testimonial

Stew Vreeland, Gray, Maine"

"We call Tony Castro " a maestro" when we talk about him to people.

Which

we do

constantly. I went to art school and have worked with artists

whole life. We are

amazed at Tony's singular talents in a multitude of

media.

He can do anything.

We first met Tony through his work for us at First Parish Church in

Yarmouth,

Maine. He did some astounding work there

n complicated

plaster mouldings,

elaborate stenciling in a dozen colors and bronze and

copper gilding.

This was a

High

Victorian church interior with very high

ceilings

cover with flowers and pinstripes

and geometric devices. Tony

was on

the

local news several times in the midst of

this process. And the

work won

the

church historic awards. I should add that

Tony's research

over several

years and his almost x-ray vision brought this totally

hidden

jewel of an

interior to light single handedly. Without Tony the interior was

just a hazy

1930's memory in the mind of the church's oldest parishioner

and it had

been painted over with an industrial silver colored paint that was

not meant

to be

removed by any normal means. Tony merely took it as an

inconvenience, a

challenge.

He has done a faux woodwork kitchen for us in a 200 year old Colonial

house

, and

very interesting paneled Trompe l'oeil ceiling in a double

parlored

Greek Revival sea

captain's home on the river. He also did the

interior of

Italian restaurant for us,

murals floor to ceiling in Portland

nd in our

John

Calvin Stevens renovated home

he has done more amazing

faux

work that

John Calvin would surly be swooning

over.

Tony has also carried coals to Newcastle by bringing his mastery to our

home in

Umbria

, Italy

We were restoring a 1600's town house in a walled

hilltop

castle town and

one very ornately painted room had been damaged

water and by the renovation.

We had taken copious photos and tracings

and measurements of the artwork and

asked Tony to come and put it back

together.

A dear Italian friend who designed our garden and is a major

artist and

retired

professor of architecture was up in arms. "Bringing an

artist to

Italy!", he stormed,

clearly irritated. Until he saw Tony at work and

immediately embraced him as a

fellow artist worthy of all of Italy's respect.

To this day we can't tell what parts Tony

saved of the original and what

parts he had to paint into this amazing room.

I know he has our respect. We're proud to count him as a true friend. And

recommend him as high as I know how to recommend anyone.