About the Artist
Jill Stefani Wagner PSA-MP IAPS/MC GLPS
Chasing the Light
As a contemporary impressionist painter, I'm obsessed with capturing light. Plein air painting is my passion, but during the colder months I work on larger pieces in my studio. I paint in both pastel and oil, two mediums which complement each other nicely.
My subjects are varied, ranging from country landscapes to inner city architecture, from portraits to casual nudes, from seascapes to interiors. I love to travel and sometimes work from photos I've taken on the road, but when weather permits, my first choice is always to paint outdoors (en plein air), especially in my beloved Italy.
The consistent theme that attracts me is light and shadow. I aim for realism with a painterly twist, but sometimes I allow the rich hues and textures of a scene to dominate. Oil and pastel are exhilarating mediums that lead to endless adventures... and sometimes I'm just happy to follow their lead.
BIOGRAPHY
A devoted plein air painter, Jill Stefani Wagner’s oil and pastel paintings have been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and are included in various corporate and private collections.
Twelve of Jill’s paintings have been accepted into the prestigious International Association of Pastel Societies Exhibits and she has been honored with multiple awards in the Pastel Society of America. The Pastel Society of North Florida recently honored Jill with Best of Show Award in their National Exhibit. Pastel Journal Magazine has awarded her five Honorable Mentions in their Pastel 100 Shows and her work has been juried into and recognized in multiple national competitions over the years.
Jill's painting appeared on the cover of Plein Air Magazine and is often featured in that publication as well as Fine Art Connoisseur. Pastel Journal has included her pastel paintings in multiple articles and the best selling French magazine, Practique des Arts, has also highlighted her pastel “skyscapes."
Jill was awarded Master Circle status in the International Association of Pastel Societies. and is a Master Pastelist in the Pastel Society of America. She is a Signature Pastelist in Degas Pastel Society and Great Lakes Pastel Society and also is a member of Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society, Great Lakes Plein Air Painters Association and American Women Artists.
Ms. Wagner has mounted solo exhibitions at The University of Michigan, The University of Michigan Health System, The River Gallery, Monroe Community College, Kerrytown Concert House and Pfizer Corporate Headquarters. She teaches art workshops around the world and has been invited Pastel Faculty at the Plein Air Convention 5 times. Jill has also been featured on Pastel Live, Plein Air Live and Eric Rhoads' Live online events and podcast.
Jill Stefani Wagner was born in Port Huron, Michigan and 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.
SELECTED EXHIBITS
2026
Plein Air Convention Faculty
Great Lakes Member Show
Pastel Society of the West Coast Members Show
Plein Air Salon Best Clouds and Sky
BoldBrush Painting Competition FAV15%
Pastel Society of Colorado’s Mile High International Pastel Exhibition
2025
Bluff Strokes Paint Out
Paint Dexter Plein Air Festival
American Women Artists: A Vision of Nature Exhibit Outstanding Achievement in Landscape
Paint Grand Traverse Plein Air Festival
Great Lakes Pastel Society Member Exhibit Blick Art Materials Award
First Brush of Spring Merit Award
Pastel Society of Colorado 21st Annual Mile High Pastel Exhibition
Pastel Society of New Mexico Enchanted Colors Exhibition
Pastel Society of Colorado’s International Online Show
Plein Air Salon Competition Top 100 Finalist
Pastel Society of the West Coast Members Online Show
2024
Plein Air Competition Plein Air Pastel Honorable Mention and Top 100 Finalist
Bluff Strokes Plein Air Festival 2nd Place Rural Award
Pastel Society of the West Coast Pastels USA Exhibition
Paint Dexter First Place
Great Lakes Pastel Society National Exhibition
Wayne Plein Air Festival Silver Brush Award
NOAPS Best of America Small Works International Exhibit
Wild Birds Exhibit
Modern Impressionist Salon Top 20 Finalist Feb/Mar
Pastel Society of the West Coast Member Exhibition
Plein Air Salon Top 100 Finalist
Pastel Society of New Mexico National Exhibition
2023
Modern Impressionist Salon Top 20 Finalist Dec/Jan
Plein Air Salon Honorable Mention Award
Plein Air Salon Best Pastel Plein Air Award
Awarded Signature status in Great Lakes Pastel Society
Degas Pastel Society Member Exhibit Award of Merit
Paint Grand Traverse
Bluff Strokes Plein Air Festival 1st Place Rural Award
Paint Dexter Plein Air Festival 2nd Place Award
Great Lakes Pastel Society Members Exhibit Honorable Mention
American Impressionist Society National Exhibition
Pastel Society of Colorado Mile High International Exhibition Honorable Mention
American Impressionist Society Small Works Showcase
Pastel Society of the West Coast Members Exhibit
2022
International Association of Pastel Societies Web Show- Master Circle Division
Ohio Plein Air Society Competition Honorable Mention
Paint Grand Traverse Plein Air Festival Small Works Award
Door County Plein Air Festival
International Association of Pastel Societies PastelWorld Exhibition- Master Circle Division
Great Lakes Pastel Society National Exhibition
