I am a self-taught mixed-media photographer and painter based in Spain. My artistic journey began in commercial portraiture and fashion, where I developed a keen eye for light, composition, and human expression. I have also completed photography courses at EFTI...
Read MoreI am a self-taught mixed-media photographer and painter based in Spain. My artistic journey began in commercial portraiture and fashion, where I developed a keen eye for light, composition, and human expression. I have also completed photography courses at EFTI Madrid, which deepened my technical and conceptual foundation.
A growing curiosity toward more introspective and layered visual narratives led me to explore deeper artistic territories. Early in this transition, my aerial photography series Ephemeral Moments was selected for PhotoEspaña, a milestone that validated my evolving approach and encouraged me to push further into experimental work.
Over time, my practice has transformed into a deliberately baroque aesthetic—one that embraces complexity, texture, and emotional density. This evolution was catalyzed by my parallel practice in acrylic and watercolor painting, disciplines that taught me to embrace imperfection, gesture, and the poetic power of marks and colors. The marriage of photography and painting became inevitable: I treat images of models, flowers, and abstract textures digitally, then layer them with hand-painted acrylic marks that I scan back into the digital realm, creating a cyclical dialogue between the analog and digital worlds.
My work is guided by a romantic sensibility—one that searches for intimacy, vulnerability, and beauty within fragmentation. Drawing inspiration from Baroque painting, botanical studies, and the concept of "memento mori," I explore themes of identity, impermanence, and the interplay between natural decay and human resilience. I share my work primarily through Instagram, where it continues to evolve in conversation with a global creative community.
https://www.instagram.com/juanfcastellano/
