i think after having had such a rough time in my middle and high school art classes i don't think much could phase me now. Like I might be a little upset or offended but I guess it would depend on how far one goes in terms of "mistreating a work"

I've already dealt with separate incidents of tracing as well as theft but nothing much beyond those two accounts so I'd like to think I've a pretty tough skin to not take things personally or be bothered much. There's definitely certain lines I have drawn in terms of what i will or wont tolerate from an audience but i also know people r gonna do what they want so all i can do is hope for the best and prepare for whatever comes and like having my work undervalued while it can be painful doesn't bug me cause i know lots of folks will have situations where they're intentionally overlooked so the best that can really be done is to maintain enough confidence in oneself and push ahead.

As for what you went through it definitely sounds awful and worse yet that a friendship had come to ruin but hopefully things can improve as you go along in life

Sorry to say, but that wasn't the teachers' fault. They may have made a crappy decision, but you ruined your friendship. You said yourself you knew it wasn't her fault. As such, it was your responsibility to overcome your hurt feelings and jealousy. You can't control the outcome of a competition, but you can control your behaviour. Granted, that's really hard to do when you're a middle schooler - but now that you're older, it's important to accept fault, so you don't one day repeat the same mistake with another friend.

As for the topic of the thread, I've definitely experienced some jealousy and frustration over my years of posting art online. I've been at this for over a decade, yet never received much traction despite having nice-looking work. I knew the reason for it - I've always been more interested in drawing my own OC's, and it's harder to grow an audience that way. I don't participate much in fandom, and those things I am a fan of don't typically have much of a following, so the little bit of fanart I have made never got really popular. Even so, seeing other artists of a similar skill level to myself earning good money with a healthy sized audience did sting.

Nevertheless, I didn't let that stop me from drawing, and I certainly never took it out on the artists I envied. They'd earned their popularity. I needed to find my own niche.

You were a kid and still working stuff out. I wouldn’t punish yourself for it.

Those old hags must have had miserable lives to take it out on kids.

it honestly reminded me of my middle school art teacher's words when i was looking to go to an art focused high school where rather than encouraging me they simply asked "are you sure you can" and while it was a simple question it took hold of my own preexisting self doubt and amplified it so i think a lot of "old hags" could stand to do better by the kids their responsible for teaching.

i also never went but looking at the bigger picture i've at least made it to where i am now which isn't half bad and i think i can safely say i've made the younger me somewhat proud

Hmm... I haven't actually shared stories for a long time, so I can't think of many instances of "mistreatment".

One time, my friend (relationship currently on the rocks) gushed about how excited she was, waiting to read my new novel. Eventually, I sent her some chapters and she never touched them. Didn't even message back to say she was busy or anything. But she'd opt to read other things--literally anything but what I sent her.

If it's not your cup of tea, tell me that. If you hate it and can't continue because you think it's that bad, tell me that. I told her I could take it and she's had plenty of proof to believe that I'm a tough nut to crack. At the very, very, very least, say "I read it." and leave it at that?

Instead, there's only been silence. The not-even-crickets-are-singing silence. I've learned it's best to just not take anyone's excitement seriously anymore--saves me the disappointment.

Your dilemma from years ago sounds reminiscent of how many artists feel regarding abstract contemporary art, where a painting of a single square or some splatters on a wall makes it to a prized art exhibit. It sucks that your friendship soured.

As someone who had entered a lot of competitions in middle and high school, I will say that you will eventually get over it.

I have had art pieces which I have summited and didn't photocopy/photograph and I have yet to see them to this day (even when I won). I have also had my work shipped back to me. Some contests will do that, but sometimes you can try to call and request it.

It sometimes best not to get too bitter or competitive over these things. A lot of them are just suppose to be for fun and you should be supportive of your friend. Because image if you won and she didn't, she would of felt how you felt when you lost. it's not really the "hags and geezers" fault, that is just how contests work, someone wins and most people lose.

I was in one of those contests before, they tend to praise whoever thinks outside the box the most.
I won my contest (in the 6th grader category )cause I asked my teacher if I could go off theme and draw something else instead.
There was probably a lot of art that was wayyyy better than mine but they just pick who goes against the mold.

It might help to edit your title and put in a question mark ^^. "How does it feel when your work gets mistreated?" or even "What are some situations where your work was mistreated?". I had a topic that seemed more like a statement, or a title, as opposed to a question, and it wasn't until I changed it to be more clear that there was more engagement. Sometimes people (including me) only have the time to answer, but not read all of the responses in a thread .

There have been incidents off and on throughout my life with my art and my writing, but nothing stayed with me like when I was in 10th grade.

Our school was having a spirit contest for Homecoming week. If you're not American, Homecoming is about football (American football) and really ridiculous, to be honest. During Spirit Week, each classroom had to decorate their door to show support for the school and the football team. No one else in my class wanted to do it, so I volunteered.

I drew this life-sized Trojan soldier for the door. Our mascot was a Trojan soldier. Everyone was impressed and the school superintendent was so impressed, he wanted to use my art to replace the current logo and art on all of their banners, merchandise, etc...

