Geralin Castellano
Geralin Castellano has been passionate about creating art from a very young age. She graduated from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia in 1998 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and drawing.
Geralin’s art has appeared in galleries across several states and her favorites are the ones that the proceeds to go charity. She has also worked with the Mural Arts program of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Museum of Art as an arts educator and worked in the New Jersey school system for 20 years as an art teacher.
Geralin Castellano is currently a High School art teacher where she gets to share her knowledge and continue to create not only art, but connections within the students who she’s helped discover their passions for art as well. Her days outside of the classroom are spent creating and growing as part of the NJ arts community.
Q&A
Q: What town do you live in? Where is your studio/place of work?
A: I live in Montville NJ. My studio is in Montville NJ and I work as
a High School Art Educator in Morristown NJ.
Q: What kind of art do you create/what do you do in the arts?
A: I am a fine artist/painter. I work predominantly in watercolor and
ink.
Q: What is your art background/education/
training?
A: I studied painting at University Of The Arts. I have a BFA in
Painting, and a bachelor’s in Art Education.
Q: How do you balance your time in the studio/in the workplace with other commitments?
A: I don’t know if I’m ever actually balanced completely. It’s kind of
a give and take from day to day.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being in the arts? Least favorite?
A: Showing my work and having people be able to connect with
something I have made. I feel that connection is a significant aspect of the arts. I would say my least favorite aspect is the
isolation that comes with the art at times. As an artist, you have
to internalize a lot of emotions and reflect that into your art,
which at times can become exhausting and can be a lot to
handle.
Q: How do you stay connected and up to date with the art world?
A: Through social media and online art magazines. And, locally,
attending First Friday art events within NJ and Philadelphia.
Q: What memorable responses have you had to your work?
A: I find it interesting when someone sees something in my work that I never saw myself nor had any intention of creating. I am
inspired by organic shapes and nature, but rarely do I create
anything that is meant to represent something in pure form.
Q: Do you have any exhibitions/events/performances coming up?
A: I don’t have anything in the near future, but I very recently had
an exhibition at The Barn Theatre in Montville and also
participated in the Dog Days of Boonton and currently have that
piece on display until the end of September.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I’m continuing my series of watercolors exploring shapes and
textures found in nature.
Q: Has your practice changed over time? Why/How?
A: At first, I only worked with oil paints because I enjoyed being
able to go back and rework things. I was intimidated by
watercolor at first because once you place the medium down
you can't remove it. But I fell in love with the unexpected, and
permanence of the medium.
Q: What inspires you? Who are your favorite artists/ artwork? Favorite museum/ gallery (outside of Morris County
A: Colors and layers and textures found within nature inspire me.
My favorite artists are Modigliani, Lucian Freud, Basquiat, and
Cy Twombly. My favorite museum would have to be The Met.
Q: What are a few of your big artistic career goals? What is your dream project?
A: To teach painting at the University of the Arts, and to open a teaching gallery for inner-city children.
Q: When you are working through problems in your arts practice, who do you talk to? What is the best piece of advice you've been given? What advice do you have to give other artists?
A: My husband and my daughter. My professor once told me “Always leave yourself open to being inspired by fellow artists”
and it has always stuck with me. I have also been told “Its ok to feel like a work has never been complete, sometimes its best left unfinished”.
Q: Where is your favorite place to find visual arts in Morris County?
A: Boonton First Friday, my art students in Morristown, and nature
in general.
Q: Where can people see your work/art?
A: GeralinCastellano.com as well as @geralincastellanoart on
Instagram.
