Artist Profile

Carlos Castillo was born in London, England. Much of his formative years were spent in the tiny Central American nation of Belize.

He had an affinity for art at a very early age, but it was not until his second year of high school that he was encouraged by his art teacher to develop his creative talent and pursue painting .

His unmistakably natural talent was fueled by the endless array of subject matter that this tropical jewel on the Caribbean coast provided. Along with the usual landscapes and seascapes, his realistic, culturally inspired paintings also depicted several social scenes from across the country. One such painting of his grandmother cooking on an outdoor stove on one of the many offshore islands, garnered him the top prize in a nationwide art contest. Along with other student artists, he showcased his paintings at several local exhibitions.

After moving to Miami, Florida in 1991, there was a brief hiatus from painting. His interest shifted to studying architecture and design, another of his passions. When he resumed painting a few years later, his style had changed considerably to a vibrant, whimsical one. The colors and themes were bright and energetic, inspired by the prolific Latin American and Caribbean culture in Miami. Music and the celebration of life seemed to play a central role in his simple caricatures of social scenes.

His work took another dramatic turn shortly after relocating to Los Angeles, California in 1997. Painting became instinctive and spontaneous; with themes ranging from nudes to landscapes.

Carlos has described his current style as his most satisfying to date, because he feels more connected with the work that seems to flow quite naturally from his thoughts to the canvas.