Todd A. Williams was born in the small farming community of Central City, Nebraska. Since his childhood he has been aware of the natural beauty of the world around him, an awareness that he continues to cultivate today through the art of painting.

Todd was eager from an early age to pursue art. At a time when most of us leave our crayons behind, he was being accepted and encouraged by his classmates, as an artist. "When I was 7, I took out some colored pencils and a posterboard. There was a poster of a tiger in my bedroom and I remember spreading out on the floor with these pencils, looking up and drawing the tiger. The next Friday I took it to show and tell at school. The other kids and the teacher liked it. I'll never forget that feeling of acceptance from sharing my experience in color and shape. As children we all love the colors and our crayon expressions. But the reality is that everyone of us is an artist at heart. We just move on to share and express it in other ways."

He studied painting and illustration at the Kansas City Art Institute where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Todd excels in his ability to paint all subject matter: landscape, still-life, and figurative works using spontaneous brushwork and creative virtuosity. Most of the time Todd can be found painting en plein air. Through this discipline he has found his own recognizable voice, which is now becoming his signature style.

Although Todd is not an abstractionist, he still uses an abstractionist metaphor which is 'to take from.' In his case he has chosen to take his forms from nature and his expression from his heart. He has a unique ability to go beyond surface effects of atmosphere and light--to turn inward, to capture the soul and sentiment of the subject. "Natural beauty found within one's heart can correspond to the natural beauty of light on still life, landscape and figure," he says. His painting has continued to be a moment in his life he wishes to share with everyone else. Out of abundance of his heart he invites us to participate along with him in the same experience.

Todd's influences have been many, ranging from Barbizon tonalism to Sorolla's imressionistic sea of color. The one constant in his life are his heroes: Nicolai Fechin, Joaquin Sorolla, and Anders Zorn. Todd recognizes the importance of being technically proficient in his craft and keeping in touch with others who share similar concerns.

Todd was indeed born with a gift. To that gift, he has added great passion and a commitment to be responsible to use the gift that God has given him. He paints not for position or notoriety, but because he knows he is an artist and has found his poetry.