Cecil Castillo Art

PDF version of "The Nativity"

2010-12-25T09:54:00.000-08:00

E-mail me for a copy of the pdf version of the nativity story. Until I figure out how to attach it to my blog.

pages 9-10

2010-12-25T05:07:00.000-08:00

Pages7-8

2010-12-24T05:06:00.001-08:00

Page5-6

2010-12-17T04:55:00.000-08:00

What a busy week this has been, I'm a little bit late with postiung, I'll try to make it befor Christmas

Page3-4

2010-12-11T14:57:00.000-08:00

Here's the 2nd page, was busy all morning, my daughter's home and had to take my son to winter camp.

The Nativity

2010-12-10T04:34:00.000-08:00

I will be posting a page a day of a book about The Nativity, and later on when it's done, will be available on pdf format for download. I have a lot to be grateful for and just wanted to share with everyone.

Bookplates

2010-11-23T17:54:00.000-08:00

I love books. I've decided to make bookplates with these flower and owl designs.

These will personalize your favorites.

Dream, Swept Away

2010-11-19T04:16:00.000-08:00

Two new prints available at my etsy store. I love illustrating themes that have meanings.

This girl is pursuing a dream or is her a dream, someday to be able to do this.

Swept away by her love of fashion.

2010-11-16T07:15:00.000-08:00

These are my first selection of Whimsical Angels cards

These are my second selection of Whimsical Angels cards.

This is how it will arrive when purchased, individual cards and envelopes in a plastic sleeve.

The set of four tied together with a ribbon.

Whimsical Angels on Etsy

2010-11-15T18:02:00.000-08:00

Here are my whimsical angels, now available on my Etsy Store.

Angel of Tolerance. Whom I fear do not use enough, for if we did there would be no bigotry or hate.

Angel of Hope. Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.

Angel of Joy and Happiness. Happiness is a grateful spirit, an optimistic attitude and a heart full of love.

Angel of Forgiveness. Who among us could not do with more forgiveness in our hearts.

2010-11-15T17:51:00.000-08:00

Angel of Friendship. A true ffriend is one who overlooks your failures and tolerates your success.

Angel of Faith. Faith is a bird that feels dawn breaking and sings while it is dark.

Angel of Love. The heart always know, what the mind can dream of. Trust your heart.

Angel of Charity. Act as if what you do makes a difference...it does.

Whimsical Angels

2010-11-14T05:22:00.000-08:00

I have revised my angel artworks and they are ready. They will be a collection of 8 artworks to start. Waiting for my cards. There will be four designs in one set. Two sets of Whimsical Angel cards will be available in my soon to open Etsy store. Will be Posting the pics once everything is ready.

Change of name

2010-11-11T14:16:00.000-08:00

I am changing my title. My married name doesn't work for me anymore, changed back to my mom's maiden name. Also will use this name as my trademark since I will be registering it next year.

Getting Back on Track

2010-11-07T13:20:00.000-08:00

I haven't been posting, I am still actively drawing but not too much on my networks. I'd like to open an etsy stores for my christmas art, still trying to decide which ones to turn into a card, lots to choose from.

Alphabet

2010-09-16T10:42:00.000-07:00

I made this Alphabet for my sons room, he's four. I am making stickers and notecards from this art work.

Designs for Journal

2010-05-20T07:51:00.000-07:00

This is the last design I picked. All 4 designs will be the cover for journals. I like this one because it's cute.

2010-05-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

I picked this design from my checkered pattern collection. It's more aclectic, I guess its for a more sophisticated audience.

Putting together an inventory

2010-05-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

I am putting together designs that I will be including on a craft show I am joining. This will be my first in a long, long time. I will be posting all the designs that I have picked and will be adding them in my online store.

2010-05-19T14:25:00.000-07:00

I've picked these designs to be the cover for journals I will be selling. I need two more designs

2010-05-19T12:49:00.000-07:00

This is an ABC poster that I made for my little guy. I will probably be selling prints of it in the craft show I'm joining. For moms with little ones starting to learn their alphabet.

Postcards

2010-05-08T14:22:00.000-07:00

These two are on a roll. Postcard designs.

Postcards

2010-05-08T14:15:00.000-07:00

Here's a sample of my postcards. I will be showcasing my work at a craft show (I haven't joined one in years) and I am building my inventory.

I can Dance

2010-04-27T13:31:00.000-07:00

Made this for my daughter, she just finished her dance class.

Happy Earth Day!!!

2010-04-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

Venus Book

2010-04-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

A book I illustrated will soon be available. An introduction about the family history of a young multi-racial girl. The first of a series. Very proud of this book.

Prints of Work

2010-04-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

Choosing three prints to exhibit and promote for the Library Arts committee. I picked these three but will probably change my mind later.

