by Jill Stefani Wagner

I’m so pleased to be invited Pastel Faculty at this year’s Plein Air Convention (PACE). I absolutely loved teaching at PACE 2016 and 2017. I had wanted to attend the convention for years, but something always got in the way. It wasn’t til they asked me to teach at PACE 2016 that I got a chance to experience it.

It was AMAZING. 900 students and 6o faculty learning to paint outdoors in a supportive, no-drama atmosphere.

Marketing Bootcamp with Eric Rhoads early every morning, then Home Room with tons of door prizes. Four days of  demos by my favorite artists in 3 or 4 different mediums all going on the same time. (I didn’t have to register, just attended whichever demo interested me and left to see another anytime I wanted.) I gloried in the exhibit hall filled with the best art suppliers in the world selling their products at reduced prices and handing out samples. Parties and events at night. AND every day we would meet at a gorgeous site to paint together (almost 900 of us). We faculty painted demos and also offered to help anyone who needed it.

Oh, Boy. My idea of heaven. If you haven’t been to PACE before, I’d highly recommend it. You can read more about it here.

You can also read an article that appeared in Outdoor Painter about my first time teaching at PACE below.