Alone

I had a couple of thoughts swimming around my head with this one - how some people really fear being alone in public, while others feel energised by it; how we might judge someone hunched over alone at a bench; and as always how colour may ‘colour’ how we interpret a scene. With a figure in the distance, he could be waiting in happy anticipation on a cold wintry day, or he could be hunched over in sadness after an argument, or perhaps he’s stumbled upon a random bench needing to find some peace and quiet, and time for contemplation. I’d probably fall into the last scenario.

A matte varnish has been applied to this painting. (as I do for all of my paintings). I've tried my best to provide clear and accurate photos of this work, but please note that colour nuances may not be captured perfectly by digital media and vary from screen to screen.

More photos of this artwork available on my Instagram: @jhoannamonteart.

On display at the "Fifty Squared Art Prize" Exhibition 20 June - 3 July 2026 at the Brunswick Street Gallery, Level 1 & 2, 322 Brunswick street, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.

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I create art as a hobby, both to completely disconnect from my corporate job and to reconnect with my inner child who loved to draw, design, imagine and make. I’m self-taught, with a love for the different modern western art movements that occurred between the late 1800s and in to the first half of the 20th century.

My intention when I paint is not to achieve realism, but to bring the viewer into the painting to experience a fleeting, yet common human feeling, thought or observation - a familiarity to remind us that we're not alone in our experiences. To express this, I like to play with colour and loose brushstrokes, and be open to a range of styles from landscapes and figurative paintings, to still lifes and abstraction.

After completing a Masters Degree in Art History in 2020 I realised that there are so many other kinds and styles of art that inspire me and for which I hope to continue studying and reflecting in my own practice. I aim to learn something new with everything I create, which is what motivates me to continue to make art.

You can find more on my Instagram @jhoannamonteart