Biography
Statement | Approach | About | Exhibitions | Reviews
Artist Statement
As a landscape painter primarily, I seek to find the subtle nuances.the color, light and shapes that help create a sense of place. I want to capture the mood and heartbeat of the land. When I paint I feel a sense of connectedness to the land.an encompassing spirituality. It is important to me to bring that to the painting.
My focus has been painting the Central Coast landscape as it is today. I strive to capture and honor our incredible landscape on canvas and leave these works to be enjoyed now and for the generations that follow. While I don't paint to record, many of my painting sites have changed or are already a memory.
My goal is to create paintings that honor my subject and nourish my soul.
Artist Approach to Painting
I work from life as a general rule. Not only do I find it stimulating and challenging, I am able to connect to my subject on a deeper level, giving me more latitude in expressing my response visually.
As a landscape painter, the process of first painting on location (en plein air) is essential to my understanding of the land and its uniqueness. After getting to know a location through my plein air paintings and field sketches, I start the larger paintings. To create the major paintings takes a deep understanding of my subject. If possible I start the larger paintings on location and then take them to the studio where they will continue to develop. I work to create a harmonious painting that is well-composed and painted, one that catches the character and spirit of the land.
I paint with Oil or Watercolor Paint. My style and technique has evolved to incorporate what I love about the mediums, the glowing transparencies of watercolor and the textural thicker opaque oil paint. Looking at my paintings up close, the texture of opaque paint and transparencies create an interesting surface texture on the canvas. From a distance the paint merges visually creating larger more defined representational shapes.
About the Artist
Elizabeth "Libby" Tolley is an American Painter. She is a fourth-generation Californian, Her focus has been painting the rural landscapes of California's Central Coast. The artist brings these California scenes into the national spotlight, as her paintings have been selected for inclusion in art magazines, books, and national exhibits.
Libby is a Juried Artist Member of the California Art Club, is a signature member of Oil Painters of America, the National Watercolor Society, and Alla Prima International. In 1993 she co-founded S.L.O.P.E., San Luis Obispo Outdoor Painters.
Libby has been featured in over 25 articles in international art magazines including, The Artist (UK), Southwest Art, Plein Air Magazine, The Artist's Magazine, and International Artist Magazine. Libby's paintings have graced three covers.
In 2007, Libby completed an instructional book on painting landscapes called, Oil Painter's Solution Book: Landscapes, 100 answers to you oil painting questions. The book, published by North Light Books, answers questions students have asked over the years, and illustrates the process of painting both on location and in the studio. The book has been well received by artists in all mediums.
San Diego Flora, another book released in 2007, included her paintings "Morning on the San Mateo" and "Afternoon on the San Mateo." "Morning on the San Mateo" was exhibited in the Capistrano Light Exhibit sponsored by The Irvine Museum.
Libby's work has benefited diverse groups such as: many land conservancies, Perinatal Substance Abuse Program and Casa, Friends of Hearst Castle, and the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival. Libby's original paintings, as well as reproductions of her work, can be found across the country. Currently she has pieces on display in both the capitol buildings in Sacramento, California, and in Washington, D.C., and office of U.S. Congresswoman Lois Capps.
Memberships
- California Art Club, Elected Artist Member
- Oil Painters of America (O.P.A.), Signature Member
- National Watercolor Society (N.W.S.), Signature Member
- Alla Prima International, Signature Member
- Co-founder, San Luis Outdoor Painters for the Environment, (S.L.O.P.E.), 1993
- Laguna Plein Air Painters, Artist Member
Publications
- Books
- Oil Painter's Solution Book: Landscapes, by Elizabeth Tolley
- San Diego Flora
- Best of Oil Painting
- Best of Watercolor Painting, Painting Light & Shadow
Magazines
- American Art Collector
- Getting Started in Art, Magazine & Cover
- International Artist Magazine
- Oil Painting Basics, Magazine & Cover
- Plein Air Magazine
- Southwest Art Magazine
- The Artist's Magazine
- The Artist, UK
- Watercolor Magic, Magazine & Cover
- Watercolor Magazine
Selected Awards and Exhibitions
2010
- California Art Club 99th Gold Medal Exhibition, June 13 - July 4
- Twilight on the Terrace, Hearst Castle Plein Air Invitational, June 5
- A SENSE OF PEACE: Elizabeth Tolley Solo Exhibition of New Paintings, Vault Gallery, Cambria, CA, May 1
- Glenna Hartmann Memorial Invitational Fine Art Exhibition, Best of Show, February 2010
2009
- Twilight on the Terrace, Hearst Castle Plein Air Invitational
- California Art Club 98th Gold Medal Exhibition, April 26 - May 17
2008
- Twilight on the Terrace, Hearst Castle Plein Air Invitational
- California Art Club 97th Gold Medal Exhibition
- Heritage Art Exhibition sponsored by the Irvine Museum
- Crystal Cove Alliance Invitational Exhibition " Coastal Splendor", Award
- California Mission Invitational, Roger's Gardens, Costa Mesa
2007
- California Art Club 96th Gold Medal Exhibition
- Heritage Art Exhibition sponsored by the Irvine Museum, Award
