Janet Matthews at work in her studio. Her abilities are being recognised at the Kevin Hill Top Ten Australian Artists Art Show.Janet has a special mate, Coco, about the place when she is working in her Narre Warren North home.By Jim Mynard
Janet Matthews has a passion for art that has placed her alongside the best of her peers in Australia. Janet was selected as the guest artist from this region to exhibit her work at the Kevin Hill Top Ten Australian Artists Art Show to be held at the Casey Civic Centre from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 September.
Her selection is a wonderful endorsement of her work, which combines her twin loves of wildlife and drawing.
Hanging work at a Top Ten Art Show has the potential to open many doors in the art world for Janet.
She was born in the Yallourn Hospital and lived at Moe as a child and teenager.
Even in those early days her skill as an artist was emerging.
“I had a happy ordinary life,” she said.
That’s probably close to ideal.
She was a teenager when they started to pull Yallourn down, and says it’s difficult to look back and realise that such an important and busy township has gone.
“We did lots of teenage stuff at Moe, Morwell and Yallourn.
“We liked Yallourn because it had a good swimming pool.”
But despite their disappointment at seeing the old town go they got on with their lives.
Janet began her education at the Moe State School and went on to the Presentation College at Moe.
“I loved to draw from when I was a young child and it was at high school that my art teacher recognised and encouraged this interest. He was an excellent teacher and I was lucky to have this start,” she said.
There’s a saying, however, that the harder you work the luckier you get.
Janet believes that no matter how talented a person is, they need to be taught.
“During those days at college there was a strong influence on us to become secretaries and the like, but that wasn’t for me.
“Although, I did learn how to type.
“That has been very handy for me.”
Janet did well at school, particularly with her art and she was advised to study for a Diploma of Art at Monash, Churchill.
“I then went on to do a graduate diploma and during that time decided not to be a teacher.
“I could see that my friends who were teaching didn’t have enough time to do their own work.”
Janet began entering art shows during her university days and was able to pick up some commercial art work along with her studies.
Her face lights up when you mention the Top Ten art show and why not?
She is already an awardwinning wildlife artist.
The Top Ten show has created a niche in Australian art, but the Casey showing is the first time it has been brought to Melbourne.
Her work will be shown alongside top artists such as Pro Hart, Max Mannix and Jack Absolom.
Many of the artists will be attend the show.
Kevin Hill’s Top Ten Australian Artists Art Show is a showcase of amazing work by our country’s best artists.
Janet said she was very proud to hang her creations beside those of such renowned artists.
Despite her focus, there is more to life than work.
Janet married and moved to Port Hedland where she lived for five years and was blessed with two daughters Sarah and Kate.
“The girls are creative, but in other ways,” she said.
Janet said Port Hedland was very different from the lush Victorian countryside, but she enjoyed her time there.
There appears to be more to art than meets the eye because Janet said it was necessary for her to keep fit for her work.
“Art is a hard life and it is sometimes difficult to maintain good posture while you are working.
“This places a strain on your body.”
These last few weeks she has been working fullon because she needs to have 20 completed works for the September showing.
Janet said it was important for an artist to develop his or her own distinctive style.
She works in pencil, but teaches other mediums.
“I like the look of pencil work.”
She has an individual style that uses coloured pencil and graphite to bring out incredible detail.
She must love those animals to do them so well.
Her work has been seen at the Casey Artspace in the civic centre and she has work hanging overseas.
Janet heard about the Top Ten show and jumped at the opportunity.
“This is a high profile presentation and I have no idea what I can sell, but if I sell one piece I will be ahead.
“If I sold six or seven I would be delighted.”
This is an exciting time for Janet despite a list of awards going back to a win at Traralgon during her university days.
“That first win was a great thrill.
“When you are at university you work for assessment and you are focussed on that.
“When you get out you have to set your own targets.
Janet aims for about three good works a month and also takes private classes.
She is president and director of the Wildlife Art Society of Australia.
“This means lots of phone calls and emails and the occasional trip. I’ve just been up to see an artist Kristii Melaine at Gunning in New South Wales.
Janet is also a member of the Casey Arts Reference Group and the Berwick Artists Society.
