Libby Tolley 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. She also is an elected member of the American Artists Professional League. In 1993 she co-founded S.L.O.P.E., San Luis Obispo Outdoor Painters.

A fourth-generation Californian, painter Elizabeth "Libby" Tolley records the disappearing rural landscapes of California's Central Coast. The award-winning artist brings these California scenes into the national spotlight, as her paintings have been selected for inclusion in art magazines, books, and national exhibits.

"I think people across America respond to these Central Coast scenes because of the quality of the light and the coloration, as well as because these locations are often changing and disappearing," says Libby of her work. "The paintings capture a sense of place. I look for the subtle nuances of coloration that are unique to California—the violets, pinks, blues, grays, and ochres....I work on location to capture the spirit of the land. This process of plein air painting is essential to my understanding of the land and its uniqueness. With the large paintings designed on location, and the small paintings for reference, I go back to my studio and complete the work."

Libby adds that "Sincerity is what attracts me to a painting, and it's what I strive for in my own work. A good painting should incorporate the formal aspects such as technique and composition, while capturing the elusive qualities that are essential to a work of art."

Libby's generous assistance has benefited the fundraising efforts of groups as diverse as the Mozart Festival, the Nature Conservancy, and the Perinatal Substance Abuse program. 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 building in Sacramento, California, and in the Washington, D.C., office of U.S. Congresswoman Lois Capps. Her work is archived at the Smithsonian Institute of Art, Washington, D.C.