Monthly Artist Feature - Ivette Castillo Art - Minimalist Websites for Creative Entrepreneurs

Monthly Artist Feature -Ivette Castillo’s Art – Deeply Moody and Emotional Landscapes

Name: Ivette Castillo

Location: Los Angeles, Ca

The Good Canvas: Hi Ivette, We love your work and are so excited you’re here with us! Give the readers a little bio!

Hi, I’m Ivette Castillo. I’m a dedicated artist with a passion for transforming life’s moments into vivid, emotional expressions on canvas. My journey into art has always been fueled by a fascination with the interplay of colour, form, and texture, and how these elements can evoke a powerful connection with viewers.

From an early age, I discovered that painting wasn’t just a hobby; it was my way of making sense of the world around me. Inspired by the beauty of nature, human emotions, and cultural heritage, my work often reflects themes that are deeply personal yet universally relatable. I love exploring the boundaries between realism and abstraction, using a dynamic palette and bold brushstrokes to tell a story.

In every piece I create, my goal is to invite viewers into a shared space where memories, dreams, and feelings merge. Whether through a landscape filled with movement or a still life bursting with hidden stories, I aim to leave a lasting impression that encourages reflection and conversation.

Thank you for joining me on this artistic adventure. Your support and appreciation mean the world, and I’m thrilled to share my work with such a vibrant, art-loving community.

The Good Canvas: What do you create?

Ivette: I create mostly moody landscapes, some ships and florals. I began with acrylic and now switched over to oils on canvas panels.

The Good Canvas: Have you always been creative? Do you remember the time when you decided that creativity was going to be your career?

Ivette: I have always been creative since I was a child, drawing my favorite characters on tv and or little houses. I painted with acrylics and ink on paper on and off for many years through out my schooling year. In the beginning of last year, 2023 I began to collect vintage and antique frames I wanted to use for my art, then began to create paintings and design a website I had no clue how to do but I managed.

The Good Canvas: When did creating become a regular part of your life? What do you create today?

Ivette: Painting became a regular part of my routine last year around May of 2023. I paint with what I am feeling at the moment and what I gravitate towards which is always moody dark tonalistic paintings. I like to work with a limited color palette to achieve my paintings, the sky is my favorite it tells a story of movement and color.

The Good Canvas: What were the challenges you faced during the beginning of your creative journey?

Ivette: I began with a lot of trial and error and still do today. One of my challenges right now is sketching, I don’t sketch enough to learn my composition and values enough, I think it is key to painting and the process of building a good painting as a whole.

The Good Canvas: In a nutshell, what was the path that led to you establishing your current creative space?

Ivette: Mental health. I was a new mom with 3 under 3 with a lot of pressure to feel and have something for myself apart from being just “mom”. I needed a creative outlet such as painting and it gave me that and more. A few years back I went to school for nursing but after having children I no longer saw myself heading in that direction. I need the flexibility and ability to stay present with my children as they grow. Now they they are the reason I create to support and give them a better education through private school.

The Good Canvas: Do you have a studio? What’s it like?

Ivette: I only wish one day to have an art studio for now, I create in a corner of our bedroom with a desk and easel.

The Good Canvas: Are you a full- or part-time artist? Do you sell your creations? What platform do you use or would recommend to other artists just starting out?

Ivette: Full time artist creating and selling through instagram and my website.

The Good Canvas: How has being an artist/maker impacted your life, especially as a woman?

Ivette: It has impacted me tremendously knowing that I can create in the corner of my bedroom while my children go to school and still be present is the biggest blessing.

The Good Canvas: On any given day, what is your studio schedule like? Do you follow a routine? Do you have any rituals?

Ivette: On a normal school week after drop, I begin with my coffee always! After I plan, look back on photos or sketch what I want to painting that morning. I plan my paintings around my emotions, it helps me start and lead the way on how the painting will turn out. It usually takes around 3-6hrs + depending on the size and medium. I prefer Alla prima but if not I complete them in layers throughout the week.

The Good Canvas: How do you overcome creative blocks? Do you have a go-to exercise for jumpstarting your creativity?

Ivette: Oh yes! The struggle when the painting isn’t painting anymore. I step back completely and give myself a couple of days to reassess and recharge. I love to garden so I focus on everything else that isn’t about painting. It gives my mind a break from the process all together

The Good Canvas: Where do you look for inspiration?

Ivette: YouTube Video tutorials, skillshare tutorials and also researching the old masters and their artwork from the museum public domains. It is really good practice for small studies.

The Good Canvas: What are some of the greatest challenges you have faced as a creative online? Do you have certain suggestions for how to run a creative business?

Ivette: A big challenge is having your artwork reach art collectors that want to buy original art and also optimizing my website to its full potential.

The Good Canvas: Do you consider yourself an entrepreneur?

Ivette: Entrepreneur, yes in a way, because us artists not only have to make art but we also have to market, content create, curate collections, send emails, build connections, network, customer service etc it’s a full blown circle in a one woman show. I think that’s where it begins to kill the spirit of creating sometimes and I have learned when to step back and breathe a bit. Being self-aware of it is key.

The Good Canvas: How do you maintain an entrepreneurial spirit when you’re creating? What things are non-negotiables in order to sustain your business?

Ivette: Making a plan on what I want to create and enjoying the process is what keeping me going as well as seeing my paintings come to life. During the stressful times of the business it does still get exciting and more when a collector also loves your work.

Non-negotiables, I need my space and time to get creative. In order to sustain my business, it has to be compartmentalized in a way that is balanced in all the other areas in the home as well. It’s a collective.

The Good Canvas: What advice would you give to other creatives that are maybe struggling to find time, space or waiting for a studio or even those that have started, perhaps from their dining room tables?

Ivette: Just start! Keep going even when you feel lost or can’t find your niche, you will through your own process and trial and error. Create your own little space that makes you feel inspired to create everyday. Keep a sketchbook, start with the basics and learn the fundamentals. Make it a self-care routine you like to do and let it flow.

The Good Canvas: What would you like to share about your work? And where can readers learn more about you and your business?

Ivette: What I’d love to share about my work is that each piece is a heartfelt expression of myself. My art is driven by a desire to capture moments and experiences that resonate with people. I’m constantly inspired by the interplay between the natural world and human emotion, and I strive to create art that feels alive, meaningful, and transformative.

If you’re interested in seeing more or learning about the journey behind each piece, I invite you to my website, ivettecastilloart.com. You can also connect with me on social media for a behind-the-scenes look into my creative process and to stay updated on new releases and events. Thank you for being part of this artistic community!

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ABOUT THIS POST

This post is written by Donata Delano – A Professional Artist, Graphic Designer and Architect based in Canada and Mexico. She specializing in visual communication and web design, creating branding solutions and websites that are thoughtful, unique and aesthetically pleasing.

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