Worst Art Teahcer Ever!

allowing a crappy teach to stop you or keep you from your art is just wrong study on your own dont take your work to him look for approval in other places like here but also part of being a good artist is being able to take a hit was it dark you have to learn to be your own worst critic if you can look at your work and say honestly to your self this looks good I LIKE IT AND I AM PROUD OF IT who cares what the crappy art teacher said but dont let one asshole stop you from doing something you love

What a dick! Art is subjective, what looks like genius to some looks like a pile of crap to others. The only opinion that really matters is yours.
Is there someone you could complain to about his teaching methods? Maybe another art teacher that you could have a word with?
A lot of art teachers are failed artists themselves, after all if they were any good they'd be doing it themselves right=)

actually Laurel my aunt works as an art teacher and is a respected Vancouver Based artist. I think it depends on the teacher, I would complain to the school about him.

Also have you tried asking him why he is hard on you? Maybe its because he sees your talent and wants you to be at your best.

I said a lot of them, not all;)

That stinks! I know where you are coming from I had a rude art teacher too when I was younger! Mine would say stuff like, "things usually come easy to you right?" insinuating that a certain art project was giving me a hard time, when I thought I was doing pretty well actually. Just take what he says in stride. He is not the say all in art, or your talent. If you don't feel comfortable taking classes from him next year then seek out other opportunities outside of school. Perhaps there is a local studio that gives classes? Or maybe a club?

heather is right, you can always try other places.

Just keep in mind that if you are going to go into fine arts in college, alot of the profs will be like him. You will be expeceted to paint a certain way. It gets very political. Once you graduate you can do your own thing.

I studied photography, and I had to put my own creative thoughts on hold to do what the teachers wanted of me.

I know laurel, it just doesn't write(or read) like the way I wanted to say it

still heart you

Yeah I guess I could've worded it better lol=)

It's such a shame that creativity has to be squashed in order to learn technique. I was lucky, in my school in that they taught you a technique and then let you run with it.

I tend to think teaching art is tough - to be a good art teacher you need to inspire and be willing to nurture creativity and to be that person you probably aren't much of a rules person and not necessarily that good at getting people through the hoops you have to get people through at school like exams, coursework etc.. I know I'm probably making leaps where I shouldn't but my best art teacher was probably not the best teacher in the strict sense of the word. He was amazing but he never seemed comfortable in the role of school teacher and had a breakdown not long after I left school. He's still knocking about but apparently went off and did work in theatre production and lighting. My best memories of him are of him playing Bob Marley really loud and letting me play my Chili Peppers albums and he used to let people smoke in the art cupboard and stay after class or work through the breaks or even skive off from other classes.
I think your teacher probably needs to learn a thing about constructive criticism. He is probably also 'good' at getting people through the school 'sausage machine' so everyone probably comes out passing the course. He probably doesn't get many artists though.
Sorry if this sounds a bit rambling, but what I would suggest is to toe the line at class - i.e. turn up, jump through the hoops and come out with your exams, but it maybe worth looking into something like life classes or another art class with an outside group. I did this and you get to mix with a whole different set of people and get to experiment more and try out different things.
Good luck though and although its hell at the time, school doesn't last forever

Teaching art is very tough. It is not his place to tell you to do something as another classmate is doing or be that rude to you. Art is exactly what you think. Your perspective and creativeness. I had an art teacher the exact same. I complained to the school not much was done because she was leaving the next year anyways. It is still good to go to the school and tell them your issue. You never know. Though then they may bring you both into the office to have a conversation so you would aslo have to be ready for that scenario too. Or just stick it out as long as you are gettin good grades in it expecially since its only an elective class in most schools you dont have to take it even though you love it. I took art classes all 3 years then my senior year they didnt offer it anymore and I couldnt get any kind of good credit for it for colleges like i was told I could. Just hang in there

arty and tricky have good points. I had an art teacher who loved my work, although I wish he gave a bit more conscrutive critism

Thank you all for your support, you made me feel much better, and I am looking for outside art classes. I mean, I am definately NOT the greatest artist in my class, but I like it. I don't think you have to be good at something in order for you to continue with it. As for my teacher, I do try to do my own thing, like Michelle M. said, but he would see it and tell me I need to fix it so I just ask him in advance. I don't think this art teahcer is actually an artist because he never talks about his work like the other art teacher did and my teahcer never draws for us to show us something. I mean, he does know alot about music and artists, but I'm not so sure if he's one. Maybe he is a failed artist. As for what Michelle G. said, that maybe he's hard on me because he sees my talent. That could be true, because I know my old art teacher was really helpful but I don't think he was as hard on me as Mr.T (current art teacher), but my work was much better in my old art teacher's class. And Laurel said that her art program taught her a technique and let her run with it, and that's exactly what my old teacher used to do. But, you know what? I'm going to stick it out for the two classes I have left, lol. I will finish my turtle! (Yes, that is what I'm working on now. ) There wouldn't be much of a point dropping art now. Thank you all for your advice and support.

Not all teachers are like that, thank goodness. I was very lucky to have an art teacher who allowed us to be expressive and encouraged us to experiment with materials. We got a bit messy with latex though..Lol. He was a hippy type who looked a bit like Rasputin and got the micky taken out of him all the time, but he was a kind, generous person who quietly stood near us and guided us with suggestions and asked our opinions. He made us learn the basics of line drawing first and shading before we did any painting. He involved everyone and praised the efforts of even the least able students. I'm so sorry that you are experiencing these problems. One way you can deal with this is to write things in your sketch book that shows your thought processes. Like 'I like such and such and think I could develope the idea of such and such'. That way he will find it more difficult to critisize your work. My daughter has been having simular problems with her art teacher. She did some brilliant work with an outside street project that her teacher wanted her to change. When outside agencies saw her work they decided to do it as a project the teacher ended up looking silly for wanting her to change her ideas. Teachers are their to help teach skills, develope ideas and assist with creativity of students, not squash individuality. Believe in yourself and remember that it is subjective and comes from feelings of expression.

My old teahcer was like your art teacher, Sheila. I miss my old teacher. He used to be the only art teacher in the school untill he needed heart surgery and Mr. T (the douche bag teacher) came in as a sub for him. And now Mr. T teahcers mornings and the old art teahcer, Mr. Brake teaches afternoons and will be retiring next year. If Mr.T gets the full time job I will be looking for an outside art program.

But as for now, I only have ONE more class with him! Yay! He made me bring home my project today, because again, it wasn't good enough for him. Even though I did it the way he told me to, he came back and told me to do it differently. I got so angry, I had to bite my tongue before I screamed at him.