You might not guess from Jo Knoblock Castillo’s warmth and easy manner that she is an accomplished artist and entrepreneur, but a few minutes in her presence will reveal a wisdom and centeredness that can only come from someone who has her priorities straight and really knows how to live, as evidenced by the following interview. 

CM: As a Creative, you are immersed in ongoing creative work. Do you ever experience creative blocks, or lulls in your creative output? If so, what do you typically do to get back into the flow?

JKC: To preface this answer, I don’t think I am your average Creative. I actually got involved in painting pretty late in my life. We did not have art after our elementary school years and growing up in a small town in New Mexico, I did not have access to museums, classes or even other artists. My mother drew on calendars, letters and scrap paper and her sister was a fairly well known pen and ink artist so I did doodle and draw the odd picture now and then. Bill Alexander and Bob Ross got my attention as television became more of an interest or intrusion in our lives––whichever way you want to look at it. They both inspired many people to try painting by encouraging people to just try it. Their viewers believed that anyone can paint. I believe that now. A person just needs the interest, patience and ability to practice and learn.

I did not actually start painting regularly until 1994. I have friends and acquaintances that cannot go a day without doing some form of art, not me. I seem to need a purpose to paint. Even practicing relates as a purpose though, so most days I am creative in some way. I have always been creative, just not as a painter. I loved playing music in high school, sewing, cooking and caring for our family. This was a challenge when we lived in Bolivia, Peru and Chile for about fourteen years.

When I am in a funk or lull in my creative energy, I usually switch media. If I have been working with pastels, I try acrylics or oils. I do small pieces that I can finish in an hour or more. I learn every time I paint, so painting more small paintings is more productive practice for me than working for a long time on a large painting. Focusing and completing a piece gives me the “ah ha” moment and I am ready to go again.

My enthusiasm is renewed by looking at other artists’ work and reading about their ideas, inspiration and techniques. I do this mostly on the internet nowadays but I do try to visit museums, galleries and studios when we travel.

CM: Can you give a few examples of some of the things that are most meaningful to you today, both personally and professionally? In other words, what is most important to you? What do you do to invest energy in those areas while negotiating the challenges of everyday life?

JKC: Meaningful things both personal and professional become all tangled together. I have always been a person that believes in helping others. I have been a volunteer as long as I have been working and I started working at about 12 years of age. Many of my volunteer “jobs” involved art and creation. For example I painted murals on walls at an orphanage, donated paintings to auctions for charity, made banners, did advertising and promotion work, taught painting to young people and seniors.

I have belonged to various clubs and art organizations and spent much of my time there working to help the organizations work with the communities to encouraging cultural interest in fine art. As we are retired, I have not felt the push to be a “full time artist”. I have tried to be professional in the way I present my art and think of it as a business. I try to keep my time organized to give me creative time every day. It helps for me to do the paper/computer marketing work in the evenings and painting time during the day.

My husband retired in 1994 when he was 53 years old. This is early in most folks lives so it is important to me to have a full family and personal life along with my creative life. We have traveled to every State except Alaska, most of Canada, Mexico and South America. This relaxed lifestyle is very important to me.

CM: What current or upcoming projects are you most excited about and why?

JKC: As a senior citizen, I recently opened a studio/gallery in downtown Bastrop in April. This is the most exciting thing taking up most of my time. It was a difficult decision to make because we travel so much and I don’t want to give up on our laidback way of life and work full time. Luckily I have a good artist friend, Judy Hawes, that was willing to work with me to keep the gallery open while we are in New Mexico. Being in New Mexico for the summer is also great. I do more plein air (outside from life) painting during this time. Trying to capture the fleeting light is a big challenge. Of course, painting outside there is also weather and creatures to contend with.

My studio gives me more of an opportunity to teach. I love to share the information I have collected with other artists and encourage them to reach for their goals. The studio opens up my solitary painting world to other artists and being with them and discussing art is great for my creative side. Working downtown means more community involvement and that is a good thing, too.

About Jo Knoblock Castillo

Painter Jo Knoblock Castillo was born in ranching country of southwestern New Mexico in the edge of the Rocky Mountains. Her interest in painting taking classes with various artists began in the eighties. Jo 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 and took classes with a well known traditional artist, Yolanda Aguirre. 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. They are tactile, immediate and long lasting. Other than smudging if touched (they should be framed under glass), they are very durable. The colors are clear and vibrant. "I enjoy painting from life and use my own reference photos just as a reminder of shape or lighting," says the artist.

Jo signs her paintings with her last name, Castillo, and a "no" with a square/block around it. She started doing this at her husband’s, 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, a real hired hand cowboy. Visit www.jocastilloart.com to learn more about Jo and her work.