In this workshop beginning to advanced students will explore ways to create unique, personal works of art based on their reference photos. Participants will learn how to find dynamic compositions with strong focal points and push color to enhance their vision. We will step away from the confinement of exact “copying” of reference materials and move toward finding our own interpretation of a scene.

Day One will begin with a short demonstration using a dark underpainting to create a halftone “structure” on which to build a pastel painting. We’ll discuss how to crop into photos for various compositional options and how to loosely block in dark and medium areas that establish a value plan, before adding color.

Day Two will begin with another short demo using a colorful watercolor underpainting which uses complimentary colors to create an impressionistic, “vibrating” effect. After creating several value sketches, emphasis will be on students painting loosely and using strong marks to strengthen their chosen composition.

About the Artist:

Whether painting landscapes, interiors or figures, Jill Stefani Wagner’s primary focus is always “light” and how it affects the scene she’s trying to capture. Working in pastel and oil, she approaches painting as a sculptor would, carving out the nuances of highlight and shadow. An avid plein air artist, Jill paints landscapes in Italy and in plein air festivals around the U.S.

Jill’s paintings have been juried into the International Association of Pastel Societies Exhibits and she has been honored with awards from Pastel Society of America, Great Lakes Pastel Society and Pastel Society of North Florida. Pastel Journal Magazine gave her paintings six Honorable Mentions in their Pastel 100 Competitions.

One of Jill’s pastel paintings was recently on the cover of Plein Air Magazine, and Fine Art Connoisseur and Pastel Journal have featured her work. She’s been designated a Master Pastelist by Pastel Society of America and was invited faculty at the 2016 and 2017 Plein Air Conventions.

Ms. Wagner’s artwork is represented in Michigan by J. Petter Galleries in Saugatuk, Tvedten Fine Art in Harbor Springs, and WSG Gallery in Ann Arbor.

Jill Stefani Wagner received a B.F.A. from The University of Michigan School of Art. She owned an award-winning advertising firm in Ann Arbor, before “seeing the light” and becoming a full-time artist.

Visit Jill’s website at www.jillwagnerart.com and her artblog at www.jillwagnerart.com/artblog

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