Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph (Joe) Castillon.
Hi Joseph (Joe), so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in the Windy City of Chicago, IL, and growing up in the 80’s/90’s (yes, I’m THAT old) we didn’t have iPads tablets. I grew up using mixed media, from Crayola crayons, (the old ones remember if you had the 64-pack with the sharpener in the back, you were a baller) to paints, markers, charcoals. Art was messy and that’s something I’ll miss because art became a physical mark of your growth. While I did alright in school, most subjects bored me because I’d be the quiet kid sketching, creating stories out of my mind, creating both heroes and villains. I’d give them purpose and reason and a world to fight in, it is something god-like creating life even if it’s on paper.
While I went to Art School, a lot of the learning I did was on my own time. Learning through trial and error and challenging myself learning programs/techniques that weren’t taught in the school curriculum. I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree and being in Chicago, I didn’t realize my job opportunities were severely limited in my town. I ended up doing a lot of customer service jobs until one day I had a recruiter contact me about a job as a Production Artist at Sharpie. While I never worked that type of job, hearing the word ‘artist’ kindled a passion I had lost working a 9 to 5. I jumped and eagerly said ‘YES’ to the opportunity and before I knew it was working on some of the biggest brands. I was doing simple things like converting logos from raster to vector art. To formatting art to go on our Sharpies from clients like One Direction, to President Obama, Blizzard, NBC. It was my first official art job where I got paid to be creative.
It was an opportunity that I was grateful for but was cut short after a year as they decided to move my job to North Carolina. Back on the job search I went and started working on my own personal YouTube page. Eventually, an Office Supplies Company saw my work and wanted me to help them produce videos for their social pages. I worked hard, and realized I wasn’t taking care of my health as much as I should. So I ended up going on a weight loss program, fast forward a year and they had a contest where the winner would win an all expenses paid trip to LA and lo and behold I was that lucky guy!
It was my first time in the state and I didn’t realize from that moment on, my life would change forever. I got to venture around, meet people from all walks of life. Most of them took a leap of faith to go after their dreams in the creative market. Being around those passionate individuals made me realize how much time I lost not venturing out of my safe space. I remember going to Disneyland and visiting the Animation department where sketches of iconic Disney characters were plastered all around the wall staring back at me, as if they were welcoming me. I remember breaking down crying because I realized I wanted to create, I wanted to animate, I wanted to be something more than a paycheck answer phones. When I came back, I felt a part of me stayed in California, waiting for me to return.
But it wasn’t all glitz and glamour moving here. I remember I had a placed locked down with a roommate only for them to back out shortly after quitting my job. My family had some doubts whether I should go without securing housing. But being the adventurer and hopeful guy that I was, I put my doubts aside and set on a cross country trip from Chicago to LA. I found a place on craigslist the night before and the next day I hit the ground running. I was working as a brand ambassador passing out flyers in Santa Monica, and while I wasn’t drawing, I knew that I would have to leverage working side hustles in order to pursue my passion of art.
Eventually, I took more life drawing classes, and started proactively reaching out to agencies who needed someone to assist with graphics. And would you know, I got work! So much so that I realized that Storyboards was something really magical that I enjoyed doing. The stories I would create in my head as a kid; seeing action sequences and how it was framed, really helped me work on scripts for both commercials and music videos. I could perfectly envision what a Director was seeing which made the work relationships I would build with future clients so gratifying.
Fast forward, I’ve done work for McDonald’s, Universal Studios Japan, AMC, Marshmello, HP, Fujifilm, and other small indie brands. 😉
Every month provides its own successes and challenges but I’ve been out here for 10 years, and I couldn’t see myself living anywhere else. I tell people, to make it out here, you’ll need an iron stomach and an iron heart. The Iron heart you develop in your hometown to leave your comfort zone and challenge yourself of what you’re capable of. In LA, you develop an iron stomach for all the rejection you’ll take but in the end you keep moving forward.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There’s been many hiccups along the way. The struggle especially is being able to be ‘seen.’ But it’s not who you know, it’s who knows you. You really have to focus on growing your social media channels so clients can see your potential but also deliver a white glove treatment when it comes to getting the job done.
It’s never a smooth road but the struggles do give you grit. Case in point; Were you expecting your client to pay you on time? Nope, it’s net 30 now. Did you expect that amazing gig that would start tomorrow to give you some breathing room? Too bad, the client fizzled out. Oh did you have somewhere to drive today? Well you’re taking the bus now because your car won’t start. You’ll always find a pothole in your career path that slows you down, but the key word is ‘slow’ not ‘stop.’ Just because it’s an inconvenience now, doesn’t mean it’s a permanent one.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I mainly specialize in storyboards and various key art illustrations for clients. I also work on various motion graphic projects for business social channels. My background in music videos and commercials allows me to grow my storytelling capabilities and would love to pivot to tv/film when the opportunity eventually strikes.
I like to be a flexible artist, so I’ve done live sketch sessions, whether that was for tech clients who want to see ideas drawn in real time, or drawing portraits for guests at various events throughout LA. My most proud moment, was last holiday season when Disney reached out to me to draw illustrations for guests at Disneyland park. For most artists out there, getting to work at Disney is rite of passage. It was a life long accomplishment I finally got to achieve, like the universe is saying: ‘Yeah, you finally made it!’ It’s a permanent invisible badge that you wear forever because from that moment on, every client will take you more seriously. Because you could prove your worth to such a large company, nobody will doubt your skills and therefore puts you at the top list when being considered for roles.
However, as a triple Leo, (sun/moon/rising) I’m never doing just one thing. One minute, I’m doing storyboards for a commercial, next thing I’m starring as an actor in them. There’s nothing like working on drawings for a client in your studio apartment to working on set with famous singers like The Weeknd at their $70 million dollar mansion playing their bodyguard in an HBO show. While, I may never achieve that level of fame or financial prosperity, it feels gratifying to see others make it. I love to improv and ad-lib commercials I’m working on because you get to put a spin on a character the director didn’t envision. I really love being on camera, and it shows when you see me on screen.
So I draw and act, that’s all there is to me, right? Nope. I’ve hustled in this city doing bartending, catering, photography, the list goes on. I’m both grateful and humble for the roles I get, regardless if they don’t last long, I think what sets me apart from others is my ability to adapt in any role I’m given. Like the saying goes; ‘Fake it to ya make it’ and those words have never been more true when being in L.A.. No month is ever the same as you could go from having a laidback day to all of a sudden a chaotic one overnight. The random factor keeps me guessing and excited for what the next day will hold even if it’s madness to others. But LA is about living your life the way YOU want it to be, so be your most authentic self, and the right people will find you.
What does success mean to you?
For me, it’s about using my talents to make a name for myself while living independently, on my own terms.
Pricing:
- Storyboard: $800/8 – ($100 hourly)
- Live Sketch Sessions: $200 per hour, 2 hour minimum
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.JoeCastillon.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SketchArtistJoe
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/JoeCastillon