- Crystal Cove Alliance Invitational Exhibition " Coastal Splendor"
- San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival
- Solo Exhibition, Debra Huse Gallery
- Capistrano Light, Irvine Ranch Exhibition
2006
- California Art Club 95th Gold Medal Exhibition
- Oil Painters of America National
- San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival
- Acadia Invitational Exhibition, Argosy Gallery, Bar Harbor, Maine
- Maui Plein Air Invitational, Hawaii
- Capistrano Light, Irvine Ranch Exhibition
2005
- California Art Club 94th Gold Medal Exhibition
- Oil Painters of America National
- Oil Painters of American Western Regional, Award of Excellence, Best Signature Member
- San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival, Best of Show award
- Solo Exhibition, Vault Gallery
2004
- San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival, 2nd place award
- Solo Exhibition, Vault Gallery
- Carmel Plein Air, Award
- Finalist, The Artist's Magazine Landscape Painting Competition
2003
- Oil Painters of America National
- San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival
- Solo Exhibition, Vault Gallery
- Carmel Plein Air
- Oil Painters of America Western Regional, Award of Excellence
- Sonora Desert Museum Plein Air, Jurors Commendation Award
- International Artist Magazine, 2nd Place, Seascapes, Rivers and Lakes
2002
- California Art Club, awarded artist membership
- Oil Painters of America National
- San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival, Award
- Solo Exhibition, Vault Gallery
- Carmel Plein Air
- Finalist, The Artist's Magazine Landscape Painting Competition Painting chosen for the cover of the 2002 Artist Magazine Calendar
2001
- Oil Painters of America National
- Solo Exhibition, Vault Gallery
- Oil Painters of America, Awarded Signature Membership
- Finalist, in The Artist's Magazine Landscape Painting Competition 2001
- 81st Annual National Watercolor Society Show
2000
- Solo Exhibition, Vault Gallery
- Oil Painters of America National
- San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival Commemorative Print Artist
- National Watercolor Society Travel Show
1991-1999
- Brushstrokes 1994: Oil Painting, Best of Show; Grumbacher Gold Medal
- Oil Painters of America National 1996
- National Watercolor Society Annual Juried Exhibits
- Rockport Publisher: Award of Distinction
- San Diego Watercolor Society: Award of Excellence, 1999
- San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival Commemorative Print Artist: 1995
- Solo Exhibition, Vault Gallery 1996
- Watercolor West: Brand Library and Art Gallery Award
- Winsor & Newton: Achievement Recognition
Juror of Awards, Exhibition and or Selection for Exhibition
- 2008 Selection Juror, San Luis Obispo Plein Air
- 2004 National Watercolor Society National Exhibition, juror of signature status
- 2001 Paso Robles Regional All Media Show, "Color of Autumn" Selection and Awards
- 1999 Gold Coast Watercolor Society Selection and Awards
- 1996 Monterey Museum of Art: California Art Educators Juried Museum Show, Juror of Selection
Museum Director's Reviews
"To me, Libby Tolley's work succeeds on two levels: First, there is the outward beauty of the land, sky and ocean, presented in clean and direct areas of glorious color. This is the level that appeals immediately to anyone who views her work.
Secondly, there is the deeper, softly spiritual level, the one that comes to the viewer very soon after the initial look. This meaning is manifested through her adept handling of color. Color is the messenger, and in Libby's case, the narrative is merely foreground. Libby's work is a treat to the eye and the spirit."
Mr. Jean Stern, Executive Director, The Irvine Museum, April 2006
Writing about " Platinum Morning" exhibited in the California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition
2006 San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival 2005
"I was struck by the fact that I kept having to return to Libby's work while jurying the Plein Air Festival at SLO. I always believe that when you can't stop looking at a painting that it means that it carries a depth beyond the surface. There is no doubt that Libby is a fine artist with a great sense of composition, color, texture, and style. Where she goes beyond many artists is in her sense of light and mood.
In the first place winning painting titled "Daybreak" she has captured the fragility of morning in a most ethereal and delicate way. Her sky is the palest pinkish yellow, transparent and soft and new. Her work looks realistic from afar yet abstract close up. This is another act of genius. Up close her trees appear to be "scraped back" with a palette knife appearing old in juxtaposition to the newness of the morning sky.
The "content" of her works goes so much further beyond the simple landscape they appear. There is a spirituality about the works, even in her quick draw piece created Saturday morning in less than two hours, where she describes the trees as revealing the coming of fall. Something seems to be "pending," about to happen, ever changing. She appeared to have studied with the masters or at least with a highly academic art institute or university or mentor artists(s) the latter which is true. She is impressive as an overall artist in her technique, spirit and depth of content... probably the best Plein Air painter I have seen in my time as curator at the Bakersfield Museum of Art."
Emily Falke, Curator, Bakersfield Museum of Art, October 2005
Elizabeth "Libby" Tolley
"Libby Tolley's work harks back to the California plein air tradition. She has the ability to endow our favorite landscapes with heightened meaning: richly romantic, sumptuously painted, drenched with golden light." Bill Beeson