As an outsider he had to perform many tasks that most children do not, and his early hardships left a deep impression upon him.
楊啟東與林惺嶽的父親是舊識，看到故友的孩子熱愛繪畫，且資質聰穎，對他特別疼惜，免費給他指導。楊啟東不僅常給他鼓勵，也特別多教給他繪畫的技巧，更常灌輸他一些有關美術思想方面的知識。