Plein air pastel seascape painting from Fisherman's Island Park near Charlevoix, Michigan.

Pastel painting 11.5 inches x 8.5 inches

Last day “up north.”  Wanhhhh! I packed up our hotel room and worked my way toward the golf course where I would pick up my husband and head back down south. I had time for one quick pastel landscape on the way, so I stopped at the little Fisherman’s Island Park just outside of Charlevoix. It was a gorgeous morning but the mosquitoes were ferocious! I literally was eaten alive. But I was happy with way this pastel seascape came out. No pain, no gain…

Pastel plein air landscape painting of the Jordan River in East Jordan, Michigan

Pastel painting 11 inches x 14 inches

I almost always work on paper when I create my plein air pastel landscapes, using mostly Art Spectrum or Kitty Wallis paper. I recently bought a couple of Ampersand Pastelbords to try them out and was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked the surface. It is, of course, a heavier substrate, almost like masonite in weight.  When painting on it, the surface feels “harder” than other papers I have used, but it seems to hold just as much pastel. I used a sand-colored board for this painting of the Jordan River. I think this plein air artist will buy a few more boards to experiment with…

Plein air pastel seascape painting of a sand bar in the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix.

Pastel painting 8.5 inches x 11.5 inches

One day, while the guys were golfing up north, I spent the day painting pastel landscapes in the little town of East Jordan which is situated along the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix. This was my first work of the day, done early in the morning, before 9 am. As a plein air artist I’m always looking for interesting seascape opportunities. Although I really respect artists who can create a work of art solely from miles of endless water, I tend to shy away from scenes that are nothing but lake or ocean. I like to find something with an interesting center of interest that integrates with the water around it. This little sand bar did the trick.

I’m leaving for a week at Bonanza Creek in Montana today! Non-stop horseback riding and painting with close friends…Ahhhh!!! Check out their website at http://www.bonanzacreekcountry.com. If you are looking for a wonderful place to ride and experience the wonders of “out west”, I recommend it highly!

Plein air pastel landscape painting of a home in BayView near Lake Michigan

Pastel painting 11.5 inches x 8.5 inches

Spring in Northern Michigan is a wonderful place for a plein air artist. The landscape is bursting with color and there’s always Lake Michigan for a perfect backdrop. I stopped by BayView, a neat little area filled with old Victorian cottages near Petoskey and painted this pastel painting. The sun was just coming up and the light and shadows on this old home drew me in. I was able to combine a painting of architecture with gorgeous blue-water seascape.

Plein air watercolor landscape painting of a sailboat at a dock.

Plein air watercolor painting    6 inches x 9.5 inches

This  plein air watercolor landscape is painted on plastic yupo paper. I tend to go back and forth between that and more traditional Waterford. I get frustrated with one paper and technique and switch to the other. Yupo lets me paint more like an oil or acrylic painter. The paper doesn’t absorb the paint and gives a completely different effect.

Pastel landscape painting of a light-filled afternoon on the Lake Michigan coast.

Pastel painting 14 inches x 10 inches

Still deeply focused on my new set of paintings of Italy. I turn Andrea Bocelli music waaaaay up and sing in Italian as I paint. It’s actually pretty embarrassing but it seems to be working for me…

Every once in a while I have to take a break and do some pastel paintings of different subjects. Northern Michigan is one of my favorite places on earth and the gorgeous scenery always calls to me. This pastel landscape shows a little cove that I have painted many times, between Charlevoix and Petoskey along Lake Michigan. I’ve stopped at various times of day and this water scene always inspires me. On this piece I worked mainly with my Great American pastels. They are square and flat like Terry Ludwigs, and great for working loosely and eliminating unnecessary details.

I just ordered a 100 new Terry Ludwig pastels with the gift certificate award I received for my marsh painting in The Pastel Society of North Florida’s National Exhibition. I am excited but overwhelmed by the prospect of adding MORE pastels to my already huge collection. I should be set for life!!!

Don’t miss the Artist Reception for the Saline Plein Air Painters Exhibit at My Favorite Cafe in Saline. Friday, 7-9pm, 101 South Ann Arbor Street.

Plein air watercolor painting of the lighthouse near Charlevoix, Michigan

Watercolor painting 9 inches x 13 inches

Please contact me if you are interested in this artwork.

I’m on a comparison binge this week. The watercolor painting above was done plein air a couple of years ago in Charlevoix, Michigan. And the pastel landscape below was done plein air last year. Almost the same seascape view but using very different mediums.

Happy Anniversary Johnny Wags!

Plein air watercolor landscape painting of Round Lake from Charlevoix, Michigan

Watercolor painting 9 inches x 6 inches    $80

Please contact me if you are interested in similar artwork.

When we were in Charlevoix this spring, I sat near their newly reconstructed waterfront and painted this watercolor. The dock area was bustling and a lot of people stopped by to peak at my progress–always a bit disconcerting…

I always find it challenging to do a watercolor landscape of a lake or ocean (commonly called a seascape). You want the water to be believable, yet you need to do it quickly and not fuss over it too much. Watercolor can be very unforgiving. I can’t tell you how many of my paintings never see the light of day. Hopefully I learn something from every attempt. Lots of education starting in a few days in Italy!

Plein air landscape painting of Crystal Lake from Beulah, Michigan

Pastel painting 6 inches x 6 inches     $100

Please contact me if you are interested in similar artwork.

On the way to Crystal Lake, we stopped in Beulah at the beach in town. John took his afternoon nap and I did a quick seascape pastel painting out of the back of the car. It was a bit stormy and rough but made for an interesting, moody  pastel landscape…

If you are interested in a fine art print of one of my paintings, I recently posted some of my most popular pieces on FineArtAmerica.com. They have a wonderful program for purchasing prints, posters, canvases, and notecards. The prices are really reasonable and they do an excellent job of reproducing artist’s work.

Check out my offerings at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/jill-stefani-wagner.html

Plein air watercolor landscape painting of the shore along Crystal Lake in Northern Michigan.

Watercolor painting 7 inches x 10 inches    SOLD

Please contact me if you are interested in similar artwork.

I can’t believe how long it has been since I’ve painted any watercolors.  I’ve been so infatuated with the bright, opaque pastel pigments, that I’ve neglected the medium that got me excited about art in the first place. When we were “up north,” I did pull the paints out for a watercolor landscape of the shoreline along Crystal Lake.

When I go to paint in Italy in the fall, I have decided to bring only my watercolor supplies. Pastels are too bulky, fragile and dusty for international travel. Plus, for some reason, I think of Italy as a location made especially for the nuances of this water medium.