Joy in Bold Color: Meet Redding Artist Abbie Ides

A new partnership with the North Valley Art League brings local art to Plumas Bank’s Redding Hartnell branch, creating another place for artists and the community to connect.

Bold florals. Expressive abstracts. Familiar landscapes transformed through color.

There’s a sense of joy and possibility in the work of Redding artist Abbie Ides, whose paintings now have a new home on the walls of Plumas Bank’s Redding Hartnell branch.

Ides is the first featured artist in a new partnership between Plumas Bank and the North Valley Art League (NVAL), with 13 of her acrylic paintings and mixed-media works on display. The exhibition adds another dimension to the branch experience while giving local artists a new place to share their work.

“I hope people feel joy, happiness or a sense of possibility when they see my work,” Ides said. “My art is bold and kind of childlike. It’s nice if people can connect with it, and maybe even push their comfort level a little.”

Finding Her Way Back to Art

Ides has called the Redding area home for nearly 40 years, but her relationship with art began much earlier.

She started drawing and painting at age 3 and eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in art from California State University, Fullerton. She went on to work as a production artist and art director in Southern California before putting her own artistic pursuits aside while raising her family.

Ides describes what followed as a 30-year hiatus.

Then a weekly art class taught by Barbara Enochian and joining the North Valley Art League brought her back.

Today, Ides experiments with acrylics and collage, creating contemporary works with impressionistic and abstract influences. Her exhibition at Plumas Bank includes colorful florals, abstracts, landscapes and still lifes, all connected by her expressive use of color and composition.

Sue Mandel, NVAL president, says Ides’ personality comes through in her work.

“Abbie is such a wonderful person to work with, and she’s been part of NVAL for a very long time,” Mandel said. “Her work is joyful. She’s a volunteer at the art league, she’s often in the juried shows, and she does wonderful work. She’s a joy to be around, and you can see that in her work.”

Creating More Places to Experience Art

The partnership builds on Plumas Bank’s existing support of NVAL’s juried art shows while creating an additional exhibition space for its artists.

It also comes at an exciting time for Redding’s growing arts community.

“The arts have always been here and the artists have been here, but they’re starting to have more and more opportunities to display their works,” Mandel said. “It’s a very exciting time in Redding if you’re an artist.”

That momentum raises an interesting question: What can happen when local businesses make room for local art?

In communities including Chico , Red Bluff and Reno, Nev., Plumas Bank has found ways to collaborate with local artists and arts organizations, bringing original work into branches where the opportunity and environment were a natural fit.

The Redding partnership builds on that idea by working with an organization already deeply connected to the local arts community.

“The featured artist space is absolutely wonderful, and I’m really excited about being able to offer this opportunity to the artists at North Valley Art League,” Mandel said. “It’s a space that’s easily accessible to the public, with a collaborative partner in Plumas Bank that supports the arts in our area.”

Reflecting the Community Around Us

For Plumas Bank, creating spaces that feel welcoming and connected to their communities is an important part of the branch experience. In some communities, local art has offered a natural way to showcase creative talent through partnerships with local artists and arts organizations.

“North Valley Art League is doing important work to support local artists and celebrate our region, and we’re proud to be part of it,” said Matt Moseley, executive vice president and regional president of Plumas Bank. “Our branches are part of the communities we serve, and we want them to feel welcoming and connected to the people and places around them. Bringing local art into the branch adds to that experience while giving talented artists another place to share their work with our clients, neighbors and the broader community.”

For clients coming in to take care of their banking, that might mean discovering an artist they didn’t know before. For an artist, it means another opportunity to share their work with new audiences. And perhaps it can inspire other businesses and organizations to consider their own unexpected ways to connect with the creative communities around them.

See Abbie Ides’ Art in Redding

Ides’ artwork will be on display at Plumas Bank’s Redding branch at 192 Hartnell Ave. through January 2027.

Stop by between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. any weekday the bank is open to experience the exhibition.

And keep an eye on these walls. Future exhibitions will feature more artists from the North Valley Art League, bringing new work and new perspectives into the branch throughout the year.

Among the pieces in Ides' collection on display at Plumas Bank is Ikebana, a vibrant painting featuring energetic brushstrokes and bold orange and blue hues. Ides considers it a personal favorite.