Crista Cloutier: My Journey to Becoming an RSA Fellow

I’m truly honored to share this news: I was recently made a Fellow of Great Britain’s Royal Society of Art!

My journey has now come full circle.

My mentor Bill Jay, was British and he had a lot of respect for the Royal Society of Art. Bill’s no longer with us, but I believe that he would have been proud of me.

Bill was a university professor in the art department. But Bill didn’t just teach me about art – he saved my life.

As a young woman, I suffered from deep emotional problems. I self-medicated with drugs and drink. I was a broken girl, in and out of hospitals, on and off the streets. It was a violent, toxic existence, filled with shame and self-loathing.

Creators who don’t create often self-destruct.

I’d heard the call to follow a creative path, but I didn’t know how to silence the monster named “Not Enough” so that I could answer the call. Without anything to give my life meaning, it spun out of control.

In one of many attempts to save my life, my family talked me into taking a semester of college. I registered for a random assortment of university classes including the History of 19th Century Photography taught by Professor Bill Jay.

I rarely went to class and when I did, I was wasted.

At our mid-semester conference, Bill told me, “You’re failing my class. Nobody has ever failed my class. You must be really bored.”

I couldn’t tell him that I was drowning.

But Bill persevered. “Listen,” he said, “if you were to study the history of photography and take it seriously you can make Photographic Studies your major. With that degree, you can have a career as a scholar. You can eventually get your MFA. You can write and take photographs and you can teach.”

You can…

It was the first time in my life anyone had ever said those two words to me. Before Bill Jay, the only two words I’d ever heard were “Not Enough.”

You’re not good enough. You’re not smart enough. You don’t have enough…

After my meeting with Bill, I became a Photographic Studies major. From then on, I showed up. I sought help for my problems. I got straight. I worked hard to make Bill Jay proud of me.

It didn’t matter that Bill didn’t know anything about me.

It didn’t matter that he was building a new Photographic Studies department at the university, and he was inviting every student to join.

What mattered was that when Bill Jay said the words “You can,” I heard: “Follow this…”

I’ve dedicated my career to telling other artists, “You can.” And I’ve helped them to help themselves too.

This is how artists pay it forward.

Bill Jay was a British photographer who moved to the USA in order to inspire other artists like me.

Today, inspired by his legacy, I live in the UK and France working globally to inspire other artists like you.

Here’s the truth: you don’t have to teach to make a difference. You don’t have to win awards or accolades.

You do have to show up, do the work, and hold out your hand to help those coming up behind you.

If I can – You can.

Follow this…