Crystals Drawing

2010-03-30T08:11:00.000-07:00

This artwork is by my 10 year old Crystal. So proud of her

Butternut Angels

2010-03-27T04:10:00.000-07:00

2010-03-27T03:50:00.000-07:00

Working on my blog page to make it look better, not succeeding as you can see, will try another layout, in the mean while will be posting some angel pictures, my butternut angels which I have been working on.

Butternut Angels

2010-03-12T12:30:00.000-08:00

I'm a big believer of Angels. Angels are our little helpers; in joy, hope, sadness, love.

Friendship

2010-03-06T05:06:00.000-08:00

Another quote that I like.

Blowing Bubbles

2010-03-06T05:04:00.000-08:00

This little guy loves blowing bubbles just like my three year old.

Inspiration

2010-02-20T17:10:00.000-08:00

I illustrated the bears first and the other day was feeling down. I added the background and this is what I came up with.

Thinking of Spring

2010-02-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

I love, love, love spring. Flowers are starting to bloom, grass starting to grow, the promise of a new beginning. My store will soon be up and running check out http://www.cecilpaplinskiedesigns.com/

2009-12-07T11:20:00.001-08:00

I haven't been posting for a while. Family matters, back to my old form everyone's fine. I finally am catching up with the Christmas spirit. Here's my Santa.

2009-11-18T07:34:00.000-08:00

My Schedule

2009-11-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

Been really busy. Getting a brand new website. So excited, it looks good halfway done. My next video will be done really soon as well. Still making lots of design for licensing. New book "Venus, Global Child" will hopefully be out this Christmas, if not early next year. Written by Angelina Martha.

2009-11-02T10:24:00.000-08:00

Some of my sketches for my ABC's,

2009-11-02T04:56:00.000-08:00

Doing an ABC design for a nursery school. Getting ready for my next video on You Tube WATCH OUT!!!

Interview

2009-10-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

Come on over to Childrens Authors and Illustrators on Facebook. Check out my interview.http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45035902458

2009-10-26T14:47:00.000-07:00

I added the sun and the string on the birds beak, Tadaah.. all done.

2009-10-26T14:44:00.000-07:00

That's how I moved the birds around, I just added the hearts, I used my wacom to draw it in the picture.

2009-10-26T14:39:00.000-07:00

These are the birds I layered them into the illustrations, and moved them around a bit.

2009-10-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

I layered the image of the girl into the background and i shaded the shadows underneath, to give the picture more depth.

2009-10-26T14:01:00.000-07:00

I created a seperate file for the background.

2009-10-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

Another layer the card and flowers.

2009-10-25T22:06:00.000-07:00

I layered her sleeve and for her face I used my wacom for the shade and details.

2009-10-25T22:01:00.000-07:00

This is how my layer looks like, one is her baloon skirt and the other is her shirt. When you layer them in this is how it will look like.

2009-10-24T07:16:00.000-07:00

Here's what it looks like after shading the hair.

2009-10-24T07:10:00.000-07:00

Here's three images on how I added the layers, the one on the right, I have layered my other arm. After that I layered the hair, as you notice I shaded the image in the middle before adding the other layers for her ponytail.

2009-10-23T07:12:00.000-07:00

Here I added another layer which I have shaded; the leg. I shaded it from the inside so when I add the next leg layer there's depth.

2009-10-23T07:09:00.000-07:00

This is my pencil sketch and as you can see, I have already done three layers, one for the face, another for the arm and another for the neck.

step-by-step illustrating

2009-10-22T07:29:00.001-07:00

This is Ainanani, which means beautiful land in Hawaii, my first on a series of nature. Doing a research on names, and I love incorporating them in my drawings.

2009-10-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

Check out a wonderful group of talented illustrators on facebook http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?folder=[fb]messages&page=1&tid=1146796344344#/event.php?eid=144516267019&index=1 Also these amazing works in progress http://dianaevans.blogspot.com/2009/10/new-groupand-my-process-for.html http://phantasmagoric1.blogspot.com/ http://www.suerundlehughes.blogspot.com/

2009-10-16T07:19:00.000-07:00

Been very busy. Doing finishing touches for a book I am illustrating,

2009-10-10T05:37:00.000-07:00

Will be gone for two days. "Happy Thanksgiving to all!"

2009-10-10T05:32:00.000-07:00

After this, I layer all the other products together on my background. My cup, plate, bags, napkin. When I feel that the layout looks good, I click on merge and save it.

Finalizing my Presentation

2009-10-10T05:11:00.000-07:00

I like to present this as a group using the same character. I open a new page, I pick an illustration that I like; this illustration, I make into a layer. Then I click on layer styles, I pick visibility and I click on ghost. Now the background is ready.

2009-10-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

When I finish I the cup, I layer the illustration on top of the cup, then I click on transform and click to warp and I position the artwork to give it depth.

Making a Cup

2009-10-07T19:07:00.000-07:00

I'd wanted to make a set of a cup and plate. Here's how I make the cup. I use custom tool for ovals. I viewed this on a grid , to make sure both sides are even. I just run a line from one side of the bigger oval to the small oval

2009-10-07T07:58:00.000-07:00

I am going to make plates and cup for this character.

