Steven Castillo is an Indianapolis-based artist who successfully walks the fine line between high-art and street art. Castillo, who is originally from El Salvador, paints beautiful portraits on both canvas and walls.
Casillo’s works stand out compared to traditional portraits. While highly detailed, his works are also characterized by surreal moments and a psychedelic-like mix of colors.
For example, his series “Behind the veil” features portraits of women who have their faces covered in veils. The veils are always painted in a variety of overflowing colors and cling to the face and body of a subject. This allows the artist to outline the main features of the subject in a realistic way without actually showing them to the viewer.
To achieve the unusually psychedelic effect of his works, Castillo mostly relies on the painting technique known as acrylic pouring. The way the technique works is that the artist pours acrylic paints into each other or tilts the canvas while distributing the paint. This results in vivid patterns that can’t be replicated.
You can check Castillo’s street artworks in various cities in the United States, including Indianapolis, Houston, and Oklahoma City. His paintings, on the other hand, can be seen on social media or purchased on Etsy and other online shops.
