Candice Castillo is the artist behind the products of "HEart by Cc", a creative, faith based line of mixed media products. She is a mother, wife and creative soul based out of California. Find links to her shop and Instagram beneath the interview.
Hi Candice! Thanks for agreeing to this interview. I am so excited to get to know more about you.
-First, why don't you tell us a little about yourself.
C: I was raised by 2 amazingly creative and hard working parents who painted a picture of true love for me to follow. We lived an all American love story and my childhood looked a lot like a movie. In 1989 my brother was killed in a tragic downhill skiing accident at the age of 11 and our love story was shattered. But my parents worked very hard to put our lives back together. And their love for each other and for me have kept us together united by the memory of my beloved brother Travis. For a long time after his death I searched for love and purpose. I found an amazing partner in my husband (together for 18 years) and my 3 sons who teach me about selfless love through their unique special needs. But more over I found those things in overflowing bounty through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He has given me the greatest love and purpose. More than I ever though possible.
-How long have you been working as an artist?
C: I was drawing everything I saw around me from the time I could hold a pencil. My grandmother begun teaching me to paint when I was 3. In many ways I've always been an artist. However 2 years ago I begun sharing my art and eventually selling it. I just left a career of 10 years to pursue being an artist as a career.
-What are your favorite materials to work with?
C: This is so hard because honestly I dabble in everything (except sewing and pottery but there's still time to get into those!) I would have to say my favorite material is acrylic paint and working on unique canvas, like found items.
-You have three sons. How has being a mom affected your work in terms of logistics? How do you make time for it all?
I never make "to do list". I know some people live by their list and planners but I've found the only way to do it all is in the moment it needs to be done. I begun working for myself in my last career when I was 8 months pregnant with my oldest. I have always worked in a home office. I've never taken more that the hospital stay off from work when I've had them. Theres just always been enough time to do it. And by enough I mean enough GRACE to be sure I've done all I can do when I've needed to do. Motherhood has always been and remains my number one job each day. That often means that paint dries before it gets the chance to met the canvas. Or that I don't get all my ideas out that day. But there's tomorrow for my art. There won't always be tomorrow's with young wildly creative little boys. They grow up to quick. So they come first always. God grace allows for the art my heart needs everyday whether that's the art of motherhood or a painting.
-Your faith is greatly reflected in you work. What else inspires you?
C:I'm so inspired by people. Not the famous ones. But the ordinary everyday people that are just doing what Gods called them to be. I'm also inspired by colors. I love color so much that I don't see color...I feel color. Weird, right? But seriously color and how it makes me feel inspires so much of what I do.
-You have a wide selection of products to chose from - jewelry, hand painted books and boxes, wood plaques.... yet everything is cohesive. Tell us a little bit more about how you decided to start working on things other than canvas.
C:Mostly I create what I love and that's rarely ended with one item, one medium, one product. If I love it then I'll try to create it for others to love too.
-I've seen some shots of your studio space on instagram. Any advice on storage tricks for paint, collage paper, etc?
C: So when I started doing art daily, my entire studio was in one little box in my living room. It wasn't until I turned my home office into a part time art studio that I begun looking for ways to make my growing art supply collection into decor... I was really just trying to get it all to fit! Supplies can be beautiful to look at so if you love it why not hang it on your walls?
-Who are your favorite artists?
C:I'm crazy about lots of artist but the Artist who has most inspired me is Flavia Weedn. She's my role model and I feel in love with her work when I was 7 years old.
-Advice for aspiring artists/crafters?
C: Dream it and do it. Don't wait for the right time. The right time will never be right with the worlds clock. Take a chance and be willing to let God direct your steps and your days. If you've already started on this path... Don't give up! Fear will tell you to. It will tell you that your work is not good enough. Don't listen. Allow Gods voice in your heart to be the only voice loud enough to make a difference.
-As a kid, what did you envision yourself doing as an adult?
C: This is exactly where I thought I'd be when I was a kid! Of course I got off track of this dream for a long time. The dream was really dusty when I decided to pick it up again. God never forgot it even though I wondered if HE had. My art has more meaning because of the detour my life took. Every single day I wake up so excited to see where God takes my art. That's an adventure I never knew was possible when I was a little girl sitting at her grandmothers easel in her nightgown.
Thanks again, Candice, for this wonderful peek into your life!
Find Candice at
@heart_by_cc on Instagram
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