meet the artist
Kendra Castillo
ABOUT:
Kendra Castillo is a contemporary artist based in Bellingham, Washington, creating abstract and landscape paintings inspired by the quiet, curious beauty of the Pacific Northwest. For eight years she has been painting and selling original works and fine art prints to collectors who want their homes to feel more intentional, layered, and alive.
Kendra's work is rooted in the way light moves across water, the colors hidden inside an overcast sky, and the feeling of a landscape seen slightly out of focus — as if you're squinting into a sunrise and the world becomes pure shape and color. Each painting is an invitation to slow down, notice the in-between moments, and honor the emotions that shape everyday life.
Before painting professionally, Kendra earned a degree in Interior Design from Montana State University — and that background fundamentally shapes how she approaches her work. Where many artists think about a single piece, Kendra thinks about the room it will live in: the light, the scale, the story the whole space is trying to tell. That design lens gives her a rare perspective on how art and environment work together.
Growing up boating and exploring the San Juan Islands, with Mount Baker rising to the east and island-dotted water stretching to the horizon, Kendra developed a deep and personal relationship with the Pacific Northwest landscape. That intimacy — with shifting light, volcanic peaks, and the quiet drama of island life — is the wellspring of everything she creates. Her work and home styling advice has been featured in Apartment Therapy and Makers Magazine, and she has been a regular presence at curated markets and live painting events throughout the region, including collaborations with Mysa Home Styling, Apse Adorn, Oakmoss Collective, and Seattle Art Source.
She creates artwork to bring comfort, reflection, and intention into the places we live. Her hope is that each piece feels personal and lasting — a quiet reminder to notice beauty, live fully, and hold close what matters most.
You may have seen me in…
makers Magazine + handmade pop up shop + live painting at Aslan Depot + Apse Adorn + Mysa Home Styling + Oakmoss collective + Salt & Iron + Apartment Therapy + Seattle Art Source
A few questions I get asked
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It kind of just found its way to me. I’ve always seen life a little differently and even when I tried many different styles of artwork, Abstract art always felt like home. I see the world around me a little blurred and a little zoomed in — as if you were to squint your eyes while watching the sunrise. I see the colors of those landscapes as unique shapes and color combinations that then translate onto canvas.
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I was offered the opportunity to travel to many different countries after high school and spend many different months immersed in different cultures through a youth focused program. My favorite place that I wish I could go back to would have to be India. The people and culture were so very different and so beautiful. It will forever have a piece of my heart!
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Nope, I never went to art school, but I did get my education in interior design!
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I think it helps me think beyond a single painting that I create. When I work with my clients I am able to envision the space and how the painting will bring balance and help complete the entire vision for a room or building. Fun fact. I received my degree in Interior Design from Montana State University!
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disclosure: All photos and images on the blog are by Kendra Castillo unless otherwise specified. I always want to make sure photos are fairly credited so if you catch a photo without the right sourcing, please be sure to let me know. In the same way, If you would like to share a photo from this blog, please just make sure it is linked back.
Sponsored posts are always fully disclosed, and if an item is gifted it will be marked with c/o. Affiliate links are used at times in which a profit is earned from sales. Thank you for supporting the companies that allow me to continue devoting time to Kendra Castillo. And there you have the Full disclosure!