My earliest memory of art was in elementary school in New Bedford, Massacusetts.  Mrs. Dutra was a traveling art teacher who would visit our class once a week.  We were given an assignment to paint a landscape.  She walked around the room and stopped at my work.  She then announced to the class, "We have an artist in our mist".  That's all it took.  It is powerful how a teacher can change your life.  She did.