this particular art teacher, a woman, introduced us to painting. One day she walked by me as I worked and said, “too bad you can’t paint as well as you draw.” All I heard was “you can’t paint.” It never occurred to me to tell her it was her job to teach. It was years before I took painting classes but I came across a wonderful woman in my community who did know how to teach. I’m sorry for you and anyone else who has had that experience. Julia Cameron calls that a shadow artist. Someone who is unhappy with their work and tried to stifle others. She also says that when asked to draw, most adults draw at grade school level because that is when they are told they have no ability.

That insensitive bully man should see your work today! Each and every one of your paintings are jaw dropping in their beauty. A book… a book! Each chapter featuring a subject… animals, leaves, flowers, portraits, etc. Some of your work reminds me of Andrew Wyeth’s… my favorite artist. ❤

You two are a hoot! The best I can say about that art teacher is "what a jerk!!" I had a sister like that. Some people like to se you suffer. But we know different now, don't we?!! The jar is fab, too.