Jhoanna Monte Art

Jhoanna Monte Art Artwork by Jhoanna Monte. Original paintings and artwork by Jhoanna Monte.

02/08/2026

This one’s off to Canberra, sold to a dear, decades-long friend, which makes it all the more special ♥️

This artwork grew out of a desire to represent more Philippine people in my paintings, mixed with my current keen intere...
29/07/2026

This artwork grew out of a desire to represent more Philippine people in my paintings, mixed with my current keen interest in incorporating more obvious warm light / sunlight, and using the fauvist colour palette I observed at my visit to the Hungarian National Gallery. Since I tend to paint people / figurative work more than any other subject, I have been thinking about how I can reflect and weave in more of my own culture, as I am on my own path of figuring out what it means to be a Filipina who has fully grown up in a western environment and mindset.

This scene recalls visits back to the Philippines when I was much younger, sitting on hand crafted wooden chairs and stools in a backyard with cement floors and high walls, and a cup of milo in hand. Questions and comments from relatives are in Tagalog, and answers are in English. Inside the house and beyond its walls, it’s noisy. But out in the backyard it’s a little more subdued as there is an awkwardness in trying to converse with family that you hardly know or haven’t seen in a long time. It’s humid and warm and the fruit trees provide little shade, but you wear your baggy jeans because they are familiar and comfortable, and a top with butterfly sleeves - although somewhat cliched, you hope it will help you blend in.

“Blending In”, 51cm x 71cm, Acrylic on canvas, available in my Bluethumb shop.

23/07/2026

My top 10 favourited available artwork according to my Bluethumb Art shop.

19/07/2026

Weekends are for painting.

I’ve somehow finished reading 8 books so far this year, after only managing to finish 2 books last year, so this was on ...
12/07/2026

I’ve somehow finished reading 8 books so far this year, after only managing to finish 2 books last year, so this was on my mind while painting this work.

It’s a quiet morning moment, as light falls through a nearby window, and onto an open book. There is no rush to get out of bed on this particular morning, so you’re able to squeeze in a few more pages of the book you reluctantly put down the night before, under your favourite quilt, and nestled comfortably in your warm bed. You’re able to shut off the reminders pinging in your head of the things you have to do and focus purely on the words in front of you. These are the kinds of moments that don’t cost anything but can certainly be counted as a luxury.

“The Luxury of Literature”, 45.7cm x 61cm, Acrylic on canvas, available in my Bluethumb shop.

07/07/2026

Exhibition Spotlight: Nothing triggers Imposter Syndrome quite like seeing your artwork hanging next to incredible work from other artists! Truly grateful to the Camberwell Art Show judges for including my painting, “The Liminal State” in this year’s show. I really was not expecting it as my submissions had not been accepted in past years, but I suppose persistence makes progress!

I really enjoyed visiting this show - so many wonderful works covering a large range of styles. I was sincerely impressed and inspired by what other artists have been able to achieve using acrylic paint, and many of the watercolours were breathtaking (I started this painting journey learning watercolours, so I was in awe by the mastery on display).

The show ends on Sunday, 12th July. Thank you again to the Camberwell Art Show 2026 team for the opportunity!

A few posts ago I shared some favourites from the Hungarian National Gallery, and the artworks that made the most impres...
27/06/2026

A few posts ago I shared some favourites from the Hungarian National Gallery, and the artworks that made the most impression on me exploited both colour and light, so I’ve tried to reflect that in this new painting. Also taking inspiration from travelling as a whole, this one is about how experiencing a new location can bring out a different way of thinking and being; the freedom to take on a new identity when you’re able to live anonymously. It might be a different version of yourself that you end up preferring.

“Incognito”, 45cm x 60cm, acrylic on canvas.

Museum Spotlight: I had a few hours to spend exploring Bratislava, Slovakia, so I headed to the Old Town area and my fir...
25/06/2026

Museum Spotlight: I had a few hours to spend exploring Bratislava, Slovakia, so I headed to the Old Town area and my first stop was Gallery Nedbalka in the centre of the old town. The Gallery is dedicated to documenting the birth and development of modernism in Slovakia. Fittingly, it has an impressive circular interior that resembles the Guggenheim museum in New York. Galéria Nedbalka

1. Looking down through the centre of Gallery Nedbalka
2. ‘Lullaby’ by Gustav Mally, 1930-35
3. ‘Reading the Talmud’ by Frantisek Reichental, 1930
4. ‘In the Garden (Three Generations)’ by Jozef Teodor Mousson, 1936
5. Looking through the centre of Gallery Nedbalka
6. ‘Shepherdess (Autumn)’ by Ludovit Fulla, 1944
7. Collection of sculptures
8. ‘Group Leader’ by Milan Laluha, 1963
9. ‘Moravian Room’ by Martin Benka, 1915
10. ‘Madonna and Child’ by Martin Benka, 1937

After a short walk outside of the old town, I found the much larger Slovak National Museum, which sits opposite the Danube river, and holds a much wider and diverse collection. I spent the most time in the ‘Sacred Art’ and ‘The Modern’, which are part of its permanent displays. While the building itself is quite expansive, as you go from one exhibition to another you traverse arched hallways and pass little, quiet nooks, which makes the museum feel very peaceful. I liked that ‘The Modern’ display had a specific section celebrating female Slovak artists. [FYI - the cafe also offers a glass of wine for only 2.50 euros!] Slovenská národná galéria

11. Viewing window at the Slovak National Gallery
12. ‘Having Coffee’ by Zelmira Duchajova-Svehlova, 1918
13. ‘Madonna with Angel’ by Ludovit Fulla, 1929
14. ‘Study of a Girl’s Head’ by Zelmira Duchajova-Svehlova, 1910
15. One of the hallways that connected collections
16. Part of the Sacred Art display
17. ‘Interior’ by Ritta Boemm, 1900
18. ‘Self-Portrait’ by Lea Mzarova, 1937
19. ‘Gusts (Journey by the Wind)’ by Edmund Gwerk, 1928
20. More of the museum’s interior

Overall I really enjoyed discovering new-to-me Slovak artists and to see how they adapted movements like Impressionism and Cubism to celebrate their values and culture.

21/06/2026

Knowing when to stop painting is the hardest part. I always feel like a few more dots and dabs are necessary ….

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Melbourne, VIC

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