Moreton Bay’s Matilda Knaggs wins Deaf Children Australia’s People’s Choice award

A Bribie Island girl, who is deaf, has described the incredible process she goes through when envisioning her artwork — which has become so refined she has now taken out a national award.

You’d be hard pressed to wipe the smile off the face of a young Bribie Island girl, who despite her battles with deafness and anxiety, has won a national art competition.

Matilda Knaggs recently won Deaf Children Australia’s People’s Choice award at its annual art competition, for a painting titled Steve Irwin’s Habitat.

The only one of its kind in Australia, the competition celebrates the art of young deaf and hard of hearing people from around the country.

Winning a cool $500 in prize money and receiving 600 votes for victory, Matilda said she aimed to use the funds to buy more art supplies and keep painting and drawing ‘for the next 100 years’.

“I felt excited, happy and a bit speechless,” Matilda said.

“Art makes me feel happy and good about myself.

Young artist Matilda Knaggs with her parents Blair and Elly. Picture: Aaron Goodwin

“It helps with anxiety.

“When I get mad, I go into my room and draw.”

Matilda’s mother Elly Knaggs said her daughter is only one of three schoolchildren on the island who are deaf and Matilda is the only one who has to wear a bone anchored hearing aid.

As a result, Matilda also suffers from anxiety and finds it difficult to make friends.

“She can’t speak really well and she has to read body language and lip read,” Mrs Knaggs said.

“Art gives her a lot of confidence and room to express herself.

“I like seeing her glow.”

Matilda Knaggs with her award-winning Steve Irwin Habitat painting. Picture: Aaron Goodwin

The competition theme Heroes and Leaders, explored who the budding artists, aged eight- 23, identified as a hero or leader and why.

Matilda chose Steve Irwin because she loves animals and liked that Steve Irwin did his best to save them.

The young artist loves nature paintings and drawings, especially trees, sunsets, beaches and flowers.

She has a collection of over 600 paintings and drawings, separated into canvas and a stack of books.

Her school Banksia Beach State School even has hung up one of her works in the sick bay.

“My brain works very differently,” Matilda said.

“I see these black lines and I can move them somehow with my hands and move them into the shape and copy them into what I want.

“Observe it, think about it and do it on paper.

“I’m like a walking art book.”

A small peek at the massive amount of drawings and artworks of Matilda Knaggs. Picture: Aaron Goodwin

Mrs Knaggs said she first saw Matilda’s talent when she was four and the family was travelling around Australia.

The children had drawing books to fill in and Mrs Knaggs noticed her daughter was not just drawing stick people, but people and objects with great detail.

“I think she has natural talent and she keeps working at it,” Mrs Knaggs said.

“She always dances to the sound of her own beat.

“She watches a lot of Youtubers and copies them.”

Matilda’s painting will be showcased at Gasworks Arts Park in Melbourne from April 3-May 7.