Artist's Statement

In my experience, nothing is flat; not paper, brushes, tables, thoughts or feelings. We reside among myriad layers of color, texture, and meaning.

I am always paying attention and interpreting the world in terms of these layers. In the studio, with art materials as tools of translation, I document my emotional responses to the world, employing layers of color and texture to convey my message. The dialogue, which begins in the studio between myself and the work, expands into a conversation when a viewer arrives.

Everything, from my earliest memory up until this moment, is a potential element, layer or color; nothing is wasted. Each contributes to my visual vocabulary. My work is about this accumulation; layers built up over time, worn away by use, rebuilt; illustrating the uneven patina of life experience.

Biography

Martha Castillo’s life reflects many facets of the arts. Starting with classical ballet as a young girl, she later discovered a home in her high school’s art programs: theatre, ceramics and mixed media. In college she earned a BFA in theatre arts, and later, a Master's degree in Art Therapy.

By the mid 70’s, Martha had embarked on an exploration of ceramics as a sculpture medium, and continued her studies in England where she lived for seven years. In 1993, Martha returned to California, and collage-making. Her art form shortly morphed into mixed media, with heavy use of acrylic paint and found objects. During her investigation into fine art printmaking, she was introduced to Mitch Lyons* and his innovative new technique, clay monotype.  Now working almost exclusively in this medium, she sets some time aside for teaching.

In addition to gallery representation, Martha shows in alternative spaces, including her own studio. Martha’s paintings have been compared to Richard Diebenkorn, and Hans Hoffman, among others.

Martha Castillo's artwork is represented in public & private collections in US, Canada, Mexico and Europe.

FAVORITE LINKS:
for more info about Mitch Lyons, clay monotype inventor  http://www.mitchlyons.com

Society of Layerists in Multi-Media, a National professional artist organization
http://www.slmm.org

Purchase Information
We accept most major credit and debit cards by telephone or regular mail. Workshop registration can be done on-line.  For further information, please call (650) 493-7763, 10am-4pm Pacific Time, or e-mail anytime.  Do Not send credit card details by e-mail.

Of course real art may look a bit different ‘in person’ than it does on the internet. If you are not completely satisfied with any purchase, you will receive a full refund upon safe return of the work.

Education
1989 - BTEC Diploma, (with Distinction) Studio Ceramics. Harrogate College of Arts & Technology. Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
1982 - Art Therapy Masters, Notre Dame de Namur University, Belmont, CA
1970 - BFA, (Theatre) Boston University, Boston MA

Gallery Representation
Gallery House   (650) 326-1668     http://www.galleryhouse2.com/
320 California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306

Kaleid Gallery    (408) 271-5151    http://www.kaleidgallery.com/
88 South 4th Street, San Jose, CA 95113

BeGallery   (845) 687-0660    http://begallery.com/
11 Mohonk Road, High Falls, NY 12440

Professional Experience
Slide Lectures & Demonstrations
2007 Clay monotype demo and slide talk, Menlo Park Art Guild, CA
2006 Clay monotype demo and gallery talks, BeGallery, Gallery House
2005 "How I Got Here" Plattsburgh State University NY Visual Artist Series
2005 ArtBeats, Cable Ch 6, San Jose, CA: gallery talk and clayprint demo

Teaching Experience
2006-date Clayprint Monotype workshops, & private instruction, various
2006-date Collage and Mixed Media Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
2000-date Drawing for Teens, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA

Exhibitions
2006 Silicon Valley Open Studios, Solo Show, Palo Alto, CA
2006 International Group Show, QuFu and Changde, CHINA
2006 Color & Form,  Gallery House, Palo Alto, CA
2006 Solo Show, BeGallery, High Falls, NY
2005 Silicon Valley Open Studios, Group Show, Palo Alto, CA

Solo Exhibitions
2005 Vibrant Earth, Clay Monotypes, Norton Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
2004 Abstract Canvas, Ravenswood Community Center, E Palo Alto, CA
2004 New Works, Books Inc. Café Gallery, Mountain View, CA
2003 New Paintings and Prints, ART21 Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
2001 Elements of Abstraction, Serra House, Stanford University, CA
2001 Abstractions, ART21 Gallery, Palo Alto, CA

Group Exhibitions
2005 Full Spectrum, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto CA
2004 Women's Work, Tressider Union Gallery, Stanford University, CA
2004 Art at Work, Alloy Ventures, (Corporate Lease), Palo Alto, CA
2003 A Woman's Place, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
2002 Amanacer de Mujeres, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL

Awards & Honors
2008 UArt Open 2008, San Jose, CA Third prize, mm
2007 AVArtFest, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara CA - Award of Merit
2005 Full Spectrum, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto CA - Honorable Mention
2002 Elizabeth Norton Distinguished Service Award, Pacific Art League
2002 Highways & Alleys, Pacific Art League - Honorable Mention
2000 Between Reality & Make Believe, Pacific Art League - First place
2000 Something Old, Something New, Pacific Art League - Second Place

Memberships
2004-date   Artist Career Training, Los Altos, CA (international organization)
2004-date   Society of Layerists in Multi Media, NM (national organization)
1993-date   South Bay Area Women's Caucus for Art, CA
1989-95      Society of Designer Craftsmen, Licentiate Member, London, UK

For more Clayprint Monotypes, Works on Paper, and Works on Canvas, see Martha's additional gallery at  http://marthacastillo.womanmade.net