Stephanie Castedo

Growing up in Bolivia’s Amazonian region clearly shaped your art. Can you share a childhood memory that continues to influence your creative process today?

When I was little, I loved playing outside with my cousins. Our backyard was basically a tropical forest, we climbed trees, played hide-and-seek, and explored all the animals, plants, and fruits around us. One of our favorite adventures was collecting motacú, a fruit from the Amazon. Those moments of being free, fearless, and adventurous continue to inspire me today, pushing me to explore new ways of expressing creativity with that same sense of wonder.

Stephanie Castedo | Beauty

Your works often balance chaos and beauty. How do you personally navigate that tension in your own life?

I try to find the beauty in everything. Shifting your perspective is so important, what looks like rejection can really be redirection, and mistakes often turn into lessons. Life is full of ups and downs, but by approaching challenges with a positive mindset, I’ve learned to grow both personally and creatively.

The tiger appears in several of your pieces as a symbol of strength and resilience. What does this animal mean to you on a personal level?

The tiger represents courage, protection, independence, and passion for me. As a woman and a Latina, I’ve learned that I have to stay strong no matter what challenges come my way. In the creative world, it can sometimes be difficult to be taken seriously, so the tiger is also a reminder to stand firm, that my art is more than just pretty flowers or a pretty face behind it. It embodies my fight to claim space and be seen for the strength behind my work.

Stephanie Castedo | Cholita

How do you see the relationship between your digital illustrations and your painting practice? Do they feed into each other?

Absolutely, they go hand in hand. In my digital work, I aim to keep things organic, emphasizing movement and embracing imperfections. I don’t want my illustrations to look too clean or mechanical, because to me, beauty lies in imperfection, it’s what makes us human. That same philosophy carries into my painting. I love when brushstrokes are visible and alive across the canvas, always flowing, always carrying traces of my flowers as a reminder of where I come from.

Stephanie Castedo | Empowerment

Your art often incorporates eyes as symbols of awareness. Can you explain how this theme connects to your understanding of human emotions and self-reflection?

For me, the eye is a reminder to always stay true to yourself. Being aware of your own emotions is essential to growth, and I try to honor both my feelings and the feelings of others. Vulnerability can be intimidating in this world, but I believe it should be celebrated. Through my work, I hope to create a space where honesty, self-reflection, and emotional openness are not only welcomed but embraced.

Many of your pieces use floral motifs. What role do flowers play in your storytelling?

Flowers remind me that we are all constantly blooming. Like flowers, we go through cycles, dying, growing, and blossoming again. To me, that reflects the process of life: we are always evolving, and in that evolution, versions of ourselves fade away so that new ones can emerge. I see that as the beauty of growth, nurturing ourselves through each stage until we bloom into something new and beautiful.

Stephanie Castedo | Growth

You describe your art as a form of healing. How has making art helped you overcome challenges in your own life?

Art has been part of me for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a household where expressing emotions wasn’t always encouraged, so I learned early on to channel my feelings through creativity. Art became my therapy, it gave me a way to express emotions I didn’t yet have words for. Over time, it’s helped me process my feelings, clear my mind, and pause in the present moment. In a world that moves so quickly, making art gives me space to slow down, reconnect with myself, and find healing through creation.