Artist: Anastasia Castle
Julian, CA – August 24: People cross Main Street on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023 in Julian, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
(Meg McLaughlin/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Each morning, Anastasia Castle wakes up in her cabin in Julian and brews a cup of coffee before taking a walk around her two-acre property, surrounded by mountains and trees — her “own mini forest.” When she returns, she sits down to draw.
“Nothing is rushed,” she says. “I feel like I can really take my time.”
Castle, who is a member of the Julian Arts Guild, moved to Julian in 2021 and says her time in the small mountain town has changed her approach to art. While she still does contemporary work, Julian has inspired her to paint landscapes and do plein air, a style of painting done outdoors. Her work is focused on the “mood and expression of the colors” she sees in nature, she says.
When she isn’t working on a landscape, Castle enjoys painting her neighbor’s horses, donkeys and dogs. She also goes to Mom’s Pie House in Wynola, where she’ll bring her watercolors to the backyard garden and sit among the rows of French lavender.
Here are more of Castle’s favorite places in Julian.
Soups & Such Cafe: “Everything is good, home food — like if you’re home and your grandma is going to make you a sandwich. And I like the atmosphere and the community.” 2000 Main St., Julian. (760) 765-4761. soups-such-cafe.business.site
Menghini Winery: “They have a little outside (area) where you can sit, and it’s just open wide, looking into a meadow. I can stare at the meadow for a long time.” 1150 Julian Orchards Drive, Julian. (760) 765-2072. menghiniwinery.com
Mountain Beadworks: “They always have two beautiful golden retrievers in the store so you can shop for beautiful beads and look at the two sweet dogs. There’s lots of gift stuff in there and some crafty stuff, too.” 2000 Main St. #108, Julian. (760) 765-3100. julianbeads.com
Water of the Woods hike in the Laguna Mountains: “There are two lakes there — the Big Laguna Lake and then a smaller lake — and (the smaller lake ) is just a beautiful place to stop and paint, or to relax and have a picnic.”
