Plein air pastel landscape painting of Everglades water in the morning.
Pastel painting 11.5 inches x 8.5 inches SOLD
I love doing plein air paintings on location when we travel. But as a Michigan artist with galleries in-state, it is difficult to show pastel landscapes which are obviously done in different parts of the country. People tend to like images that relate to their own surroundings. One of my goals for this year is to find good gallery representation in the southern states…
Plein air pastel landscape of silhouetted trees along a river bank.
Pastel painting 8.5 inches x 13.5 inches
This is one of my favorite pastel landscapes that I’ve done recently. I painted it one morning down in Florida but it is really a universal-type scene and could have been done almost anywhere in the United States.
I’m a firm believer in getting out early to work on plein air paintings. Their is a special light in the morning that evaporates very quickly. At 8 or 9 am the scene before you is brilliant and dramatic. At 11, it becomes flat and boring. I often take a couple hour break during midday and start again on another scene after 3 pm. I REALLY love afternoon light too. It has a golden hue that gives everything it touches a rosy hue. In my work, light and shadow is everything.
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 pastel landscape painting of a stand of trees reflected in a lake.
Pastel painting 4.5 inches x 9 inches
Its been a crazy, happy week with family in town. And we are on “Baby Alert” with our second grandson due any minute. Very little art is being created in this studio!
I thought I’d post this small pastel painting I did recently at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor. Its all about the beautiful tree reflections in the lake. The ripples change every minute and it’s hard to capture them in plein air paintings. But I had fun trying!
I was honored to be profiled on the Artists in Pastel website today! Check it out if you get a chance!
Plein air pastel landscape of a Michigan wetlands in mid November.
Pastel painting 11 inches x 8 inches
Last week, my friend Cecily and I braved the cold and set out to find a nice spot to paint outdoors. We felt the need to commemorate our artist friend Mary Beth Koeze who had just passed away, and, when you think of it, what could be more appropriate than to create art?
I think this is probably my last Michigan plein air pastel painting of the season. It was COLD. My fingers were numb and my ears frozen. How artists paint in deep winter, I’ll never know. But this wetland area had always intrigued me and I’m happy we seized the moment to capture some of its beauty.
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 pastel landscape painting of a shaded pond in the afternoon.
Pastel painting 8 inches x 11 inches
I’ve driven by this little pond a million times and each time, I swear I am going to come back and paint it. Well, I finally did it! The afternoon sun made all of the rich hues stand out and made a really colorful pastel painting.
I found it really challenging to capture the 3 dimensions of this scene: the water, the reflections and the things floating on the water. They all exist in a different plane and make for mind boggling concentration. And y’all thought pastel landscapes were easy… But sometimes it’s worth the trouble!
Plein air watercolor landscape painting of a pond and surrounding trees.
Watercolor painting 11 inches x 7 inches $150
Please contact me if you are interested in similar artwork.
The other day, I grabbed my watercolors and trusty pooch and headed out to the pond near our house. Roxy loves to run free near the water and I can relax and sketch the scenery. It was a great day for a watercolor landscape. The sun was out and the wind was blowing the billowing cloud formations quickly across the sky. I had to paint quickly to catch the effects…
In the studio I am working on a commission of the cutest little pup. Can’t wait to show it to my client. Let me know if you have a special animal you would like immortalized in a pastel pet portrait!
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.
