Meet Crystina Castiglione

Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystina Castiglione.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I grew up in New England and lived primarily in the Boston area until I was about 11 before moving down to Florida with my family. Growing up in a big city like that really allowed my childhood to be filled with museums, galleries, artists of all kinds and so many creative learning moments.

I always loved drawing and painting, but it wasn’t until high school and then college that I realized I couldn’t lead a fulfilled life until I made it a part of my career. I didn’t take college as seriously as I should have and had a really difficult time finding my creative voice, and really excelling in any one medium, so I ended up graduating with a B.A. in Art Education from the University of Central Florida and then went on to get my M.A. in Art Education from the University of Florida. I found that I was extraordinarily passionate about what art could do for students, and felt it was so important to connecting all of the other subject matters together – but unfortunately our education system just does not see the same richness that art brings to every child’s life. During my 3rd year of teaching I decided to start a little side business to supplement my income, but also to give me an artistic outlet for the stress I’d been feeling in the classroom.

Ironically as an art teacher, I was barely making or learning any art myself – another reason the classroom was becoming less and less of where I wanted to be. I started to teach myself new modes of making – lettering, calligraphy, watercolors and illustration. I also started taking on small commissions and wedding stationery work for friends and family. In 2015, I entered a contest for Beall’s Next Florida Artist, and while I didn’t win, I was chosen as a top 5 finalist, and went on to do freelance work for the company. This gave me the boost of confidence I needed to turn my side hustle into a main hustle. In May of 2017, after 5 years of teaching high school and elementary, I was completely burnt out and quit the classroom forever.

Even though I wasn’t exactly where I wanted to be financially, I decided my health, well-being, happiness, and ultimately love for creativity was more important, decided to run my business The Messy Painter, full time. I am now based out of Saint Petersburg, Florida and my little creative business has grown to include high end custom watercolor wedding stationery, calligraphy and custom illustration for brides across the country, my own collection of watercolor prints, illustrations and fine art that I sell at state wide markets and boutiques, adult art workshops that I teach locally and occasionally travel to teach, and more recently textile and pattern design for hopefully my own collection of wallpaper, fabric and other fun home decor products!

Please tell us about your art.
My artwork is bright, vibrant and above all nostalgic. I don’t care about drawing or painting things perfectly or realistically – I’ve worked hard to create a style that sets me apart and that isn’t based on being “technically” the best, but rather about being slightly imperfect and appreciating that those imperfections are what gives it character. I strive to create things that people can look at and go “that reminds me of…” I love that my artwork can become a keepsake or mean something different to every person that chooses to hang it in their home.

For me, each piece or idea is inspired by a memory – whether it was somewhere I traveled, a place I grew up or something that I encounter on a daily basis that brings me joy – I hope to be able to bring that same happiness to others when they view my work. I’m specifically inspired by my upbringing in New England and all of my fond memories associated with the landscape and places I would frequent as a child there, the Florida landscape and many place within it that oftentimes people forget are very much a part of this wonderful and weird state, architecture and the stories that every different design of a building can tell, folk art illustrations from children’s books – I’ve always been a big reader, it started when I was a kid, and then of course food, because I come from a big Italian family with roots in Sicily. I think art is the sincerest form of storytelling, and I’ve always kind of imagined my artwork as a series of different visual chapters inspired by different points, memories and events in my life.

What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
I think today more than ever, artists have such a great opportunity to turn their passions into their career. So many jobs allow you to be creative, whatever that means to you. Art takes on many forms, it doesn’t just have to be on a 2D surface anymore. Social media as really given us all a platform to share our work and allow it to expand to a greater audience than an artist ever typically had in a gallery. This mode of sharing also allows us to bypass the gallery setting and sell directly to our audience.

While this might be bad news for galleries, it’s great news for the artist because we don’t have to be starving anymore! This has allowed me personally to make my art affordable; I don’t think buying local art – originals or prints, should cost your entire paycheck. I think about my early and mid-20’s self when I price my artwork, and what I would’ve been willing to spend to make my house feel like a home.

I don’t think you should have to be retired to afford gorgeous, thought-provoking, and meaningful artwork for your home. I also think artists have more opportunities than ever today to dip their toes in more than one artistic pool. I’m not “just” a painter, I’m wear many creative hats – and there’s really no end to what my creativity can morph or evolve into. I think as long as artists are open to continuing to learn and grow their craft, there are SO many different avenues available to us. Cities can support artists by giving them places to practice and sell their craft publicly, by commissioning them for local public projects and by turning to them first when new businesses need branding illustrations, artwork for decor or murals done, (just to name a few ideas). Cities can also support artists by NEVER asking for work for free, by compensating them for what they are worth, and by sharing their artwork, but ALWAYS crediting their artwork to everyone.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
If you’re local to St. Pete or Tampa, you can find monthly at the Indie Flea and St. Pete Indie Market. Also, if you’re local to those areas, or even if you’re not and you want to take an awesome day trip – you can take a watercolor workshop with me at my local art supply shop Whim-So-Doodle. If you aren’t local, you can currently commission watercolor architecture and select, (based on my own photographs), landscape paintings from me, or shop my currently available originals and prints in my online shop: www.themessypainter.com/shop. If you are looking to book me for all your wedding stationery and calligraphy needs, I book brides up to a year in advance, (and I fill up quickly!), so reach out to me via email to learn more: [email protected].

The best way to support not just my work, but ANY artists work is to always support local! Try to buy your artwork from local artists and artisans who work really hard to handcraft unique and detailed pieces, rather than buying from big department stores that often mass produce in-house made artwork and that artists never see any sales from. You can also support my work by sharing it on social media, telling your friends about it and even buying it as gifts for them! Follow me on Instagram: @themessypainter to follow my daily journeys, (and get peeks of my new baby boy, Wylder).

Contact Info:

• Website: www.themessypainter.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themessypainter/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMessyPainter/

Image Credit:
Crystina Castiglione

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