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Finding Light and Inspiration in Your Photo References in Pastel with Jill Stefani Wagner,PSA-MP, IAPS/MC, GLPS
Skill Level: All skill levels are welcome
Thursday – Saturday, October 23 – 25, 2025; 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
$200 deposit/$650 members/$700 non-members
Learn More at https://hsvmuseum.org/master-artist-workshops/
In this workshop, beginning to advanced students will explore ways to create unique, personal works of art based on their own reference photos. Participants will learn how to find dynamic compositions with strong focal points and push color to enhance their vision. We’ll step away from the confinement of exact “copying” of reference materials and move toward finding our own interpretation of a scene.
Day 1: egin with an explanation of Jill’s 5-step process and a demonstration using a tonal underpainting to create a halftone “structure” on which to build her pastel painting. We’ll discuss how to crop photos to consider various compositional options and how to loosely block in dark and medium values that establish a plan, before adding color. In the afternoon, students will choose one of their own photos to use as their painting inspiration.
Day 2: Begin with another short demo using a colorful watercolor underpainting of 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.
Day 3: Change things up a bit by using a dark substrate instead of a light one. Jill will demonstrate this challenging but highly rewarding way to paint, not often taught by other pastel instructors. The vibrance and saturation that happens with this process is amazing!
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 nuances of light and shadow. An avid plein air artist, Jill paints landscapes in her studio, in Europe and in plein air festivals around the U.S.
Jill’s paintings have been juried into many national pastel exhibits and have been honored with prestigious awards. Pastel Journal magazine gave her paintings six Honorable Mentions in their Pastel 100 Competitions. One of her pastel paintings was recently on the cover of Plein Air magazine, and Fine Art Connoisseur and Plein Air Salon often feature her work. She has been designated a Master Pastelist by the Pastel Society of America and the International Association of Pastel Societies. Jill has been invited Pastel Faculty at the 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023 Plein Air Conventions. Her two videos featuring “5-Step Pastel Painting” are available from Streamline publishing.
Jill Stefani Wagner received a B.F.A. in painting from The University of Michigan School of Art. She owned an award-winning advertising firm in Ann Arbor MI, before “seeing the light” and becoming a full-time artist. For more information, visit jillwagnerart.com.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Huntsville Museum of Art, 260 Church St SW, Huntsville, AL 35801, United States
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