If you need to feel inspired, several art galleries in the Tri-State area are exhibiting local artists this summer.

There is something for everyone to see, from watercolor to oil paintings, woodwork to ceramics. Galleries in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia all have new exhibits running to showcase these works of art.

The Highlands Museum and Discovery Center in Ashland, Ky. once again hosts the annual Kentucky Creative Arts Club Show. The exhibit, which opened on Aug. 6, will run through Friday, Aug. 27.

The exhibit, which includes work from Tri-State artists, has watercolor paintings, oils paintings and sculptures.

Ruby Hodge of Ashland said she has been a member of the Kentucky Creative Arts Club off and on since about 1967.

“I like to do birds and flowers and abstracts,” said Hodge, who paints in watercolors.

She also said she always intended to be an art teacher.

“I think it is very important for children to express themselves,” she said on the importance of art classes.

Some of the paintings are available for purchase.

Admission to the Highlands Museum is $5.50 for adults; $4.50 for seniors, students and children; and members and children under two years old are free.

Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday.

Gallery 842 in Huntington is hosting a Fall Invitational. The exhibit opened on Aug. 6 and will run through Thursday, Sept. 9.

Admission to the community and university held space is free, and is located in downtown Huntington, W.Va. at 842 Fourth Ave.

John Farley, gallery director and adjunct art and design faculty member at Marshall University, is curating the show.

“In one way or another, each of the participating artists has shaped and influenced my personal development and professional growth as an artist,” said Fraley. “Viewers can expect to see a very eclectic show, with fine woodworking and furniture pieces, sculptures, ceramics, painting, drawings, prints and photography all sharing the same space.”

Tommy Warf, a graduate education student at Marshall said, “It’s an honor to be invited to be in a show with artists whom I’ve looked up to as role models, teachers, and friends. I am very excited to see the show and to have my work next to some of Huntington’s greatest artists.”

The list of participants in the show includes Nik Botkin, Natalie Gibbs Burdette, David Castleberry, Fern Christian, Byron Clercx, Michael Cornfeld, Katherine Cox, Eva Cox, Seth Cyfers, John Farley, Diana Frazier, Adam Hodges, Rebecca Holbrook, Kathleen Kneafsey, Staci Leech, Leona Mackey, Clay McNearney, Sholten Singer, Don Van Horn, Tommy Warf, Erin White, Ryan Worley, Chris Worth and Kristen Zammiello.

Some of the artwork will be available for purchase.

Gallery 842 is open 12-5 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday and 1-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday during the summer. For more information, call special project coordinator for the College of Fine Arts, Jaye Ike, at 304-696-3296.

The Renaissance Art Gallery, also in Huntington, is displaying the Black Expo 2010 exhibit. The exhibit opened on Aug. 8 in the Kumkum Majumdar Exhibition Hall and will run through Sept. 4.

The exhibit is a joint effort by The Renaissance and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. It is also a continuation of the Juneteenth celebration of black art.

The finalists of the Juneteenth Art Expo were invited to show their work at the Renaissance to get more public exposure.

Gary Taylor, an artist at the Renaissance, was one of the judges at the Juneteenth Art Expo and suggested the art remain on display.

“There will be at most some 15 pieces of work, and they are all artworks of high quality and great variety,” said Clark. “It will be to our advantage to have in our gallery the work of these artists in particular: Frederick Hightower, Elliot Scott, JoJo Gardner, Brooksie Blue.”

Admission to the Renaissance is free. The gallery is located at 900 Eighth St. in Huntington. The hours are 12- 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1-4 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, call the gallery at 304-532-3235.

Ohio University Southern is also displaying Tri-State artists in the art gallery in the Dingus Building.

Through Aug. 26, the Ironton Artists Association will be displaying art and photography in the gallery for the “Sizzling Summer Exhibit.”

“We were contacted by OU,” said IAA member Helen Sellers. She said that Art Department Director Tom Suter and Gallery Coordinator Dennis Stewart are working to involve local artists in their on-going exhibits.

The “Sizzling Summer Exhibit” is the first of two showcases for the IAA at the OUS campus this year. Their next exhibit, “Art for the Holiday,” will be displayed through December.

The “Sizzling Summer Exhibit” displays more than 40 pieces of artwork and photography from artists all over the Tri-State.

“We have a multitude of really talented artists in our group,” said Sellers of the IAA, which is celebrating its 36th year.