Jose has caught a small bird 2010

Jorge Castillo made this painting, titled "Jose has caught a small bird," with oil on canvas. The subdued palette creates a quietness; like a half-remembered dream, each muted tone seems to blend seamlessly into the next. The physical qualities of the paint itself are interesting here, because it is neither thick nor thin, but has instead been applied in such a way as to create a consistent, even surface. But then the forms and shapes within the composition push against this sense of harmony, as areas of contrasting light and shadow create dramatic shifts in perspective. Take the angular structure in the foreground, for instance; Castillo constructs a series of interlocking planes which, though simple in form, create a complex interplay between volume and void. The influence of Morandi comes to mind, but perhaps also a touch of Balthus. This painting invites a kind of slow looking, allowing the viewer to discover new relationships and connections with each viewing.