Halo (not the video game)

Hello world! I hope everyone is enjoying 2011 thus far! I've been away from the blog a bit longer than I had wanted but I'm back. Here's a new piece I just "finished" today. It's mixed media. I tried to convey as much emotion as I could. I remember when all my work had some sort of humor behind it. I guess your art changes as you change. I will probably go back and add some stuff to the piece. Constructive suggestions are welcome. More work soon to come so feel free to follow the blog if you haven't already! I'll be doing a lot more experimental art in 2011.

"Halo"
Mixed Media


http://christiancastroart.com/

Look At This F*cking Illustration!

So Hipsters are all the rage nowadays! (Or at least making fun of them is)
I have recently become addicted to the site, Look At This Fucking Hipster. It's hilarious!
Spending a good amount of my summer in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I've come in contact with quite a few hipsters. Whether you love them or hate them, you have to admit they are entertaining to look at!
I think it's time illustrators embrace Hipster-ism (i think that's a word?)
Even Superman has gotten a Hipster makeover! See it HERE or check out this simple yet great piece by illustrator, Alisa Yang HERE.

I think I'm going to call this piece, "Trapped by a Trend" since sometimes it seems like they can be incarcerated by their own lifestyle. I wish I could do another painting so I could fit the PBR beer and his Asian girlfriend. Anyway enjoy!



http://christiancastroart.com/

Passion for Fashion?

I wouldn't call this a fashion illustration. It doesn't have the traditional fashion illustration body proportions. But I don't think that's always necessary. J. C. Leyndecker is famous for his Saturday Evening Post covers but much of his success came from his fashion illustrations. This includes his famous "Arrow-Collar Man" I''m sure he helped sell thousands of shirts with that one all while painting people realistically.

So I guess this is more of an image influenced by fashion illustrations. I've been looking at a lot of Cole Phillips works. I don't think I'll ever get tires of his fade away girls. Thus I made my own:



It's done in pencil with blue India ink in sketchbook. I keep painting in my sketchbook. It's just so compact and convenient! Till next week bloggers!

As Tall As Lions

For those of you who don't know, one of my favorite bands is As Tall As Lions. You can listen to some of their stuff HERE. I was lucky enough to watch them perform back in the summer of 08.
Unfortunately a few months ago they announced that they were breaking up and are currently doing a farewell tour . So I pay my tribute to them the best way I know how- by painting their portraits.

So Cheers to a great band with great music! Best wishes to Julio, Saen, Cliff and Dan on their future projects!



http://christiancastroart.com

NEW WEBSITE!

Hey everyone! After months of hard work mixed in with procrastination, my new website is finally up and running! So make sure to check it out when you get a chance and tell all your art friends about it!

CLICK HERE or even HERE to see it or just go to http://christiancastroart.com

Frustration

The past few weeks have been pretty difficult. I injured my ACL in my right knee and had to go to the emergency room, thus forcing me to stay home and be unable to work. Therefore I'm currently unemployed (again). Plus I missed all of Illustration Week.

But on the bright side (if any) I've found more time to work on my portfolio as well as some personal pieces. This mixed media piece I did in my sketchbook pretty much sums up how I have felt these past few weeks. It's pencil, and acrylic on gessoed sketchbook.



Until next time...

Society of Illustrators Lecture

So last week I was asked to give a lecture at the Society of Illustrators regarding interning at the Society and what I have gotten out of it. I was accompanied by former interns and now illustrators, Jess Yeomans, and Johnny Dombrowski as well as current interns Kerry Campbell and Darci Shea.
We had a great turn out form dozens of college students. Hopefully my speech was helpful!


This picture was taken as I was speaking. I'm the one in the front wearing the plaid shirt. My head is tilted. That's how you know I was in the zone!