We caught up with the brilliant and insightful LaQuisha Hall a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

LaQuisha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

As the artist behind Confident Canvas, I have taken on many meaningful projects. The most impactful projects are my annual #RevealYourTeal and #RestoreYourRoyalty campaigns. As a survivor of sexual abuse and domestic violence and a 20-year advocate, I desired to bring my world of art and advocacy together. In 2014, I began by asking my social media connections to wear, use and oversaturate the internet with the color teal during the month of April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This was a huge success as so many joined in using the hashtag, #RevealYourTeal. Throughout the month, I received many messages from victims and survivors who were not ready yet to share their stories publicly. I considered the fact that so many found me because of the campaign; those who needed the resources, support and encouragement did not have to visit an organization’s website, which could compromise their safety. They were receiving help from a place others would not suspect and that we all frequent: social media. I decided to continue this mission in October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month using the hashtag #RestoreYourRoyalty.

During the 5 months in between that I had to prepare for October, I reflected on the April #RevealYourTeal campaign: some shared they did not have teal items to create with, wear, etc. In order to make it easier to find and use the awareness colors, I reached out to creative shop owners with digital printables that participants could use and print from home. At least 10 shop owners agreed to participate and I was so grateful! In addition, to keep the momentum going, I created challenges for participants to follow and to earn prizes. I also interviewed survivors weekly during these 2 months to show the audience what strength looked like and remind them that they are not alone.

To increase the impact of this initiative, I asked participants to make a financial contribution to access the printables. As a result, from 2016 to the present, we raised more than $1,000 each year (our highest amount of $3500 was raised in October 2021) as a community, while simultaneously increasing awareness of each cause online. It truly warmed my heart to see social media heavily saturated with the colors purple and teal in April and October for the past 7 years. I am especially elated that we have not only raised awareness but also $10,000+, donated to organizations across the nation doing the work on the ground for survivors. Money from donated printables was used to provide shelter, clothing and food for victims, further policy, law and lobbying efforts as well as provide scholarships to youth who pursued careers in this essential work.

These campaigns live on the World Wide Web currently, primarily on Instagram and Facebook. Check out hashtags #RevealYourTeal and #RestoreYourRoyalty and consider making plans to join us in the future!

LaQuisha, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My journey started rocky. I was born in New Bern, North Carolina, to parents who married young. As I grew up, I experienced domestic violence by way of my parents. They divorced when I was 12 years old, which led to my next traumatic experience. Starting at age 14, I was sexually abused by a trusted community leader. Between issues at home and low self-esteem from being teased at school, at age 16, I left home, which is when the sexual abuse ended.

The next chapter of my life proved to be just as challenging. I severely struggled with my mental health during my first year of college leading to a suicide attempt: I swallowed over 100 pills, put on a favorite dress, wrote letters to family, and lay across my dorm bed. I woke up in a hospital, my stomach pumped with a black, intolerable substance. Before being released, I was asked to sign paperwork stating that I would not attempt suicide again (and that the hospital would not be liable if I did). Reluctantly, I signed, anticipating more painful days, potentially years, ahead.

I excelled in college academically, was a cheerleader, a writer for the university paper, and more. Although I did not win, I ran for the university queen position. Unknowingly and even though I was disappointed, this was the start to finding my voice and eventually winning many crowns. I decided during my junior year to give my life to God. I was determined to push past the hurt and pain I experienced in my childhood that followed me into adulthood. I planned to attend Regent University’s Law School, for which I would have to take out more student loans. A few days before my graduation, I learned through a university counselor and friend that Morgan State University was offering master’s degrees to those who entered their education transition program, Project Site Support, in exchange for teaching for 5 years in Baltimore City Public Schools. Weighing a free advanced degree alongside a salaried job versus more schooling that I did not know how I would pay for was simple: I was going to become a teacher.

Moving from North Carolina to Maryland was a culture shock; I was forced to adjust quickly. I became a volunteer for several nonprofits that supported abuse survivors. This started my 20-year advocacy against domestic violence and sexual assault. Additionally, my advocacy led to starting a mentoring program for girls, (Queendom T.E.A. The Etiquette Academy), a nonprofit for unsung survivors of abuse (SheRose Awards), and teaching art through my brand, Confident Canvas. After transitioning to city life in 2003, I met my husband in 2004 and married him the following year. In 2008, I won my first of many pageants, and shared my survivor story of overcoming trauma and abuse publicly for the first time. As an educator, I soared in learning strategies to further my scholars in my classroom—in 2018, I won Teacher of the Year for Baltimore City and was a top 7 finalist for state Teacher of the Year. I continued to teach, support, and train teachers nationally and taught through the pandemic. At the end of the 2020 school year, I left the classroom to accept the position of a coach for my school district.

I created many drawings, writing, and journaling in my youth. In high school, I had aspirations of writing poetry, books and becoming a fashion designer or interior decorator. I did not pursue this dream after being told there was no money in this work.

As a high school English teacher, I heavily integrated the arts. My scholars loved it, and I did too; I was incorporating a piece of my dream into my career. Various professional arts organizations sought me out to teach other educators about what I was implementing in my classroom. In addition to publishing and co-authoring several books myself, I also published youth in 7 books (one of these books won a national award) and exposed the visual art of my scholars through local art exhibitions throughout my career. In 2016, I discovered Bible journaling, which catapulted me into pursuing my art dream again. I started an Instagram account that I had no idea would grow so quickly. Confident Canvas (affectionately named so because I became more confident in myself as a “canvas” for God) was a space where I only intended to share my art. I now internationally teach skills and strategies I have created and learned. I have a monthly Patreon membership community where I teach, hire other artists to teach, and coach artists in successfully pursuing their art dreams. I excitedly do this work part-time as I continue to coach full-time for Baltimore City Schools.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

In chapter 8 of The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama, she said, “When you do the work, you own the skills.” I have done so much work over the years to build my own creative knowledge and database. Now and proudly, I am the Creative Confident Coach and teacher for my own community, Confident Canvas (now trademarked).

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn perfectionism. I was a straight-edge-use-a-ruler kind of artist; now, I love messy lines, paint splatters and anything else that goes from messy to masterpiece. To stay grounded, 4 things I do:

JOURNAL. Writing about the positive things that occur in my life can help to maintain my hope and stay focused. I do this daily during my morning routine.

CREATE. Art can be done in a variety of ways: painting, Bible journaling, hand-lettering, sewing, cooking, designing and more. I will simply create—even if it is unfinished, imperfect, and unplanned because I have learned that I feel so much better when I do something, anything, daily.

PRAY. Asking God for grace in tough moments and times when I am hard on myself and reflecting on what God has done and will do can be grounding when I am aiming to be perfect.

OBSERVE. I make sure to go outside and spend time in nature, especially during spring and summer, so that I witness new, incoming blooms! The imperfection and beauty in nature often sparks my creativity and pulls me from perfection.

Contact Info:

• Website: ConfidentCanvas.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/confidentcanvas
• Facebook: Facebook.com/ConfidentCanvasArt
• Twitter: Instagram.com/mrshallscholars
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ConfidentCanvas
• Other: Instagram.com/revealyourteal Instagram.com/restoreyourroyalty
• Patreon: Patreon.com/Confidentcanvas
• ​Shop: Etsy.com/shop/ConfidentCanvasArt
• Pinterest: Pinterest.com/laquishahallcc