The work of artist Jadon Matthews is an intriguing mix of realism and impressionism.

His drawings may give a sense of a shape as well as it looks so real you feel as if you can almost reach out and feel the texture on the page.

Matthews, 37, recently held an exhibition, Tones of T&T, featuring 29 pieces at Arnim’s Art Galleria in Port of Spain. The artwork was done in charcoal, soft pastels and a mixture of both. It was an example of his style which is both patriotic and nostalgic.

He told Sunday Newsday he likes to highlight the “ole time days” that youths no longer experience. For example, a boy rolling a bicycle rim with a stick or a woman using a swizzle stick to make callaloo. He also has a few pieces of old houses and the Port of Spain landscape.

“I like to do pieces about normal, everyday life and moments that we see and experience from time to time. I also like to remember the classic, vintage days as well as history.”

However, his main subject is human studies and facial expressions.

[caption id="attachment_934796" align="alignnone" width="725"] Callaloo Time, captures the tradition of using a wooden swizzle stick in the kitchen. - SUREASH CHOLAI[/caption]

“From about age five, I have been fascinated by being able to do a drawing and getting it to look like the person. I’ve always thought humans are an important part of creation. We are significant and to be able, as an artist, to capture it, I feel fulfilled to do that.”

Born in Mayaro, Matthews remembers seeing his father use a stick to draw animals in the sand and wanting to do the same. Then, in first year, a schoolmate brought a copybook in which his older sister drew different sceneries and people. Every day he would ask his friend to see the book, and his passion for drawing sparked.

He and his parents moved to east Trinidad when he was eight years old and they were visited by a cousin who lives in Canada. The cousin was an artist whose medium was also drawing. It was then Matthews was introduced to shading techniques.

“We didn’t have many artists around to look up to. I didn’t have the exposure, but he visited and brought his sketchbook and he really inspired me. I would sit with him when he was working and I would watch him and I picked up a lot from him.”

Around that time he started art classes, mostly working with graphite pencils. There he learned about values, tones from light to shadow, and more.

Although he continued to have a passion for drawing, art was not seen as a career path so he was strongly encouraged to go into medicine.

“We didn’t have much exposure to the art industry, art business and all that and because I did well academically, medicine was the real focus. But halfway through secondary school, I realised what this medicine thing was really about and it was too much for me. I can’t take too much of seeing sick people and cutting people, it was too much for me.”

He, therefore, decided to refocus and pursue art.

One day, he carried a drawing of reggae legend Bob Marley to school. It was passed