Light & Color: Juried Pastel Exhibition

April 11 – May 6, 2023 | Juror: Jill Stefani Wagner, PSA-MP, IAPS/MC

Light and Color celebrates original artworks created using hard, soft, dry, oil, pencil, and PanPastel by artists from around the country. The work is juried by respected plein air oil and pastel painter Jill Stefani Wagner, who has achieved Master Panelist status in the Pastel Society of America, and Master Circle status in the International Association of Pastel Societies.

The public is invited to the free reception on Saturday, April 22, 5 – 7 pm where the artists will be recognized for their creative achievements.

Reception: Saturday, April 22, 5 – 7 pm with Awards Presentation at 6:15 PM; Free for artists and guests

Participating Artists

Melinda Ashby, Margo Berke, Marchelle Brotz, Ann Cleary, Christina Czaja, Renee Dempsey, Richard Franz, Vicki Goulas, Catherine Hetherington, Kathy Hough, JoAnn Kennedy, Linda Klenczar, Nancy Knapp, Janet Kohler, Melanie Minnix, Linda Pelowski, Constance Sanocki, Linda Shepard, Rose Starke, Sandy Steed, Debbie Toth, Jiangxin Wang, and Lisa Williams.

About the Juror – Jill Stefani Wagner, PSA-MP, IAPS/MC

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.

In 2016 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.”

Recently Jill was awarded Master Circle status in the International Association of Pastel Societies. A Master Pastelist in the Pastel Society of America, she also belongs to Degas Pastel Society, Great Lakes Pastel Society, 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, and Pfizer Corporate Headquarters. She teaches art workshops around the country and has been invited Pastel Faculty at the Plein Air Convention in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022. Jill has also been featured on Eric Rhoads Live online events.

Jill Stefani Wagner was born in Port Huron, Michigan and she 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.

Questions? Email Ryan Kaltenbach, Creative Director at exhibits@northvillearthouse.org.