Women Artists - Candice Castillo Interview

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 

http://www.heartbycc.bigcartel.com/

@heart_by_cc on Instagram

Women Artists

Wanted to quickly share with you the lineup of artists I have to interview in July. I am calling the series "Women Artists" and am considering continuing it monthly! We will see :)

For July, I have (in order)

Candice Castillo



 Jennifer Currie

 

Ashlyn Metcalf

Lara Cornell

Hoping you all will enjoy these interviews as much as I have. These talented ladies have so much to share!

Why No One Likes Your Art

I recently read an article by Alex Mathers called "Why No One Likes Your Art: 26 reasons". It lists things like not being consistent, not having found your own style, you aren't good at it, etc etc. You can read all 26 reasons here.

Even though the article makes me sad, I really appreciated it because it rings true. It made me question whether or not I should even be selling art before I have found my true voice, and before I have reached a certain skill level. Is there no worth in the in between? Am I doing myself and my customers a disservice by selling my experimentations? Right now, art is definitely not a career. I don't make money. I earned about $1,300 last year, and $100 of it was profit. I use the money I make from each piece to fund material, classes, etc. to better my skill level and learn new things. And boy have I learned a lot in the past year.

After all, THIS was my first painting 2 years ago when I started making mixed media art and using paint.

What do you guys think about the article and selling art in general? Should artists wait until they are at a professional level (and what does that even mean? Isn't art still subjective?) or, if the artist feels happy with a piece and someone wants to purchase it, should he or she sell it?

I would love your input!

Inspiration + Art

Totally obsessed with round crochet rugs. I want to make one for the nursery. I want a thick, sturdy one in white and gold (is there such a thing as gold yarn? I am so obsessed with metallics right now). The one in the pic below is from here and made of an alpaca blend yarn. Absolutely love it... except for the price! $153/skein? No thanks! 

I'll definitely be making a trip to the yarn shop soon, and will let you know what I end up getting. Have to keep these hands busy during the husbands deployments!

* * *

Also wanted to quickly share a few new pieces of art with you. If you follow me and Instagram or Facebook, you may have already seen them.

I think there's something to be said for living in the moment and embracing your current reality even as you chase your dreams. I am one of those people who feels like they are never doing enough, so this little pieces was created to remind myself all these little moments add up. 

This piece was created using techniques I learned in Alena Hennessy's course A Year of Painting. It was exciting to paint a person for once.

As always, my art really reflects messages I need to tell myself. Feeling inferior? Just take a look at this piece and remember you are powerful. 

I embraced some more collage type elements in this piece. Absolutely obsessed with the background - it makes me happy every time I look at it. The large black flower stamps are hand carved.

Created this piece while thinking of the military life we live. I am not always gracious about the sacrifices we have to make, but in the end home really is just wherever we are together.

If you are interested in purchasing any of these pieces, please email me at TheWildestDandelion@gmail.com. They are not currently listed on etsy.

Thanks for stopping by!

First Art Booth

Last year I participated at the Great Cloth Diaper Change as a vendor, selling my hand stamped shirts. I also included a few art pieces at the booth. And in 2013 I participated in the La Leche Leagues Christmas Market, selling a variety of handmade items. Last Saturday was my first time at a craft fair selling nothing but ART!

It was pretty exciting.

Above is a shot of my whole "booth". I took up a huge amount of space, and even needed a second table. I felt kind of bad about that, but hey, I needed it!! :)

Selling nothing but art was a unique experience (and struggle). First, setting up. I didn't have the option of hanging things, and I only had a few tables easels, so most things had to lay flat.

It wasn't the best way to display items, but I also feel like if I had used an easel for every piece, they would have blocked each other and reduced visibility over all. 

I had a few large pieces to display, pieces that I am immensely proud of but that are also pretty expensive, so no takers on those.

                                         

I've shared the horse, "Wild", before, but here is a new piece in the series. A 30x40 giraffe, titled "Steak and Cigars". (He is named after Burton Guster in "Psych" because of the way  Burton does that lip smacking thing; it totally remind me of the giraffes mouth!"

My other problem was the venue/event/ It really wasn't a good place for me. It was on base, so limited access to start with. Then, much as I love my military people, they aren't the kind of people who buy my kind of heart. So of the 20 or so people who came through, one made a purchase (one other purchased online). I guess 10% isn't that bad, but I definitely left feeling discouraged.

I've since connected with other artists and received very helpful advice on future shows. There WILL be future shows!

In other news, I created a huge amount of art for this show, so I have lots of new inventory to list. I plan on making a post about these pieces very soon and finally getting back to using etsy.

In the mean time, does anyone else have any tips and tricks on running a successful art both?

Blue October

I haven't been to a concert in five years, partly because my back is so bad I just can't stand through it, but also because of the kids. Leaving children at night is extra hard.

Blue October is one of my favorite bands. I have seen them twice before, and they always put on a great show. The last time I saw them, in 2010, was at an outdoor concert. When Justin sang the lyrics, "let the rain fall down", it started to rain. EPIC! I will never forget that. I'll be telling my grandkids about it some day.

They were in town last Wednesday and I just knew I had to see them. Problem is, I have very few friends, and the ones I do have couldn't come. I was going to go alone but then one of the moms in my moms group (who I've never even met!) decided to come. I was surprised by what a great time I had with someone I didn't even know. Because my husband was deployed (he actually came home that night around midnight), the kids needed to stay with the sitter, and it was only the third time I've ever left Cambria with a sitter, and the first time anyone but me put her to bed. Of course she slept GREAT!

The whole night caused me anxiety. I kept stressing over the fact that I would be going alone, thinking about all the money I'd be spending (tickets were $24, a small fortune (har har)), how the kids would do, how would the other girl and I find each other, would it be awkward, on and on. It irked me that I couldn't just enjoy the night and have a food time. I did, eventually, manage to let it all go and enjoy the show. But boy do I wish I was just a normal person who could go with the flow. 

The show left me very inspired. I've missed the high you get when you are with an energized group of people who are completely like minded - at least, in terms of the music. I missed feeling a good beat traveling up my legs through the floor, moving me to the core. I identify very heavily with Blue Octobers music, their powerful lyrics, and their energetic performances. They are really the only band I started listening to in my teenage years and still love just the same today. I created this piece the next day (link to the song below):

Lazy Begets Lazy

When Patrick deployed several weeks ago, I quickly fell into a nice routine. Every night after the kids go to bed, I spend 30 minutes to an hour doing chores. I keep the downstairs fairly spotless. The upstairs is another story. But I've been pretty proud of how I've kept up with things. I have a mixed drink every night, and enjoy the process. It helps me unwind; it's almost meditative. A clean house makes my soul feel clean and organized.

But then.

Then, I should have several hours of free time, time to pant! Instead, I spend every night "relaxing". Netflix on, phone in hand, sitting on the computer.

Every now and then, it's really nice to relax. It's a lovely treat. But, relaxing really isn't very relaxing. It almost feels...toxic. The less I paint, the less inspired I am, the worse I feel. So. Tonight? I am getting off my butt and getting my fingers messy with paint :)