Monica Blignaut (1994) is a South African artist who specialises in impressionistic painting. This style is defined by its visible brushstrokes, often in short, choppy strokes, and a focus on the immediate impression of a subject, rather than precise detail. painting. Her paintings focus on mood and atmosphere, conveying the moods and emotions aroused by the subject rather than a detailed tone‐picture. 

 

Monica much like the prominent Impressionist painters, including Claude Monet and Edgar Degas, has a unique eye condition that influences and guides her artistic vision and techniques. Her condition influences her ability to perceive shapes,  colours and details leading to her characteristic painting style. She layers brush strokes allowing for the viewer's eye to optically mix the painting in real time. The closer you come to her painting the more blurred and out of focus it seems.

 

In her monochromatic landscape painting series Blignaut explores nostalgia, memory and yearning through the materiality of painting. Her subject matter of physical spaces explores the lasting effect landscapes have on us and what remains after time. 

​

In addition to her artistic practice, Monica runs a professional art studio. The Blue Gecko art studio is a painting studio based in the city of Cape Town.  

​​