Cindy Karchner

When did you know you were an artist/photographer?
My father was always taking pictures of our large extended family, commemorating every occasion, and preserving our family history for everyone to enjoy. I got my first camera as a child, and my dad passed his camera down to me as a teenager, when I had my first overseas adventure, traveling to France to visit my aunt and uncle and cousins there when I was 16. They took me to the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and to the many cathedrals dotting the French countryside, exposing me to a whole new world of art I had never before experienced. It was truly eye-opening and awe-inspiring.

When and why did you decide to pursue art as a career?
I’m sure that trip to France influenced my decision to study art history, photography, printmaking and painting in college. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, PA. I also have a Certificate in Graphic Design from Northampton Community College.

I was always drawing and creating things as a child. My parents, aunt and uncle were art appreciators, collecting pieces from their world travels. Our homes were filled with colorful examples of works from Mexico, South America, Europe and Native American culture. My family was very supportive of my pursuing art as a career, but also encouraged me to have a “plan B” to fall back on. I always loved working with people, so I became a human resources professional for nearly thirty years, working in retail, manufacturing, and most recently the arts. When I was sixty-five, I decided it was finally time for me to pursue my love of art and photography full-time. And I haven’t looked back since. I look forward to seeking new skills, new adventures, and creating art every single day.

What’s been your hardest challenge?
Keeping up with changing technology and learning how to fully utilize the capabilities of my camera (reading the manual) and post-processing software (Lightroom and Photoshop) have been my greatest challenges. It takes constant practice and learning to stay on top of all the exciting new tools there are to execute my vision. I am a voracious and passionate learner, always acquiring new skills and techniques and working to master them through observation and practice.

What successes or achievements are you most proud of?
In 2023, after studying and testing, I became a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) with the Professional Photographers of America. In the past two years, I’ve also submitted work for exhibitions, and I’ve been really honored to have had work accepted into several shows, alongside many other talented artists.  I have exhibited work through PRAXIS gallery in Minnesota, with the Southeast Center for Photography in South Carolina, and with the Lehigh Art Alliance in Bethlehem, PA.

I have learned so many new things since focusing full-time on art/photography, I see that there are no limits to what I can achieve. I am grateful for all the talented artists at Lehigh Art Alliance as well as the many schools of photography I have attended for helping me to grow as an artist. I am driven to continue honing my craft and learning new techniques to execute my creative vision.

What’s your advice for anyone who wants to explore art or creativity, but can’t seem to find the time?
Practice your art or photography every moment you can spare. We will always have chores to do, weeds to pull, and meals to cook. But if you prioritize your creativity as part of your daily, weekly, monthly and annual to-do lists, you will find that sometimes those chores can wait. And they don’t feel like such a chore if you then get to be creative and play, too.

What’s your advice when an artist feels intimidated by a blank canvas?
It’s always been my goal to try and capture things that we might not normally see in our interactions with nature, because we don’t always take the time to stop and observe everything around us first. We have so many distractions in our lives. But if we just take a moment to really see and listen, we learn that beauty surrounds us, everywhere, even in the tiniest of things.

Anything else you’d like to share about yourself or your art with readers?
My husband, Dave, who’s a musician, and I have been residents of the Lehigh Valley since 1982, and we have lived in Emmaus/Salisbury Township since 1989. Our daughter, Megan, resides and works in Delaware.

I am thrilled to have my work featured at the Emmaus Public Library through the Lehigh Art Alliance this July and August, where I will be sharing my hummingbird photographs. Hummingbirds are so colorful, and very, very fast and are here and gone in the blink of an eye unless you are paying attention. Have you ever wished you could see one when it’s not moving? Well, l have! I have spent hours observing their behavior from my aunt and uncle’s hummingbird sanctuary in Northern California and have captured them with my camera for you to admire. I hope you’ll stop by and check out my hummingbird portraits this summer.