Fine Artist, Tutor And Art Judge

Pencils have always been a part of my life

- Janet Matthews

I remember always being passionate about drawing, from childhood right through to now. I always knew, deep down, that being a pencil artist was my career path. Even as a youngster, I was never prolific ever, but would spend many hours absorbed totally, drawing a carefully considered work with lots of detail and accuracy.

Pencils have always been my chosen medium, even though I learnt all other mediums. I thoroughly enjoy the feeling of using pencil and the effects created by pencil and can happily spend many hours with a pencil in hand. At university, I studied all forms of 2D and 3D art, but majored in printmaking, etching and lithography – both being a form of drawing. Graduating with a Diploma of Visual Arts and a Graduate Diploma of Visual Arts from Monash University, Gippsland, I specialised in pencil, creating more difficult and richer works, challenging any preconceived ideas about pencil as a brilliant finished medium to work with.

Pencil was not really acclaimed as a serious medium when I started my career, many designating it to a preliminary sketch for a ‘real’ artwork in oil, watercolour or pastel. Not to be dissuaded, I persevered; continuing to enter exhibitions and promote drawing as a serious medium in any way I could. Finally I feel totally accepted in the art world. My drawings have won many awards throughout my career, with many special or outstanding wins being where my competition included other mediums. Wonderful to win over an oil or a watercolour painting. Serious proof that my drawings are now accepted as equals in the art realm.