Jill Stefani Wagner:
What is the best thing about being an artist?
Jill: All my life, painting and travel have inspired me. After selling my busy advertising agency, I can now indulge both of those passions at the same time! My parents took my sisters and I to Europe several times when we were young, sparking our love of exploring other countries. I majored in painting and art history in college and began to travel to faraway places on my own… seeing amazing locations and fabulous art. When plein air painting came into my world, everything came together. For the last 14 years, I’ve traveled throughout the United States and Europe painting outdoors on art retreats and classes. I now give my own workshops in the U.S. and Italy, my ancestral homeland. (I’ve visited Tuscany 14 times and I see no end to that obsession!)
But high on my “best” list is the lifelong friendships I’ve made on my art journey. I’m so grateful for the many artists who helped me along the way, sharing generous tips and encouragement. We spend weeks together at a plein air festival, pack up our supplies and meet again at the next event. And now as a teacher, I’m honored to pass on what I’ve learned to my students. It’s a blessing!
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