RISE OF THE ONLINE GALLERY. Beth Creekmore’s “Mountain Lake” is one of many works from Chippewa Valley visual artists available for purchase on Chippewa Valley Art – a new online art gallery.

The Heyde Center for the Arts is pulling art in a new direction – online – with its permanent virtual art gallery, Chippewa Valley Art, which began during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order and features artists from Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, and Barron counties.

The virtual art gallery is now online at chippewavalleyart.org and currently features 11 artists using media such as acrylics, colored pencils, fiber, mixed media, oils, pastels, photography, watercolor, woodburn, and three-dimensional elements.

All the artists featured in the exhibition were pulled from the Heyde Center’s Spring Art Show, which included 28 mostly local artists, according to Debra Johnson, Heyde Center’s executive director.

“There are so many talented artists right here,” Johnson said.

There are so many talented artists right here.” –Debra Johnson, executive director of the Heyde Center for the Arts 

Going online had been in the works for five to six years prior to the start of Chippewa Valley Art, Johnson said, as the Heyde Center wanted to help artists with limited access display and sell artwork online.

“This is something that is part of our vision,” she said.

Beth Creekmore, a local impressionist and abstract artist, is one of many artists featured in the online gallery; she has eight paintings available for purchase at Chippewa Valley Art. She thought the online format was a brilliant idea.

“I just thought it was a wonderful form for local artists,” Creekmore said.

Another one of Beth Creekmore's paintings, "Sunset," is available for purchase at chippewavalleyart.org. She is among many local artists whose pieces are featured in the virtual gallery.

Creekmore began painting in 1978 as a self-taught artist. She picked up, put down, and picked up paint brushes through the years – even gaining inspiration from Bob Ross! – but started painting for good after she moved to the Midwest in 2017.

“It’s kind of like a hobby that I do,” she said. “I like people to look at it and interpret what they see.”

Creekmore, now retired, enjoys being a grandmother to her grandchildren, aged 10 and 8, who also enjoy painting. Creekmore has always been on the more artistic side, she said, with an eye for interior design and making jewelry. She is currently involved as a board member of the Valley Art Association. She felt intimidated to join, since so many people are trained artists, but she said she has received a lot of encouragement from others, which keeps her painting.

“I start putting colors, move ’em around, and go from there,” Creekmore said. “I usually do neutral colors . . . colors people can hang in their homes.”

If you’re interested in purchasing a piece, contact the Heyde Center for the Arts at (715) 726-9000 or events@cvca.net.