Arlene Farenci
Arlene Farenci studied art and art history at Hunter College in New York, and later took printmaking classes at Robert Blackburn Workshop and Manhattan Graphics Center. She did a workshop at Art Print Residence in Catalonia, Spain and most recently an intensive monotype class with master printer Michael Costello in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She continues her practice of making monotypes at Guttenberg Arts in New Jersey.
Farenci’s background is painting and brings these expressive qualities effortlessly to her monotype printmaking works using a process of gestural brushwork. Her compositions are at times strong and bold, and in other places can feel soft and subtle. She is comfortable making strong black and white pieces, as well as keeping up a deft use of vivid colour.
The gestures of her brushwork create the foundation of the work; sweeping, bringing movement to her lines or marks, their curves and lengths.
Farenci’s work is a dance with the monotype process: gestures, movements; Making both thoughtful and impulsive decisions about the ink placement, strokes made, the paper. The press changes and fixes the work to the paper, with degree of unpredictability when it is applied.
Colours are put down with the knowledge that they can be wiped away if wanted or replaced. Sometimes removed, not entirely. Left as a ghost of an earlier intention, layering into and influencing the final composition. Some thick and bold, some transparent; of colour over colour to reveal new tones to complete a formal work.
Days spent in the printshop, Farenci expects that whatever is created will be either something to show or something to learn from, “It's a joyous experience whatever the outcome.” Applying the ink freely, moving it around, wiping it away, with tools at her disposal such as brushes, spatulas, palette, knives, rags, sponges, rollers, she works intuitively. Markings recorded, on the page, as moments of time immersed in colour.
