Qhamanande Maswana was invited into the workshop to experiment with Monotype making in early 2025.
Qhamanande’s images allow the viewer the opportunity to be present within a reflective and intimate moments among people. Working from photographs of friends and strangers his portraits capture contemplative moments that resonate individual personalities within environments. Themes of family, identity and relationships start to whisper to you from the canvas… or print.
Qhamanande initially tested layered oil-based monotypes. The technique resonates with his vibrant paintings. Thin layers of intense, pigment loaded lithographic ink are painted onto the smooth surface of monotype plates. A damp sheet is then placed on top and both substrates are run through the press. A single impression is pulled from these efforts resulting in a unique painterly print.
Unlike oil-based monotypes that require being wet when printing occurs, water-colour monotypes require a slower and more laboured application. Allowing the paint to dry in between layers and slowly building up the intense colours that Qhamanande manages to achieve. He also worked with water-soluble drawing mediums of Stabilo Woodies to include line marks. The artist pushes the expectation of delicate washed-out watercolours and brings vibrancy and life to his monotypes.
Qhamanande Maswana is a visual artist currently based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Maswana grew up in King William’s Town, a city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
Maswana has developed a unique style of portraiture which speaks to both the beauty and challenges of everyday life in South Africa. Effortlessly blending reality with imagination in each portrait, he often depicts the people he encounters in his day-to-day life in surreal purple hues as a way of portraying ‘the strength of [his] people and their descendants from royalty.
Maswana views his work as a way of touching souls visually, ‘’I hope to entice the viewer to take a closer look at my art, to see and feel the beauty and stories of The people I paint as I see them. I love when a painting speaks to a viewer and they form a personal connection to it. Ultimately, I hope my paintings create a pause for the viewer to connect with their own soul and reflect on the mysteries of life.
This series of monotypes will be on show at the Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair in march 2025 at the David Krut Booth.
For more information contact