He has been shortlisted for the 2021 art prize for his captivating portrait of fellow artist and friend Del Kathryn Barton.

"It is an honour to be amongst so many good artists," he said.

"I am happy to be one of 52 artists out of 938 entries.

"I'm excited, I'm trying not to think about winning but it is hard. Getting in will open some doors to some new projects."

Clarke's connection with Barton began when she saw his work on Instagram.

"I formed a friendship with Del around art online," Clarke said. "We admired each other's work and became friends messaging online.

"She invited me to her studio in Sydney; I did a few sketches, and I stored my thoughts and feelings about her.

"She listened and wanted to know about me and my processes.

"She dressed in a pyjama suit that matched my pallet; I only drew two sketches. I came home to Warrnambool and the painting flowed.

"As an artist who suffers with mental illness, I admire Del for her work with The Dax Centre in Melbourne, which works with emerging artists with mental health issues and provides a safe, supportive environment for them to exhibit their work."

Del Kathryn Barton has won the Archibald Prize twice - with a self-portrait in 2008 and a portrait of actor Hugo Weaving in 2013.

Her 2011 painting of actor Cate Blanchett is included in the Archie 100 exhibition celebrating a centenary of the prize.

Read more about Matthew Clarke's work:

Barton said she was honoured to have been painted by Clarke.

There were 52 artists shortlisted out of 938 entrants for the 2021 Archibald Prize.

The exhibition will run from June 5 to September 26 2021.

Clarke has been painting for 16 years and says the technique developed in that time flowed into the piece.

Over the years he's spoken openly about his experience with mental illness and disability.

"I am an artist first and person with mental illness and disability second," he said.

"There are times when making art has seen me through my hardest times.

"I don't believe visual art can be everybody's path to recovery but self-expression and being heard needs to be part of everybody's recovery."

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