Bio of don del castillo…

THIS CAT HAD A FEW LIVES TOO..

I am a 5th generation California native, whose formative years were spent on a nut farm in Ripon. I was born free in a field of joy. I experienced peace, freedom and love as a child. I grew midst jackrabbits, grapevines, walnuts and “amins”. I was comfortable with solitude. Nature entertained me. Clouds of birds nested in the nearby trees. I could catch green frogs sitting in the overflow outlets of the spillway. My life was joy and delight. Looking back to those years I believe I lived in my essence up to age 6.

After the first grade my family moved often going where there was work for my stepfather. The memories and feelings from the first six years have remained fresh in my memory and being over my lifetime. I have never forgotten the taste and feel of that essence. I have kept that child/artist alive in my heart even though I did not earn a living as an artist; creativity and the desire to be creative have defined my life.

I went to Campbell High, where I was known as Don Davis, and on to Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, graduating with a BA in Religion. I Married and had first son while in college, moved to Columbus, Ohio to work for the YMCA, then to Cleveland and Middletown with the Y, then on to Pittsburgh, PA where I wrote & edited an Album Review Newsletter that went to record companies and radio stations. Then I won an audition to be a progressive rock DJ at ABC’s WDVE-FM and did that for 3 years.

I have 3 grown children, 2 sons, Marc and Don, and a daughter, Bambi Lyn, 5 granddaughters, Maddison, Chelsea, Angellina, Candace, Acacia, and 1 grandson, J.B. My wife Peg has two children, Charlotte Mann and Jon Hylbert and four grandchildren, Emilee & Christopher Mann, Bryce & Cody Hylbert.

I have worked as a YMCA executive, New York Life salesman, writer, editor, FM DJ, waiter, cook, welder, professional handyman, KOA owner/operator, system administrator and computer technical support specialist in Silicon Valley. Sandwiched in between jobs I did soapstone carving, stained glass, welded metal sculpture and wrote poetry.

Although I worked doing what someone else wanted me to do, I vowed to my self, that when I retired I would devote myself to art. After a few of years of retirement it feels that I am emerging from the cocoon as butterfly. I have discovered my style as an artist, assisted in large measure by the unconditional love and support of my high school sweetheart, and wife since 1995, Margaret J. “Peg” Hylbert. We went steady in high school before we could drive.

April 2000 I had a two vessel by pass that went successfully and served to refocus my intent to live my life as an artist. Once more I am free, living a life of joy and delight, seeing beauty everywhere I turn.

Peg and I love to travel. During our six years together we’ve visited and photographed in the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, China, Cambodia, Tibet, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, England and Turkey, as well as Alaska and Hawaii. We have also taken two 5,000 mile road trips covering scenic venues in western Canada and western USA. We visited South Carolina for three weeks in the fall of 2000 photographing in Charleston and Brookgreen Gardens outside Myrtle Beach.