First the plate. I take my illustrated picture use the elliptical marquee tool. I make sure I have it around where I want included in my illustration, then I clip in crop. This I put aside for layering.

I open a new file, I use the round on custom shape tool, then I color with the bucket.

I wanted to put designs on this background, I pick the leaf design on brushes and spread it around a little bit.

I then take my cropped drawing and layer it on top of this background.

See finished product.

Making a Plate

2009-10-06T14:53:00.000-07:00

Join me tomorrow, I will be making a plate using these characters.

Another Gift Bag

2009-10-06T06:35:00.001-07:00

I wanted to show another design for the gift bag using the same character, but without the background. Here, I made another gift bag, but square in size. I wanted a lighter color.

Using photoshop, I just grab something from the custom shape. The I did the same thing, went to move, then transform shape and picked distort. Then I opened my character, the one without the background and layered it. I used transform shape again then distort for the perspective.

Then I used my marquee to ad the shading, I added little stars which came from custom shape.

Rendering your Illustration on your gift bag

2009-10-05T11:36:00.000-07:00

On your photoshop program

*Open the image of your gift bag.

*Open the image of your illustration.

*Your illustration will be your layer.

*Putting the illustration on the gift bag,

*click on transform, then pick distort

*move the ends so it will fit the front of your gift bag.

Gift Bag

2009-10-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

Today I am going to draw a gift bag. I will render my finished illustration to the a gift bag I have done in photoshop.

* First I draw a gift bag. Go to shape pick triangle or rectangle

*Use a paint bucket to color

*Click on your move tool

*Go to image, then transform shape, click on perspective

*when your shape is angled the way you want, continue making shape using polyganol lasso tool.

*Use paint bucket to color.

2009-10-04T17:52:00.000-07:00

This is a sample of a finished illustration.

Seperate Background from Character

2009-10-04T17:04:00.000-07:00

I usually do the background seperate. I also keep a seperate file, one for background and another for characters. This way too, you can use the same characters in different settings, you will see what I mean as we go along. When I'm done with the background I add the characters to the background as layer using photoshop. When the character is in place I draw an elliptical marquee tool under the character to give it shadow, it gives the character more depth and makes it look like it was drawn in.

My Characters

2009-10-04T08:28:00.000-07:00

@Precious Creatures . cecilpaplinskie.com

These are characters for my precious creatures collections. Creating your characters is the first step you do. Do them up in different poses, pick out your favorites and color.

Cecil's Illustrations

2009-10-02T10:14:00.000-07:00

I am starting a journey into licensing which had been my career for years before family life took over. I have started working on sketches and now have about a humdred of them that needs fine tuning. I also have colored a few. While on this journey I would like to share with everyone how I will be turning my illustrations into different products.

2009-10-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

A heartwarming story by Kathleen Holyoak and Sherry Summers. This is a heartwarming story. http://www.authorhouse.com/bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=57949

Illustrators Workshop

2009-10-01T20:50:00.000-07:00

I've recently joined a wonderfil group for illustrators http://illustratorsworkshopblog.blogspot.com/ First to showcase her artwork is http://aritistadonna.blogspot.com/ Check it out.

2009-10-01T07:51:00.000-07:00

Today at 1:00 central time listen me and fellow illustrators at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/RedRiverWritersLive/2009/10/01/Red-River-Writers-Live We will be talking about our work. We will also have a few insights on our techniques and start as illustrators.

"Color Me Happy"

2009-09-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

A delightful rhyming story by writer Sally Harris. Illustrated by me. Sadie's best friend moved away leaving her sad. Sadie discovers that she can change her mood with a rainbow of colors.

I am so happy with the outcome of this book. Its colorful, fun, I tried to make the illustrations relatable to a young audience. The whole book is done digitally.

http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/color-me-happy.htm

2009-06-10T12:08:00.000-07:00

This is a drawing of my daughter when she was six. I used colored pencil. It was exhibited at the South of 60 Arts Centre.

2009-06-10T12:04:00.000-07:00

This is a portrait exhibited at the South of 60 Arts Centre. I used charcoal for this artwork.

2009-06-01T07:51:00.000-07:00

This is an portrait that was exhibited at the North of 60 Arts Council. This is done in HB pencil.

2009-02-03T20:12:00.000-08:00

See my illustration for the story "Snow Day" by Elizabeth Weinstein. This is for the February issue of Stories for Children Magazine. Check them out at http://www.storiesforchildrenmagazine.org

A World of Stories

2008-09-08T21:22:00.000-07:00

I feel good about illustrating one of the stories for a very special book called "A World of Stories".

It benefits the Rotary District 5020 Literacy Fund. It is for a good cause. For more information

Please go to http://www.gumbootbooks.ca/