Arlene Chaplin has been a resident of the Holliston Mill Studios for 25 years. Her journey as an artist began with her first box of Crayola crayons and the discovery of the endless possibilities of color. Soon after, a little Brownie camera made her the family photographer, giving her early lessons in color, composition, and seeing the world creatively.

Today, Chaplin’s work is primarily abstract painting and mixed media, with a recent return to collage. After many years working in an environment where precision, quality control, and accurate measurements were essential, abstract art became a welcome freedom, a place where she could explore color, texture, shapes, and techniques.

Chaplin finds inspiration everywhere. A striking color combination, an intriguing line, or an interesting shape can become the beginning of a new piece. Words and text frequently appear in her work, sometimes buried beneath layers of paint so that only fragments remain. She enjoys the mystery of those hidden words and the stories they might suggest.

For more than 20 years, Holliston Mills has been home to Chaplin’s studio. She describes it as her “Room of My Own.” Over the years, she has experimented with oil and acrylic paints, charcoal, pencils, canvas, paper, and wood panels. She has also explored artist bookmaking and printmaking. Each new process has been part of an ongoing discovery of what she enjoys most. She is still searching.

Currently, Chaplin is creating “Art Stories,” collages made from papers recycled from art books and papers she creates using Gelli plates. These materials allow her to layer fragments, colors, textures, and words into pieces that invite viewers to look closely and imagine their own stories.

Chaplin hopes visitors feel comfortable and curious in her studio. She believes that people don’t have to study art to appreciate it, and that creativity isn’t limited to making art. It can be found in gardening, cooking, building, designing, or raising children. For her, an open studio is not only an opportunity to show her work, but also an invitation to discover and celebrate the creativity that exists in everyone.