Commissioned Short Story Works are mixed-media works combining flash fiction (stories under 500 words), paper, vitrines, watercolor, Chinese ink, and archival gloves.

In CSSW, the artist/writer and the collector collaborate to produce stories as visual artwork — a sculpture, text, pages in a book, and the book itself.

Each work consists of a 500-word story (the number of pages in a package of copy paper), presented one word per page, with illustrations.

The works are printed on Neenah Astroparche Natural paper with an uncoated vellum finish. Illustrations are added after printing, making each piece unique.

Each work is presented in a Plexiglas case with a faux-wood base. Archival gloves are included. Shipping is not included.

Longer stories of 1000 words can also be arranged.

Baltazar Castillo
Chicago, Wicker Park, IL
March 25, 2026