American Impressionist Society Small Works Showcase
American Impressionist Society Associate Member Online Exhibit
Lighthouse Plein Air Festival
Wekiva Paint Air Festival
Close to Home - Oil & Pastel Paintings of Pure Michigan Solo Exhibit
Brush Strokes Plein Air Festival
2021
National Oil and Acrylic Painter's Society International Fall Exhibition
Higbee 6" Squared Exhibit Gallery Award
American Impressionist Society Member Exhibition
Degas Pastel Society Membership Exhibition
Pastels Chicago National Exhibition
Great Lakes Pastel Society Member Exhibition Great American Award
Higbee Atmospheric Impressions Exhibition Honorable Mention
International Association of Pastel Societies Master Circle Exhibition
American Impressionist Society Associate Members Online Exhibition
Hudson Valley Art Association Annual Exhibition
Oil Painters of America National Exhibition
American Impressionist Society Small Works Exhibit
Richeson75 Small Works Competition 1 Finalist and 2 Meritorious Awards
2020
Dakota Pastels Fall Online Competition Honorable Mention
Pastel Society of New Mexico National Exhibition Sponsorship Award
International Association of Pastel Societies Web Show
Pastel Society of the South West National Exhibition Landscape Award
Bold Brush Online Competition FAV15% Award
Oil Painters of America Showcase Honorable Mention
American Impressionist Society Online Exhibit
Paint Grand Traverse Plein Air Festival
Pastel Society of the West Coast International Pastels USA Exhibition Richeson Bronze Award
Pastel Society of America Annual Exhibition
Great Lakes Pastel Society International Exhibition FrameTek Award
Oil Painters of America Salon Show
Dakota Pastels Spring Online Competition Honorable Mention
Bold Brush Online Competition FAV15% Award
UART Annual Online Pastel Competition
Bold Brush Online Competition 2 FAV15% Awards
Touch of Color Exhibition
2019
Paint the Parks Exhibit Second Place
International Association of Pastel Societies Web Show
Ohio Plein Air Society Competition Honorable Mention Award
Pastel Society of America Annual Exhibition Pastel Societies of the Southeast Award
Paint Grand Traverse Plein Air Festival Honorable Mention Award
UArt Annual Online Exhibition
Great Lakes Pastel Society Members Exhibit Honorable Mention Award
Oil Painters of America Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils
American Impressionist Society Small Works Showcase
International Association of Pastel Societies Master Circle Exhibition
Finger Lakes Plein Air Festival
Wayne Plein Air Festival Two Honorable Mention Awards
2018
Plein Air Magazine Plein Air Salon Best Pastel Award and Best Plein Air Award
33rd International Association of Pastel Societies Webshow Exhibition
Degas Pastel Society 17th Biennial National Exhibition Award of Merit
Mountain Maryland Plein Air
Pure Color International Online Exhibit
Paint Grand Traverse Plein Air Festival Honorable Mention
Plein Air Magazine Plein Air Salon Best Pastel Award
UArt Online Pastel Competition
Paint Annapolis
Great Lakes Pastel Society National Exhibit Bronze Award
Wayne Plein Air Festival Gamblin Award
2017
Great Lakes Pastel Society Online National Exhibition
Web Show Awarded Master Circle Status
Degas Pastel Society 20th Member Exhibition
*Painting Italy Two-Artist Exhibition
Shades of Pastel
Carmel on Canvas 2 Quick Draw Awards
*Pastels and Oils
Paint Dexter Plein Air Festival Artist Choice Award
University of Michigan Stamps Alumni Exhibition
UArt Online Competition
Mountain Maryland Plein Air Festival Second Place Award
Finger Lakes Plein Air Competition & Festival
Great Lakes Pastel Society Exhibit
2016
Plein Air Magazine Plein Air Salon Best Overall Pastel
Paint Dexter Plein Air Festival Quick Draw First Place Award
Great Lakes Bay En Plein Air Honorable Mention and Quick Draw First Place Award
Finger Lakes Plein Air Competition and Festival
Great Lakes Pastel Society National Exhibit Great American Art Works Award
Wayne Plein Air Painting Festival Golden Artist Colors Award
*Our Town, Our Land – Painting Saline
Pastel Journal Pastel 100 Show Honorable Mention Award
Seneca Plein Air Painting Festival Artists Choice Award
2015
Seneca Plein Air Painting Festival First Place Award
The Pink Exhibit
Painters Paint Italy
Great Lakes Pastel Society Member Exhibit
Pastel Society of America 43rd Annual Exhibition Pastel Society of Canada Award
Paint Dexter Plein Air Festival Quick Draw First Place Award
Brighton Paint Out People’s Choice Award
Great Lakes Bay En Plein Air First Place Award
Finger Lakes Plein Air Competition & Festival
International Association of Pastel Societies PastelWorld Exhibit
Pastel Invitational
Ann Arbor Women Artists 2015 Spring Exhibition Best of Show
2014
Art Off the Wall Exhibition
Terra Nova II
International Association of Pastel Societies Web Show
The Artist’s Magazine 31st Annual Art Competition Finalist
92nd Annual All Media Exhibition
Reaching for the Light
Paint Dexter Plein Air Festival First Place Award
Great Lakes Pastel Society National Exhibit
Terra Nova Landscapes Exhibit
Pastel Journal Pastel 100 Show 2 Honorable Mention Awards
2013
Legacy of the Land Through Art Honorable Mention Award
About: Face Honorable Mention Award
Pastel Society of America 41st Annual Juried Exhibition Pastel Society of the Southwest Award
Paint Dexter Plein Air Festival First Place Award
Great Lakes Pastel Society 2013 Members Exhibit
