Toni Williams, a native of New York, moved to San Diego in 1972 to finish her education at UCSD in La Jolla with a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts. Taken with the arid and temperate climate of Southern California, her work has been influenced by the great plein air artists in the San Diego Area at the turn of the century, namely Maurice Braun, Charles Fries and William Wendt.

In the pursuit of gaining experience in painting the human form, Toni has studied under the tutelage of Marileigh Schulte and Peggi Kroll-Roberts.

She has been a professional artist and muralist for 15 years.

‘Plein air’ painting is experiencing a renaissance in the United States. The charm of traditional landscape painting is combined with the energy of brush strokes and the magic of capturing fleeting light and shadow, all adds to its popularity.

Plein air, in French, literally translates as “open air,” and is defined as painting or drawing done out-of-doors.

Painting from plein air life is distinct from any other painting technique. With the immediacy and freshness of scenes caught in the moment, the painter must create quickly and without hesitation. The artist is challenged to concentrate totally on the information presented. The drama of shadows on mountains, clouds above the ocean, sight, sound, smell, humidity, temperature, the plein air artist absorbs it all, and then transfers these feelings onto the canvas.

Ms. Williams has participated in the Coronado Art Walk, Ranch Santa Fe’s Art Affaire and Del Mar’s Art Walk. She has attended ‘paint-outs’ with the California Art Club, The Oil Painters of America, and workshops with Ray Roberts, Pat Kelly, Calvin Liang and The Sage Group in Rancho Santa Fe.

Viewing her work is a journey in capturing the subtle nuances of the color, tone and imagery of the Southern California landscape, the human form and the quiet place of still life imagery.

 

Gallery Representation:

Ivanffy-Uhler Gallery
San Diego Historical Society
Rancho Santa Fe Art Gallery

Affiliations:

Oil Painters of America
California Art Club
American Impressionists Society, Signature Member
Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild
San Dieguito Art Guild
Laguna Plein Air Painters Association