As artists, we do work that is personal. The annual Chautauqua Lake Erie Art Trail Open Studio and Gallery Tour is an opportunity to visit places where we live and create. We find inspiration in one of the most beautiful, picturesque regions of New York State. As you travel to visit us, see what we see every day — verdant vineyards and fields, lush forests, rolling hills, and spectacular shorelines along Lake Erie and Chautauqua Lake.

Using your cell phone camera, take a picture of this QR code to find our website with an Interactive map and artists.

There are 24 artists on North Shore Arts Alliance’s Art Trail Hub Crawl.

Today, we will feature six artists.

Art piece by Karen Glosser.

Lisa Ann Eppolito (Wayfaring Potter Hub- Fredonia) — I make functional, wood and soda-fired pottery. There are central understandings about process and environment, I place in the objects I make. I create vessels that consider the wood-firing process. Firing pottery in a wood kiln produces distinctive outcomes, both controlled and uncontrolled. I acknowledge the atmosphere of the kiln, using glazes and flashing slips that interact with melting wood ash. Wood ash vitrifies and produces a natural glaze. Therefore, my forms intend to encourage subtleties such as catching wood ash deposits, and encouraging flashing. I observe how the vessel and flame speak to one another, capturing information on the surface.

Melissa Meyers (Bemus Point Hub – Bemus Point) — Melissa’s passion for art is one that loves to explore new ideas, new media, and use materials in ways they were not intended for. Sometimes even with good results. Her inspiration is found mainly in nature, which abounds in Chautauqua County. She works in traditional mediums, as well as alcohol inks, photography and mixed media. She graduated from Buffalo State College with a degree in Design, and learned to transfer her skills to digital when art started moving into new platforms.

Marcia Merrins (Kniti Griti Works Hub in Fredonia) — Marcia sculpts a wonderful menagerie of wood fired and raku animal pieces, from hippos to elephants, that are fun and collectible. This Indian Rhino was accepted into the 2021 Spring Show at the Erie Art Museum. Marcia also creates signature pieces that are quirky themed, including bright and sassy “footed bowls.” She is drawn to whimsy and her work reflects what she finds in contemporary footwear and clothing. Fairy houses are new in the studio and adorable.

Thomas Annear (Thomas Annear Art – Fredonia) — Adventure meets quiet contemplation in my paintings. From the snow capped peaks of the Tetons to the old growth forests of Western New York his paintings capture the grandeur and beauty of the American landscape. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, my career has shifted over the years from political and abstract pieces to paintings that focus on contemporary uses of the environment. For nearly twenty years, I have sought to capture the unique geography, weather patterns, and natural resources of Western New York through my plein air paintings.

Karen Glosser (Portage Hill Gallery Hub – Westfield) — Photographer Karen Glosser is inspired by the awe and wonder of nature, and spends much of her time exploring this wonder right here in her native Western New York State. Karen’s work centers on the idea of using her camera to create painterly images that capture the essence and emotion of these moments in the outdoors. She can often be found exploring her muses, the many lakeshores and woodlands of Chautauqua County. Karen’s most recent work has included creating fresh, new images for three of her long running series: Water, Woodlands and Wanderings, and Winter Dreams.

Art piece by Thomas Annear.

Nancy Nixon Ensign (Kniti Griti Works Hub – Fredonia) — Experiencing isolation and solitude during the pandemic of 2020, I find the appeal of assemblage onto sparse landscapes a way to convey my story to the viewer. Social distancing provides a reflection of my inner voice not spoken. Creative studio work is appetizing for the introverted. The historic and sometimes abandoned homes of Chautauqua County provideuntamed architectural landscapes that call to be painted into relevance with isolated figures.

Art piece by Marcia Merrins.

Art piece by Melissa Meyers.

Art piece by Lisa Ann Eppolito. Submitted photos