Toni Williams: "En Plein Air" March 25, 2010

"En Plein Air" is a painting exhibition of recent works by contemporary Southern California artist Toni Williams.

‘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 "plein air" 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.

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, and has been a professional painter and muralist for 15 years.

Williams on her paintings:

"I am one of those artists whose earliest memories revolved around the love, passion, and creation of art. The one constant source of strength for me has been painting. As with all artists, a time comes in life when the pursuit of the creative process becomes all encompassing."

Ivanffy-Uhler Gallery (est. 1989) relocated to Carlsbad from Dallas, TX in 2008, and has frequent and varied exhibitions of contemporary paintings, drawings and sculpture. The gallery is open from Tuesday through Sunday. The Toni Williams exhibition is held in conjunction with the opening of “Thursdays on the Coast” the ongoing, popular monthly art walk in Carlsbad Village.