Watercolor and pastel artist Jill Stefani Wagner’s paintings have been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and are included in various corporate and private collections.
Her subjects are varied, ranging from skyscapes, to landscapes and figures and she loves to paint from life or en plein air. The consistent theme that attracts her is light and shadow. How does sunlight play on an old building? What happens to the folds of material on a dress when light cascades across it? Do leaves on a tree appear differently at various times of day? How is color affected when ambient light changes?
Jill is fascinated with the ever changing abstract compositions that occur in the skies. Minute by minute, new panoramas of light, shape and color roll across the landscape. Each one implies a different mood and she tries to capture those fleeting feelings in her skyscapes. She is also very interested in the “micro-landscapes” that occur in nature. In studio work she explores
extreme close-up views of stones in rivers, towering trees and water reflections. With light and shadow always at the forefront, Jill creates series of paintings which highlight the natural beauty of our world.
Jill’s paintings have been accepted into the prestigious International Association of Pastel Societies Exhibits and she was honored with the Art Times Award by the Pastel Society of America. The Pastel Society of North Florida recently honored Jill with their Award for Exceptional Merit. Pastel Journal Magazine awarded her two Honorable Mentions in their 2009 Pastel 100 Show. The Greater Michigan Art Exhibition gave her the Excellence in Technique Award and she has been juried into various national pastel and watercolor exhibitions.
Ms. Wagner has mounted solo exhibitions at The University of Michigan, The University of Michigan Health System, River Gallery and Pfizer Corporate Headquarters.
Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine highlighted Jill’s artwork and career in an article titled “Today’s Masters, Artists Making their Mark.” Pastel Journal included her pastel paintings in an article on art inspired by travel and the best selling French magazine, Practique des Arts, highlighted her “skyscape” pastels.
Jill’s work is represented by River Gallery, in Chelsea, Michigan, Tvedten Fine Art in Harbor Springs, Michigan and Synchronicity Gallery in Glen Arbor, Michigan. She is a Signature member of the Pastel Society of America, and belongs to the National Watercolor Society, Michigan Watercolor Society, Great Lakes Pastel Society, Ann Arbor Women Artists and Ann Arbor Area Pastelists.
Jill Stefani Wagner was born in Port Huron, Michigan, and received a B.F.A. from The University of Michigan School of Art. She was co-founder of the Ann Arbor Ad Club and owned a successful, award-winning Ann Arbor advertising firm, Wagner Design, before becoming a full-time, professional artist.
