Josie Del Castillo

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Healing, Learning, and Growing, 2020
oil on panel, 48 x 40.5 inches

Tell us about the work that you have submitted.
I find beauty in figurative painting, and by having this concept in mind, I use the love for figurative work to also find love for my body despite my flaws. I am holding myself as a form of self-love. I am emerging from an aloe vera that I have used before to represent healing. Since it is a common plant in Mexican American households, we tend to use this plant for its many healing purposes. I have gained awareness of what is important in my life. I need to learn to be nicer to myself. Because if I am nicer to myself, I will be kinder to the people around me. By practicing self-care habits, we learn to grow into better versions of ourselves.

How would you describe your studio practice?
My work often deals with concepts of body image, personal development, and growing up in the Rio Grande Valley. My body of work is composed of self-portraits and portraits of the people I admire the most, such as my family and friends, which can often be analyzed as reflections of myself. Through this series, I have been able to evolve into a journey of self-acceptance and have learned to represent my Mexican American culture in a positive outlook.

With the pandemic forcing the world to rethink how we keep moving forward, do you feel encouraged or inspired in your own studio practice to persevere despite these challenges?
I am sensitive to the energy around me, and by continuously being exposed to the recent news, it took a negative toll on me. Before the pandemic, I was in the studio every day and had a set routine. During the pandemic, I felt unmotivated and struggled to find the energy to be productive. The new challenge is getting back into a routine and being productive in a new setting.

Website: www.josiedelcastillo.com
Instagram: @josieleila