Arlene Renee Finston's Member Spotlight

Throughout my life I have always been happiest when involved in a creative endeavor. As a young child I was usually painting or drawing.
My experiences at Moore College of Art led me into the field of Textiles. I designed fabric, plastics and carpets, working briefly in New York, and then in Philadelphia.
Creatively working with young children in the 1960’s led me into becoming a creative specialist with the Get Set Day Care Program for the School District of Philadelphia. I initiated an art-training program for their entire teaching staff.
Throughout my teaching career, I continued to explore various media including clay sculpture, millinery, beaded jewelry, mixed media and photography.
My work has been included in numerous juried group and solo exhibitions and I have won awards in varied media.
I was introduced to digital media with the acquisition of my first computer in 1999. A camera accompanies me practically everywhere. I usually photograph everything in the raw format, and process them myself. Often images are combined with scanned textures and other media to create “Photages”.
I usually work in a series. Sometimes exploring a new technique and sometimes exploring a subject matter.
After traveling to Iceland and Greenland in 2007, I worked on Photages addressing the problem of global warming.

Photography & Digital Imaging

With the lens of the camera, I capture light and shadow texture and patterns, the way in which I view the world. Often I will combine the enhanced raw images into creative digital composites and Photages.
My experiences in Textile Design, Oil Painting and Ceramic Form, have influenced my use of pattern, texture and abstract design.
I am creating my visions using the tools of the contemporary world. I use a variety of fine art papers and am using pigment ink. Many of my Archival Color Prints are large. Some are 20” x 36”.
Creativity colors every aspect of my life. The challenge of the process, and the Adrenalin rush of achievement as each piece of work take shape. Everywhere, I see shapes, colors, patterns and textures.
My world is filled with unfinished projects; those that are in progress, and those that are being constantly created in my mind.
Every day has been a balancing act between the things that must be done (earn income, pay bills, appointments, family, friends, obligations) and my creative necessities.
I savor the time; to create; to experiment; to see something new; to try a new media; to try a new process; to continue a work in progress.

Every day is a gift. There is never time enough.