Whatever she paints, Wagner’s focus is always “the light” and how it affects the landscape or cityscape scene she’s trying to capture. Working in pastel and oil, she approaches her paintings as a sculptor would, carving out nuances of light and shadow.

A devoted plein air artist, Jill paints in Europe and U.S. plein air festivals. She’s a designated Master Pastelist in Pastel Society of America and International Association of Pastel Societies. Jill also belongs to Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society, Degas Pastel Society, American Women Artists and Great Lakes Pastel Society. Her work has been published in Pastel Journal, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine and Plein Air Magazine, which recently featured her painting on its cover. She’s loves to teach workshops and has been Plein Air Convention Faculty in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023.

Jill’s paintings can be found in corporate and private collections throughout the United States and Europe and she is represented by 3 fine art galleries in the MidWest.

A graduate of the University of Michigan School of Art, Wagner owned an award-winning advertising agency in Ann Arbor, Michigan before “seeing the light” and becoming a full-time artist.

Jill’s Work