Hey y’all,

Happy New Year! I hope each of you had a fantastic holiday and that your 2022 is off to a swell start. Here in East Tennessee, Christmas Day hardly called for chestnuts roasting on an open fire, as highs soared into the 70s. Yet this week, Jack Frost made us keenly aware that this is still his time to shine; Monday morning, we woke up to a winter wonderland of snow and ice.

A lot of folks hate winter. The frosty winds and overcast skies are menaces to be contended with, not miracles to be marveled. Our January Creators & Innovators host, however, sees winter differently. 

I was first drawn to Karen Glosser’s photographs specifically because of how she views this most maligned of seasons. Her “Winter Dreams” series captures her home in western New York in a magical light, turning the stark landscapes into twinkling fairy lands of ice and snow.  It is a remarkable series that truly highlights the wonder of winter. 

As I further explored Karen’s photographs, I saw that she sees magic not just in winter, but throughout the year. Her nature photography is as moving as it is beautiful. It’s like she paints with a camera. I knew I had found a remarkable artist, and I could not wait to introduce y’all to her and her fantastic work.

Karen will be with us each Thursday this month, sharing insights into her process as a photographer, her vision as an artist and plenty of gorgeous photographs of her beloved home in Chautauqua County, New York. I am so excited to welcome Karen! I know you are going to love her work as much as I do.

With that, I turn it over to Karen!

- Skylar

“The journey is yours. Enjoy each and every step.” – Unknown 

Hello everyone,

My name is Karen Glosser, and I am a fine art nature photographer living in western New York state. I am excited to be sharing my home region and my work with you during this month of January!

Many people may not think of my area when they think of Appalachia, but Chautauqua County is considered part of the Appalachian region. We are situated in the farthest southwestern tip of the state, just south of Buffalo and bordering on Lake Erie. I was born and raised here and have lived here most of my life.

This is home – both geographically and in my heart. I deeply love this region with its amazing lakes and plentiful woodlands, and this love is reflected in my photography. I am probably best known for my work photographing the waves of Lake Erie, but I also have a series of winter images which I have been creating for the past few years. This series – entitled “Winter Dreams” – captures the magic and beauty that I experience during our western New York state winters. 

I came to photography in a rather roundabout way. I graduated from college with a teaching degree at a time when teaching jobs were difficult to find, so just out of college I began working in fashion retail. I worked my way up to a buyer position, frequently travelling to Manhattan on buying trips. 

After marrying and having our son, the travel was too difficult, and I wanted to stay home with him. As our son grew and became more independent, however, I knew I wanted to go back to work. So, I started my own retail fashion accessory business. 

I found it difficult to find the style of jewelry I wanted to carry, so I taught myself metalsmithing and created my own successful line of jewelry. As a creator, I always carried my phone camera with me, taking pictures of things that inspired me for references in my jewelry design. I posted these quick pics as interest pieces on my social media, and soon, people began asking to purchase these images. I then bought a camera and focused on creating photographs. 

By making my way through this wonderful roundabout journey, I had unintentionally found my passion. I have been working almost exclusively in photography ever since. My work is represented by Portage Hill Art Gallery in Westfield, New York, and I have collectors throughout the country. My photography has been featured in a number of group and solo exhibitions. I am deeply grateful for all these opportunities and for the wonderful people who have made them possible! 

I am most at peace when I am behind the lens, getting lost in the wonder of nature. I strive to portray this sense of peace and wonder in my work. In the coming weeks, I will take you along on my photography shoots, and you’ll learn a bit about my process and what inspires me as I introduce you to my “Winter Dreams” here in my little corner of Appalachia. I also have a few surprises in store that you won’t want to miss! 

In the meantime, I wish you a very Happy New Year. I so look forward to joining you again next week.