Jose Maria Castillo, international portrait artist, brings classy, prestigious and traditional art to us with his painterly and dazzling style. His portraits are different and refreshing museum pieces of our loved ones.

Portraiture is Castillo's life-long passion. He became "the society painter" in Puerto Rico. Among his achievements are two portraits of Senators which are now each hanging in their own room dedicated to them at the Capitol in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Castillo studied at the National School of Fine Arts in Lima, Perú. During the 70's, he relocated to New York where he became very successful as fashion illustrator for exclusive boutiques and stores; during this time, he prepared himself as a portrait painter.

The artist studied at Parson's, School of Visual Arts, Society of Illustrators, Fashion Institute of Technology and Art Student's League in New York . At the League he studied and attended seminars with Robert Beverly Hale, an authority in anatomy; Anthony Palumbo, Fogarty, Sanden, Lefell, Shanks, Greene, Teply, and with Faragasso he learned the Reily system among others. There he became interested in the Great Master's which he studied for years from Tizianno, Velázquez and on through the 19th century.

Castillo traveled to Europe where he visited the studios of many great painters, among them: Sorolla, Boldini and Hals. Jose Maria was also an art instructor at the Sacred Heart University in Puerto Rico. He has done demonstrations at several institutes and taught private classes in both Puerto Rico and the United States.

Currently living in the Naples, Florida area, he is available to show his portfolio of commissions and works in progress and share his talent. He is also available for seminars or workshops.

The artist does an interview to determine the needs of the family or corporation followed by some sketch sessions and photographic reference materials. A commitment is required prior to the sketch sessions where color schemes, size, and other factors are determined and developed for the final art work.

Jose Maria Castillo is part of Stroke of Genius and his wife Ivette Gomez is a counselor in Naples, Florida.

CONTACT

Jose Maria Castillo
1456 31ST Street S.W.
Naples, Florida 34117
239-348-9485
castilloart25@yahoo.com

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