Arts
THE OSIDER MARCH / APRIL 2022
If anybody can capture a moment, it’s plein air painter and portrait artist Carly Castillon. It’s not just her 23 years of professional painting experience, or the fact that she’s been covered in paint since she was a kid. Carly puts more into her paintings than skill—her fluidity behind every stroke, her attention to detail, and her pure love for what she does brings life to every canvas. While Carly specializes in portraits and landscapes, she has a particular following in Oceanside for her pet portraits. Take one look and it’s obvious why. She’s mastered the craft of preserving the love we have for our furry friends, capturing every detail and encompassing their personality in a timeless and tear-jerking work of art. If you’ve ever commissioned a pet portrait by Carly, then you know those heart-swelling feelings. Especially for those whose four-legged family members have passed—one of Carly’s paintings is a token of love that’ll undoubtedly hang on your wall forever. “My passion has always been oil painting,” said Carly. “People started coming to me wanting a memory of a loved one who had passed or a pet and that’s how the commission started. I realized I really loved being able to give that gift to people and share that with them.” The passion Carly has for her craft is why people choose her over and over again to capture their fondest moments. She doesn’t shy away from detail, making her representation look strikingly like the real thing. She includes all those little features that count—whether that’s your father’s quirky crooked smile, the wavy texture of your dog’s fur, or the reflection of the clouds on the sand at low tide. Carly collaborates with her clients, and works with their ideas to create artwork that speaks to their heart and touches their life. “I just really love doing commission work for people more so than I like doing my own paintings,” Carly said. “It’s just incredibly rewarding.”
Plein Air & Portraits with Carly Castillon WORDS: SHELBY ROWE PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER
Carly started her career creating illustrations for children’s books, magazines, and newspapers. She did art shows on the side until she got enough work to pursue her passion full time, making her way to become an award-winning plein air painter and portrait artist. 24
Carly now spends most of her days doing exactly what she loves— painting commissioned pieces of landscapes, portraits, and pets. She paints all day everyday, and wouldn’t have it any other way. “I love doing portraits, landscapes, and pets because it just keeps it fresh. My focus
