About the Artist

Color, light and memories are what Jo Knoblock Castillo's painting is about. The artist has always had an interest in art and working with her hands. Whether it was cooking, sewing or making gifts, she was happy to be "doing". While living in Bolivia, she finally rediscovered her love of painting. Her interest is in landscapes and paintings that have connections to her life.

Jo works in most media, but has discovered she really enjoys the special luminosity of pastels. The colors are clear and vibrant. Jo states, "Pastel is my favorite media. They are tactile, bright, beautiful and long lasting. Painting with a pastel in my hand is drawing and painting all at once. My artwork is always evolving, I learn something new each time I create a new piece.I enjoy painting from life and use my own reference photos just as a reminder of shape or lighting."

Winters find Jo and Gene, her husband, living in Bastrop, Texas. It is near family and offers a mild climate and plenty of live music and opportunities to paint. Jo looks forward to plein air painting while traveling each summer. "It is a challenge to set up an easel and paint a scene in just a couple of hours," Jo says, "The light is very fleeting and you have to get down large sections of light and dark very quickly to establish your painting. Weather doesn't always cooperate and uninvited visitors like mosquitoes or snakes are not uncommon."

    Jo signs her paintings with her last name, Castillo, and a "no" with a square/block around it. She started doing this at Gene's suggestion. Jo's father signed notes and letters with this signature for his last name, Knoblock (no block). Jo decided to put her maiden name on her paintings to remember her Dad.