Upon Receiving My Black Belt (2022)
Here’s the story behind the self-portrait I made in high school that got me onto Portrait Artist Of The Year AU
When I was 15 years old, I created this self-portrait with coloured pencils for my Year 11 Visual Arts project. 3 years later, it became the portrait that got me onto the show Portrait Artist Of The Year AU, and in doing so has taken on new meaning beyond its initial message.
Artist Statement
A double-portrait of my dad Dr Hantarto Widjaja and I, just after I had achieved my black belt in Taekwondo, with the hand-lettered quote, “Learning is a constant process of discovery — a process without end”, by Bruce Lee.
If you’ve ever done Taekwondo, I’m sure you’ve heard many times that a black belt is very much not ‘the end’, in fact, I was often told that it was the beginning of a lifetime as a martial artist. With this idea in mind, in the past few years, I’ve become quite passionate about the idea of ‘self-learning’ or learning something just for the sake of learning. This started with teaching myself German each day, and quickly evolved into learning video editing, calligraphy, a musical instrument, and so on. One thing I have realised from all this though, is the importance of the daily, and learning being truly a lifetime endeavour.
My dad is someone who I believe embodies this mindset and has always been there to support my learning; he’s spent his entire life exploring physics, and yet there is still more to know. To me, he is not only a great father, but a teacher, and a learner.
This piece is a culmination of two styles which I have explored this semester, hand-lettering, which is my primary artform, and portraiture, something I am still learning, evidence of all the things that I continue to ‘discover’ through visual art. This piece can also be considered a progression from my Year 10 Semester 1 artwork, also a double portrait, of the other two members of my family, my mother and my brother.
— Benedict Widjaja (Year 11)
For those interested in the art details…
I used a set of Prismacolour Premiere 72 coloured pencils from my school for the dual-portrait. By the end, I had loved using them so much that I bought my own set, which I use for all my coloured pencil works.
I first drafted the hand-lettered quote in pencil, before going through with a fineliner pen and white pastel to add contrast and further details.
I actually filmed the entire process with a DSLR camera, and I am sure it would have made for a wonderful video for my YouTube channel DarKalligraph, but… in 4 years I have not gotten around to editing it 😬. So, for now you’ll just have to read it — sorry about that!
The process began with conceptualising, reflecting on a theme which, at the time, had become quite important to me, which was self-learning (or autodidacticism, if you will). I had also been teaching myself calligraphy and hand-lettering for some time, and wanted to incorporate it into the portrait somehow, which ended up being a rather large constraint for reference photos.
That’s when I stumbled upon this photo of my dad and I, when I had gotten my black belt in Taekwondo. It was this perfect moment that combined my journey in learning, and my relationship with my dad. Furthermore, the certificate in the centre provided the perfect canvas for a hand-lettered quote amongst what would otherwise already be a fairly complex and ambitious dual-portrait, with multiple hands and clothing included in the frame.
With the idea solidified, and reference photo found, I got to work on the portrait. I started with a few composition sketches, and initial studies of the faces, before moving to the actual piece. I mapped out a grid, and started with the clothing first.
My technique with coloured pencils is as follows. At first, I lay down multiple very light layers of colour, mixing in yellows, purples, greens, and whatever colours I can somehow convince myself that I am seeing, to slowly bring the tone, colour and hue to the right place. At first it might seem strange, but it all comes together in the final step, which is to go through with a white, or mid-tone, this time pressing quite hard, to blend all of the colours together and achieve a smoother, oily texture, and more moderate colour, which feels more like skin than just coloured pencils.
All in all, the piece was completed in approximately 20 hours over the span of 7 weeks (not including brainstorming and planning).
The Portrait’s Journey (2022–present)
Completed for my Year 11, Semester 1 ATAR Visual Arts project, this artwork was first exhibited in 2022 as part of my school’s semesterly student showcase at Mills Gallery in Subiaco WA.
Shortly after, it was also exhibited as part of the Atwell Youth Art Awards, held at Atwell House and Gallery in Alfred Cove WA.
I was then able to take it home, where it became a permanent fixture of our home, or so I thought until in 2024, as the only self-portrait I have ever made, it became my entry submission for Portrait Artist Of The Year AU.
Despite this being only my second-ever portrait, created as a 15-year-old school student, I ended up being selected for the show, and the portrait went off to Sydney in early 2025.
Atwell House and Gallery, Alfred Cove WA
Visual Arts Exhibition (2022)
Mills Gallery, Subiaco WA
White Bay Power Station, Rozelle NSW
After competing in my heat, I couldn’t return it to Perth immediately, so it stayed with me in Melbourne for the remainder of 2025, before returning back to Perth with me in November. It has since taken its place back at home, next to my first dual-portrait, titled “Like Mother Like Son”, completed a year earlier as a Year 10 student.
This portrait, for me, captures this moment of celebration, yet recognises learning as a process which never ends, and the importance of being surrounded by people who inspire you. In a rather unexpected way, it is rather fitting that this is the portrait that brought me to Portrait Artist Of The Year AU, where I learned so much, met incredibly inspiring people, and took a moment to celebrate with friends and family, before ultimately continuing along the journey of a lifetime, as an artist.