Of course, being fifteen, I was ecstatic! I had never been important to anyone, and now something I created would be official and recognized for future generations. Friends started telling me I would even make money because it was my creation. I had always wanted to be an artist as a career, so this just made me so freaking happy!

Well, when this was brought up in class and mentioned to others in the teaching staff, I was called into the principal's office. He, the superintendent, and the vice principal were all waiting for me. I thought this was going to be a happy moment for me. Instead, I was told that if I believe I was getting paid for my work, I was mistaken. They didn't owe me anything, not even credit. I was a student and anything I created on school grounds and for the school was automatically their property.

I was devastated. They treated me like I was doing something wrong for being happy my art was being appreciated. I tried to play it off and said, "No, it's okay, I'm just happy you like it." They escorted me out and I was so ashamed of being treated that way, I ended up going home with a sick stomach.

I told my dad but he never cared. He said no, they didn't have the legal right to do that but that I had to get used to it because this was the real world.

It was many years ago. The school went way down over the years. The mascot was changed about 10 years or more ago because "Trojan" was "offensive," especially at a Catholic school (LOL). It still sticks with me because how hurt I was and how alone and bullied I felt in that office. A 15 year old girl sitting in a chair surrounded by three large men telling me my work was good enough for them to profit from but I was worthless as a student and a person.

Oh my gosh, the anxiety that gives as a kid. Oo that stresses me out thinking about it.

It is so scummy they'd dare tell a kid that your artwork doesn't even belong to you, literally lying about the law. And it's a CATHOLIC school? Morals and ethics, much!? How backwards!

This is hilarious.

For me personally, my parents always supported my writing, but it was a "secondary career". Not something I should aspire to, which is fine and understandable from a certain point of view. That's why I'm working on getting IT certifications now. That changed a lot as I got older. My dad doesn't think I should write at all, and believes it contributes to my "mental unwellness". My mother... Once I started writing LGBT+ focused things, that started exploring concepts of difficult relationships with family, she hated it. I can't show them any of my work now because they automatically assume it's about them and start a fight over it, when in reality, messy family situations just make for good stories. My work is no longer appropriate to discuss in front of my younger siblings, even when the characters being LGBT+ has very little to do with the stories themselves. I'm told even by my dad my stuff isn't "marketable", which backs up just about everything I hear, but to me, marketability shouldn't matter so long as I keep my integrity. Marketability is just a set of rules everyone is afraid to break out from, anyways. To a lot of people, it doesn't matter how well I write. All that matters is that I'm writing the right things, and I hear it a lot from just about... everyone. So I just stopped talking about it and telling people the truth. I just get told a lot that my "talent" or whatever is wasted, but whatever. My talent would be wasted writing things I don't want to write, too. Might as well waste it in a meaningful way.

Something similar happened to me too. So there was an art competition in my art class that lasted a week. Keep in mind that the class was for 6-10year-olds. In my opinion- my art was at a very high level- higher than everyone in my class just because I started art at an earlier age and had good control with pencils/pens. My art teacher would also recommend that I go sit and watch the older kids for inspiration.

So, back to the art competition- The theme was winter. I was absent on the first day- so I worked on it the second day, in class. I decided to do a watercolour painting of a girl ice-skating. I wasn't good at drawing people so I would keep it simple and cartoonish. Everyone kept giving me compliments and everything.

Then the day came. My art teacher told us that we could vote for 3 people each. Some people were being bias- ya' know like just picking their friends only. It didn't bother me since, there wasn't even like a prize to win anyway. And if I had friends, I'd probably vote for them too.

I walked around the room and picked a snowflake drawing and a still life of a snowman (I think). I can't remember the highest amount of votes- but I got the second amount (10 votes.) Apparently votes didn't matter. My teacher was picking the winner herself. Saying that she's giving us a score on 5 different things. (I don't remember all of them). Keep in mind that she said that on the first day- when I was absent. I was the only one who actually spent time on it. Then she picked the girl with the least amount of votes (2 votes).

She didn't even acknowledge me because

1. I used ENGLISH words which said "1992 Olympics Russia"
2. the other kids only spoke Russian

A year after that, my artwork faded away- and was worth nothing.

(Sorry for the long story)

Perhaps not just to my work, as I haven't really got destructive criticism (yet), but to my person.
I don't want to write down all my trauma here, but in everything I like to do that some people tell me is not worth it, or straight out make fun of, I keep this idea that, before anything else, I'm doing this for myself, and while doing this, I stay true to myself.

On what happened with your friend, I do understand when we move away from people we once loved, but for external and/or internal factors that weren't really on their hands, we can't stand being with them anymore.

Have the time you need, talk with people you trust, and if it is needed, look for help, and try to work things out with her. I regret not doing so with many friendships I pretty much lost because of ideas imposed by third parties.

wait really? I accidentally washed a red hoodie with it though....

Oh it's happened many times from classmates ruining my pictures in middle school while I wasn't looking, to theft online which has happened more than I can count with that one. One time someone even stole a character from MY COMIC by posting the design on Amazon as a T-shirt. I've had this happen to my fanart before which upset me but this just pissed me off hardcore and I desperately tried getting in contact with Amazon about the issue. They never responded until I called them out on Twitter which was then they finally took action because I was threatning to take legal action.