Joya: en plein air is an extended residency opportunity for contemporary landscape artists. It takes you deep into the wilderness of “empty Spain”, to landscapes that are abandoned, rewilded, and dramatic. Over the course of a week, you’ll explore new, often inaccessible and forgotten spaces each day. These are the arid zones, the badlands of rolling Mediterranean steppe, and pine-forested mountains, a landscape rich with narrative and context.
Content on this page:
What do we mean when we say contemporary en plein air
En Plein Air residency dates
En Plein Air programme
El Almuerzo
What’s included
Residency fee
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When we talk about “contemporary en plein air”, we refer to the practice of creating art outdoors, directly from observation in natural or altered environments, as opposed to working in a studio.
In this context, we will expect contemporary artists working en plein air to use traditional media like oils or watercolours, or experiment with new materials and digital tools. However, the core of the practice remains rooted in direct observation. These artists may employ abstract, impressionistic, or other creative approaches, and the themes can range from abandoned settings to rural landscapes, reflecting the variety of environments we encounter today.
This approach is intended to emphasise spontaneity, aiming to capture the atmosphere, light, and mood of a scene in real-time. Contemporary en plein air frequently engages with environmental concerns, the urbanisation or agro-industrialisation of landscapes, and the artist’s personal response to both natural and built environments.
For example, Mamma Andersson’s works evoke late 19th-century Romanticism while embracing a modern interest in layered, psychological compositions. Her panoramic scenes draw from the sparse topography of northern Sweden, where mountains, trees, snow, and wood cabins often feature. Yet, rather than portraying specific locations, her work focuses on evoking atmospheres and subjective moods, frequently blending past, present, and future.
Similarly, Peter Doig’s paintings balance landscapes and figures, blending art historical and personal references into painterly abstractions with distinctive compositions. Doig forms powerful visions of contemporary life, such as childhood ski trips or an orange canoe, creating works that are both autobiographical and universally relatable.
Alex Katz is renowned for his distinctive visual style, known as Pop-Realism. His naturalistic approach, influenced by the broad planes of colour reminiscent of Pop Art’s silkscreen images, captures landscapes with a focus on the fleeting nature of light. Like David Hockney, Katz has increasingly explored landscape as his main subject.
Luc Tuymans, on the other hand, critically examines painting itself, focusing on image theory, collective memory, and contemporary culture. He too engages with landscape painting, challenging conventional ideas of depiction while drawing attention to the environmental threats we face today.
The variety of approaches is extensive and it is important to note that this is a peer-led residency for landscape artists and Joya: AiR is your facilitator and guide, your access to a landscape known intimately.
Joya: en plein air dates:
Arrival Sunday, 11th May - Departure: Saturday, 17th May 2025.
Duration:
The Joya: en plein air residency lasts five days. Arrival 11th with field trips on the 12th, 13th, 14th 15th and 16th. Departure is on the 17th
Programme:
Each morning, after an early breakfast, we depart from Joya: AiR to explore a different location. The outbound and return journeys, in a 4x4 vehicle, will take no more than one hour each way. We aim to be set up at the location by 10am.
El Almuerzo:
Lunch will be typically Andalucían and reflective of the local landscape, will be served at 1pm, al fresco. ‘El Almuerzo’ or ‘La Comida’, the midday meal, is a significant part of each days routine and we will be serving dishes such as home made salmorejo, tortilla, paella, local artisan embutidos, pinchitos, patatas bravas, migas, calamares, sopa de ajo etc. we will serve wine or beer for those who wish and this will be followed by the ‘sobremesa’, the Spanish tradition of relaxing at the table after this meal. During sobremesa, conversation is freely had with coffee, tea or a local aguadiente.
In the afternoon, participants will continue working until around 4–5pm, before returning to Joya: AiR.
Every evening, we will conduct peer reviews by visiting each other’s studios to discuss the day’s work. Before supper, there will also be a presentation, either by one of the en plein air group or by another artist in residence at the time.
There are only four places available for this residency, and applicants are selected on criteria such as professional practice, publications, exhibitions, and suitability for the programme.
The residency fee covers the following:
• Accommodation: A private room with attached bathroom and studio space.
• Meals: Buffet-style breakfast, al fresco lunch, and an evening meal.*
• Daily en plein air trips via 4x4.
• Provided equipment: Drawing boards, easels, a large awning for shade, and tables.
*Dietary preferences can be accommodated.
Art materials are not included in the fee.
Residency fee:
€990 per person, including 10% tax.
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
1) CONFIRMATION: Residencies are confirmed only upon receipt of a deposit.
2) DEPOSITS: If you have paid your deposit but are unable to attend on the agreed-upon dates, please note that deposits are non-refundable.