Abstracted Landscapes: Tulsa Art Studio Tour Artist Libby Williams

This post is part of our series on Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition's Tulsa Art Studio Tour 2014. A self-guided tour, the Tulsa Art Studio Tour showcases the talent of artists who live and work in Tulsa.Today we are featuring Tour artist Libby Williams.

Libby grew up in Kansas City and has also studied art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia and Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York. Libby Williams will be completing a Master of Fine Art degree in Painting from the University of Tulsa in May 2014.

Tour Artist Libby William's studio inside the Zarrow Center

Williams makes landscape paintings from direct observation in order to discover more sophisticated structures and compositions generated from her head in the studio. Her painting process is a dialogue between invented abstraction and perceptual observation."This back and forth practice allows both methods to inform the other and develop an approach to painting that walks the line between invention and observation," says Williams

Tour Artist Libby Williams at work.

Her studio schedule changes with the seasons. "In the spring and fall I like to do more plein air," said Williams of her practice.  Her works explore color and connections through compositions. She likes the way her paintings fit together like a puzzle. "Recently my favorite piece is an oil painting called Owen Park (Porch View). I like it because it was made completely from observation but has taken on some unusual abstract structures that I try to put in my invented work," noted Williams

Meet & see the working studio of Williams along with 13 other artists on April 12-13, noon until 5 pm on the Tulsa Art Studio Tour. For more info, or to purchase tickets, visit www.TulsaArtStudioTour.org.