Meet Artist Claudine
Claudine is Filipina American living in Orange County, CA who, for over 27 years, has been creating pieces ranging from live sketches to acrylic paintings on canvas. She always felt compelled to create, from a toddler drawing on walls in her home in Manila, to an adult, painting murals in Costa Rica.
Claudine graduated from University of California Irvine with a Bachelor in Studio Arts in 2011 but did not pursue a professional career in art. She was afraid because of society’s discouraging claims that there was no future or money in art. Instead, she built a personal training business in 2016 and has serviced over 200 health & wellness clients. It seemed like the more practical approach, but as time went on, Claudine realized that she needed to create art no matter what since that brought her happiness.
As her work as an artist evolved over the years, Claudine realized that art can come in different forms and is not limited to technical, rigid practices that she learned in formal education. The pressure of creating art in traditional forms slowly dissipated. Claudine found that creating intuitive, minimalistic paintings from nature & passersby is enough to convey joy and gratitude for the simple things!
A statement from Claudine…
The art I create is inspired by people, things, and places that bring me joy. I find delight in capturing the simple parts of life through art; like a monochromatic sketch of a family at the beach enjoying the sun, or a gouache painting of my fiancé’s plants decorated throughout our home. I want to radiate joy and gratitude into my pieces in hopes that the viewer will feel those same sentiments.
I consider myself a chaotically organized person. My art is the same. Even though my sketches and paintings are all so different, they follow a theme of nature, people, and space (yes, outer space too!)
My creative practice involves both intricate palette knife impressionistic landscape paintings and abstract, imaginative splatter painted galaxies. Since I was 5 years old, I have been fascinated with how vast the universe is; realizing that I’m so small helps me forget about my worries.
Having removed pressure and intimidation behind the creative process, I now follow a simple philosophy. My art practice is like a brain dump/therapy session. When I get rid of the energy taking up too much space in my body and brain, I feel more at peace. And when I’m at peace, I have more space for joy and gratitude.
Artist Interview – Claudine
In this exclusive interview, we delve into Claudine’s creative process, exploring the intricate web of emotions, experiences, and inspirations that inform her artistry. Claudine’s work represents the simple yet profound connection between people, places, and things, serving as a testament to her ability to draw inspiration from the very essence of life itself.
“What was your most challenging piece
and why?”
‘Beat Scene’ Created 2023, Acrylic on Canvas, 40″ x 40″.
I wanted to release a lot of pent-up energy in my brain, and I didn’t want to overthink anymore. I just wanted to take action, instead of being paralyzed by my thoughts and need for perfection to create an art piece. It also reminded me of the jazz music I heard all over New Orleans during my visit in 2019.
This was the most challenging piece for me because I hadn’t painted on a larger canvas in a while. Each layer felt like a failure but the whole piece finally came together after the 4th layer.
“How do you align with The Art Spread’s mission of inclusion and awareness?”
I’ve always valued inclusion, ever since I was a kid. I think it’s because I migrated from the Philippines when I was 6 years old, and I felt what it was like to be alienated because of the way I looked and the “different” food I brought to school.
I was also socially awkward and had a difficult time making friends at a young age, and I didn’t realize how I let anxiety rule my life until I worked through mental shifts in my adulthood. I never want anyone to feel that way – the best thing I could do for someone is to feel like they can be completely themselves around me.
Knowing someone’s struggles and the unique places they come from are so valuable to connection and creating more empathy in the world.
“What emotions are expressed in your art”
Joy, excitement, and curiosity.
“How can our audience keep in touch with you?”
Youtube: claudine castro
Instagram: @claudinecastro.cpt
@claudinecastrostudio
Tiktok: @claudinecastrostudio
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Shop Claudine’s art here:
‘3 Tier Strawberry Shortcake with Fluffy Whipped Cream’
‘Anti-Diet Cake’
‘Handheld Strawberries and Cream with Vines’
‘Handheld Strawberries and Cream’
‘Oranges Swimming in Pink Fluff’
‘Strawberries and Cream and Paint’
‘Strawberry Sando on a Pink Background’
‘You’ll Be Okay Mini Cake’
‘Chashu and Eggs on Ramen’
‘Stream’
‘Warm Waves II’
‘Sunny Pier’
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Claudine’s gorgeous abstract artwork is a gift to behold. Her unique ability to capture a sense of balance and harmony through color, shape and composition, glows in four beautiful pieces that now grace our home. Her discerning visual expression extends to delicate pen and ink illustrations, reminiscent of ancient art and as stunningly beautiful. We look forward to adding more of Claudine’s original work to our growing collection.