“Persistence,” by Lori Bischoff, pictured above. (Submitted photo)

This amazing image from LB Design currently hangs at Decadent Gifts and Gallery (329 Water St., Eau Claire), and its title — “Persistence” — is just the beginning of Artist Lori Bischoff’s story. Her artistic skill comes from practice, patience, and the push to go on.

As Bischoff tells it, “I am 100% self-taught. I was an interior decorator before I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and I needed to find something I could do with my hands.

“My in-laws had a 100-year-old barn that fell down, and they let me have all the barnwood. My husband's cousin cuts the Wisconsin and United States shapes for me to paint on, and my husband does other wood shapes,” she added.

Bischoff's garage currently acts as her art studio; she began selling her paintings in 2017.

“I signed my artwork with LB and Design — connecting my initials back to my interior design experience,” Bischoff said.

Bischoff takes pictures of iconic places she visits throughout the Chippewa Valley to inspire her work, including Owen Park and the pavilion at Big Falls County Park in Eau Claire. Most of all, she enjoys painting animals and flowers.

“I worked with watercolor, and I've done oil. Now, I’m working mostly in acrylic,” Bischoff said. “One of my signatures is painting light colors onto a black surface. I like how it makes everything pop from the color. I use transparent white paint to add outlines and colorful details.”

Growing up, Bischoff practiced many dot stipple and shading techniques that now appear in her current work.

Lori Bischoff of LB Design, pictured above. (Submitted photo)

Over the years, Bischoff has been asked to commission pieces for community members, she said. Custom artwork remains her favorite, because the stories are so humbling.

“I've created friendships that I would have never had. The look on people's faces when they see the finished artwork is priceless,” Bischoff said.

A customer, who recently purchased a painting from Bischoff, noted, “This weekend I'll be celebrating 9 years of sobriety. I wanted to do something special as this is the longest I've been sober in my life.”

The metamorphosis of the caterpillar into the butterfly — depicted in Bischoff's original painting — reflects their own life journey and recovery, they said.

“I asked Lori Bischoff to paint the story, and she did so beautifully!  If you look closely, you'll see significant words throughout the painting.  In the jar is abuse, addiction and mental health. The butterfly is surrounded by faith, recovery, stability, self, believe, healing and awakening! This painting is so special to me!”

Bischoff added, “My commission work ‘Art for What Matters’ is for special occasions such as weddings, memorial pieces, pet portraits, and some of my Wisconsin signs give tribute to firemen.

Bischoff hand-paints popular geography "signs" through her business, from floral depictions on a cutout of the United States (pictured above) to her notable Wisconsin state signs. (Submitted photo)

Over the years Bischoff has displayed her work at Avalon Floral (421 Water St., Eau Claire) and juried shows at the Heyde Center For the Arts (3 S High St, Chippewa Falls). You can find her art printed on pillows, kitchen towels, and canvas bags. Most recently, she has created a 12-month calendar with her work and is in the process of creating a coloring book for Christmas.

Discover more of Lori’s Bischoff’s work at Decadent Gifts and Gallery in Eau Claire, or online through her Facebook page.

“Behind the Easel” is a periodic column by Patricia Hawkenson, a visual artist and one of the proprietors of Decadent Gifts & Gallery in Eau Claire.