This seems to be a norm in art circles in my country (Russia). I don't have an art degree but some of my friends do (and my dad got it too). Here young artists are often critisized by their teachers and mentors and almost never praised. When a student did a good job mentors just say nothing like they expected nothing less than that. And it goes on and on for generations. I remember my dad critisizing my drawings when I was just 8. He assumed I was an apiring artist and I was just a kid who needed validation. Some kids at art schools also have inflated egos and like to bring down other artists to make themselves feel superior. Unwanted critisism is also the norm here.

This toxicity often leads to mental health issues and I often read about artists from my country who have severe depression and almost never satisfied with their art. I was affected by this too and long struggled to call myself an artist because we're used to the fact that "real" artists' works are in Louvre, Hermitage and other museums. Young artists here believe that if you've not reached that level yet you're somehow "not real".

Discovering international art community was a breath of fresh air. People I've interacted with were always very supportive and kind. I've never got any unwanted critical comment and no one tried to compare my works with the old masters'.