Paul Castle (artist)

Paul Castle
Born1990 or 1991 (age 34–35)[1]
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Spouse
(m. 2019)
YouTube information
Channel
Subscribers1.43 million
Views858 million
Last updated: 6 February 2025
Websitepaulcastlestudio.com

Paul Castle is a Canadian social media personality, activist, and visual artist living in Seattle. Castle has retinitis pigmentosa, which causes gradual vision loss, and is legally blind.[2][3]

Social media presence

On TikTok and YouTube, Castle shares videos about his life, often discussing his experiences as with retinitis pigmentosa and his guide dog, Mr. Maple. Many of his videos also include his husband, Matthew, playing pranks on him.[4][5]

Writing

In 2022, Castle self-published his debut book, Pringle & Finn, a children's picture book about two male penguins getting married. The book is inspired by Castle's own wedding and the illustrations on his wedding invitations.[6] The book's main characters returned in his 2023 book, The Secret Ingredient, which shares the penguins' story of becoming parents. Due to the books' inclusion of gay characters, Castle has stated they have been subjected to book bans.[4][7] While many on social media increased their support of Castle after hearing about the bans, some questioned whether the books had been banned due to their inclusion of gay characters or if they had been rejected from bookstores because they are self-published.[8] In 2024, he self-published the children's picture book Adoroscopes, about horoscopes.

Personal life

Castle was born and raised in the Vancouver area, but as of 2022, lived in Seattle. He began experiencing vision loss at age 10,[9] and was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at age 16.[10] He studied English literature at San Jose State University.[9]

Matthew and Paul Castle began dating in 2016 and married on December 15, 2019.[6] Matthew Castle is an American classical violinist.[9]

Publications

  • Pringle & Finn. Paul Castle Studio. 2022.
  • The Secret Ingredient. Paul Castle Studio. 2023.
  • Adoroscopes. Paul Castle Studio. 2024.
  • How to Raise a Baby Penguin. Paul Castle Studio. 2025. [11][12]
  • Mr. Maple: A Guide Dog's Journey. Paul Castle Studio. 2025. [13][14]

References

  1. ^ Jarrell, Zachary (April 9, 2022). "Out Paul Castle, who is legally blind, doesn't let his disability define him". Los Angeles Blade: LGBTQ News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  2. ^ Chau, Nicole Brown (July 2, 2024). "Blind artist who was told "you don't look blind" has a mission to educate: "All disabilities are a spectrum"". CBS News. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  3. ^ Jarrell, Zachary (April 9, 2022). "Out Paul Castle, who is legally blind, doesn't let his disability define him". Los Angeles Blade: LGBTQ News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Ferlita, Gabriella (June 24, 2024). "Author sells out LGBTQ+ children's book after store returned them over 'policy'". PinkNews. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  5. ^ Bloom, Allison (September 27, 2024). "WATCH: Matthew and Paul Castle Talk Book Bans, TikTok Fame, and More | GLAAD". GLAAD. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Vaidyanathan, Vaishnavi (June 30, 2024). "Author Paul Castle Opens Up About His Book's Journey From Bookstore Ban To Sell-Out Success". Times Now. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  7. ^ "Blind Author's Inclusive Children's Book About Penguins Got Banned— and Then TikTok Did Something Unexpected". People. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  8. ^ "The Story Behind the Local Children's Book That Was Banned—or Was It?". Seattle Met. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c Stern, Theresa (June 21, 2022). "Paul Castle and Mr. Maple". Central Bark (Podcast). Guide Dogs for the Blind. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  10. ^ "Legally Blind Artist Paul Castle Expresses His Story through Art". Foundation Fighting Blindness. April 26, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  11. ^ Paul Castle Studio. (s. d.). How to Raise a Baby Penguin. https://paulcastlestudio.com/products/how-to-raise-a-baby-penguin-book
  12. ^ Indigo Books & Music Inc. (s. d.). How to raise a baby penguin. https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/how-to-raise-a-baby-penguin/9798989187188.html
  13. ^ Paul Castle Studio. (s. d.-b). Mr. Maple : A Guide Dog’s Journey. https://paulcastlestudio.com/products/mr-maple-a-guide-dogs-journey
  14. ^ Indigo Books & Music Inc. (s. d.-b). Mr. Maple : A Guide Dog’s Journey Book by Paul Castle. https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/mr.-maple-a-guide-dogs-journey/9798989187126.html