"Art (in any form) is my passion. Creating art feeds my soul and living in the Pacific Northwest feeds my inspiration and passion to create art. It's a win-win place to live for me!"

       Darlene's love of nature, the environment and life comes through in her jewelry, watercolor paintings, and drawings. Colors and textures of the Pacific Northwest are inspirations for her works. Art in one form or another has been a part of her life since she was growing up in the San Francisco Bay area.
       She first became creative by painting in oils, then watercolor and mixed media. She has always been fascinated with using color, shape and texture in painting or in three-dimensional art. Her love of animals comes through in her paintings and jewelry. "I love painting animal portraits. I like to meet the animal, take a lot of photographs, experience the animal's personality, favorite hang-outs, toys. Then I use these elements to create a painting that contains the essence of the cat, dog, or whatever animal I'm bringing alive through paint on paper." Animals of all sorts, dragonflies and other insects appear in her metal worked jewelry. She also enjoys painting nautical scenes; especially wooden boats that she feels have warmth and a sense of life.
       FireLight Designs also offers one of a kind jewelry Darlene designs. Whether it is a necklace, bracelet, earrings, anklets or another wearable creation, no other person will own such a uniquely designed piece of art. "I bring the color, texture and design from my paintings into my jewelry designs. I combine elements in ways you won't see in other jewelry." Working with metal and making jewelry is in my genes; my grandfather was a blacksmith (maybe that is why I really love to hammer metal), and my mom dabbled in making jewelry when she was young.  I have a pair of flat nose pliers and round nose pliers that belonged to her and I use them all the time!
       She obtained a bachelors degree cum laude in art history and philosophy from San Francisco State University, has studied botanical illustration, and has participated in numerous painting, jewelry making and metal arts workshops along the way. Memberships have included the Spokane Watercolor Society, the Northwest Watercolor Society, the Skagit Art Association, and Allied Arts of Whatcom County. In December 2019 Darlene was appointed to the Anacortes Arts Commissin by Mayor Laurie Gere. FireLight Designs is a business Darlene started in 2001.
       You can find Darlene's jewelry and paintings at her studio on Guemes Island in the San Juan Islands, and in art galleries and shows around the Pacific Northwest.

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In April of 2019 Darlene was interviewed by Anna Scott regarding Firelight Designs, being creative, and living in a log home in the San Juan Islands. In case you missed this interesting exchange, we have it here for you.

KSVR 91.7 FM radio interview of Firelight Designs owner Darlene Klister

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A percentage of Firelight Designs' sales go to community non-profit organizations.
Favorite Firelight Designs Non-Profit:  The Cats' Meow, a cat adoption agency  in Anacortes -  meowanacortes.org