Sarah Mathieson

Beginnings

Sarah Mathieson’s interest in drawing began in childhood. After graduating from Auckland University’s Elam School of Fine Arts with a degree in painting, she heard Learning Media were contracting artists to provide illustrations for the ‘School Journal’.

She submitted a portfolio of watercolour and colour pencil drawings featuring young people involved in a range of activities. Soon after, she received her first commission in the post. A small body of ‘School Journal’ illustration work followed over a period of 5 years. Mathieson continued producing artwork in watercolours and coloured pencils — the latter adding a boost of colour to the illustrations she created.

“Every illustrator had a different perspective,” Mathieson says. “They brought that to their illustrations using a variety of media including printmaking techniques and photography — as well as painting and drawing.”

Working on the ‘School Journal’

After starting work in the library sector, she combined illustrating engaging stories on a range of themes with archives work. The process of creating the illustrations began with receipt of the commission in the mail. Each brief included the story with a general layout of where the text would go. But apart from this, Learning Media allowed a great deal of creative freedom. “The stories were quite vivid, making visualising the illustrations straightforward,” Mathieson recounts.

Execution sometimes required a bit of research or sketching before landing on the final illustrations. After she provided the illustrations to Learning Media, Mathieson received copies of the published Journals.

In total, Mathieson illustrated 7 stories — some relating to weighty themes. These included ‘Mouse Attack’ by Leanne Radojkovich, about a young person missing a parent based in Australia. Another was ‘Our Secret Diaries’ by June Walker, focusing on the value of trust and how relationships can be affected when trust is broken.

Importance of the ‘School Journal’

Reflecting on the uniquely Kiwi experience the ‘School Journal’ provides, Mathieson says: “I remember with fondness the School Journals I read as a child and loved it when my own children brought these storybooks home from school. The Journals are likely to resonate with many people living in Aotearoa — they reflected us back at ourselves with stories written from a New Zealand perspective that young people attending school could relate to.” Fast forward to today, Mathieson is thoroughly hooked on archives, working as a Senior Archivist at Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, where the records related to the School Publications are held — including many of the artworks produced for them.

Their new home at Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

“I was happy to hear that some of my own artworks were held by Archives New Zealand as I’d sometimes wondered what had happened to them”, Mathieson says. “More so though, this collection reflects the wide range of artworks produced by many different people, including school students, for ‘School Journal’ over time.” Mathieson is also pleased that the artworks will remain accessible and protected over time. “The importance of Archives New Zealand holding this collection of records is undeniable. It’s vital that the items are described and easily discoverable so people can have access to them, and it’s heartening to know that this precious taonga will be cared for at Archives in perpetuity.”

“The collection also reflects the organisations involved in the production of these learning resources for school students in Aotearoa, for example School Publications Branch prior to Learning Media.”

Today

While Mathieson no longer illustrates for publication, she still draws and paints for pleasure. It’s a happy coincidence that she is now one of the kaitiaki for these very important records. “It’s great to know that these special items are now held safely in the Archives collection, and that some of the content has been highlighted by Archives in an online exhibition.”

The illustrations below were produced by Sarah Mathieson for the story, ‘Personal Mail’ by Alan Bagnall [‘School Journal’, Part three, Number 1, 1991].