Pickering’s Judy Matthews didn’t let early criticism stop her from an art career

 (June 2011 -- published, Aug. 2011)

How does one, at a very young and impressionable age, handle an art teacher’s recommendation that you “don’t do art”? You get sweet revenge by becoming a professional artist, that’s how – even if it’s more than 40 years later! Pickering painter, Judy Matthews did just that, after decades of activities other than art making. Following primary and secondary education at a convent school in her native Trinidad, she trained as a secretary at her father’s suggestion, but only lasted 9 short months working in an office. Then came an eleven year stint as a flight attendant for British West Indies Airways.

In 1985, she and husband, John, picked up and moved to Canada, settling in a home in north Pickering. While he pursued his career as a civil engineer, Judy contented herself with being a stay-at-home mom with son, Roger, helping out as a volunteer at his school, finishing her high school diploma and taking a course in desktop publishing. But, being good with her hands – she had always done needlepoint and sewing -- her creative urges surfaced and, beginning with pottery classes at the Pickering recreation centre, then painting lessons with various local artists, she launched herself into a professional art career, painting, primarily oil on canvas landscapes from photos she takes on her yearly visits to the Caribbean and from pictures she and John shoot of Ontario and other Canadian locales.

A look through Matthews’ work over the last decade shows steady and admirable progress in colour mixing, use of light and shadow and mastery of fine detail. “I try to paint beauty as if the viewer is really there,” she declares. She participates on a regular basis with a painting group at the East Shore Community Centre and will join one of the Andrew Hamilton “plein air” workshops this summer – learning to paint while sitting out in nature. She has been a participant in the last three Durham West Arts Council studio tours and is scheduled to have a collection of her works displayed at Pickering City Hall from June 13 to July 29. Connect with Matthews on Facebook or contact her at judithmatthews@rogers.com