Expand your artistic practice, develop your talents and your full artistic potential!

 

Come and enjoy a concentrated work period in a quiet rural area north of Athens, Greece, to research and expand your artistic practice. The IRIS Artist Coaching Residency offers you a unique opportunity to develop your talents and explore new trails in your artistic expression. With 10 years of experience in artistic talent development, your artistic mentor, Annette Luycx will support your development to your full artistic potential. All supporting art mentors are teaching artists, graduated from the Athens School of Fine Arts. They come in once a week for crits, feedback or guidance. Our coaching residencies will offer you the time, space and support you need to make major transformations in your artistic development. Two hours  of one-on-one art coaching five days a week is included per week. You will learn how to identify and tap into personal artistic sources, and how to explore deeper layers, new visions, concepts and practices in your art-making.  All art residencies are full board; breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided. Artists have their own private en suite air-conditioned room and shared studio space. 

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"You live, understand and teach creative visual arts processes at an extraordinary level that inspires and awakens your students.

You are a powerful teacher and artist."

S.J. (visual artist)

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"The methodology worked perfect for me. It gave me a structural approach to gather my thoughts and make them more clear and it also gave me the opportunity to go more in depth and really start digging!  Annette is a very calm and open person who gives you the feeling you can tell her anything without being scrutinized." 

A.P. (artist)

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"Annette has the talent to feel what you need and at what time. She is open to suggestions as well. At the same time she protects the process you are in for. It was a pragmatic way of working. Annette felt what I needed and at what pace. That is very clever. Annette is highly educated and knows what she is talking about. Being an artist herself, she understands the language."

D.P. (artist)

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"I miss you a lot!  I have the warmest memories of your home and the Art Centre! It was so productive and an unforgettable time last March!"  

T.T. (artist)

 

The IRIS Artist Coaching Residencies are open to beginning and established artists, students and creatives of all ages and backgrounds. The residency is situated in the private home of artist Annette Luycx, a villa in the midst of olive groves and vineyards near the village of Afidnes, a cute rural village with three taverns, two supermarkets and a pharmacy. We are located at a 35 minute drive from the center of Athens, and a 5 minute drive from the local train station that brings you to Athens, where museums and galleries give plenty of new inspiration for your artistic work. The natural atmosphere of peace and silence give ample opportunity for concentrated work; an ideal environment for self-reflection and artistic growth. The centre also has an outside studio, and an area of 2,5 acres of natural environment ideal for painting or exploring installation or land art projects.

 

We welcome up to three artists at a time. Partners are welcome and can follow a program in the morning on Greek culture, history and social reality if they like. Accommodations consist of four double bedrooms (air-conditioned) with their en suite bathroom. Furthermore, you have access to a cooled, light-infused studio, home cinema with a 8 ft. x 5 ft. (2.5m x 1.5 m) screen, an Art Gallery, Art Library, a cozy private residents-only lounge, a large swimming pool and multiple verandas ideal for lounging and sketching. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided. We can cook vegan, vegetarian or non gluten dishes upon request. All meals are freshly prepared in our kitchen. Breakfast can be brought to your room, and lunch to the studio if you don't want to stop working. The menu consists of Greek dishes, prepared with organic, home grown and locally sourced ingredients. We only use free-range eggs, and local yogurt and bread. At dinner you are welcome to try a glass of our own wine, Châteauneuf du Paps! Refreshments are available the whole day.

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Talent Development

Rediscover the artist within under the guidance of your artistic mentor for as many weeks as you like. A stay at the IRIS Artist Residency is an especially rewarding experience that offers artists:

• clearing of the lens

• finding a new focus

• setting new artistic goals

• writing a new artist statement

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And also:

• meeting other artists from all over the world

• meeting renowned Greek visual artists, exchanging ideas and receiving feedback during critiques

• viewing art documentaries in the evening

• having access to an art library.

• having easy access to galleries and modern and contemporary art museums in Athens

• getting in touch with the art scene in Athens.

• being in an isolated estate in the countryside, which fosters concentration and focused work.

 

Forget all you have learned and rediscover the artist within through Annette Luycx's unique art methodology “Activating the Inner World”. Under her guidance you will make new discoveries in the development of your artistic potential. This artistic talent development consists of identifying and tapping into your artistic sources, exploring deeper layers, new visions, concepts and practices.

 

To apply write a residency statement (about 500 words) describing the reason you would like to join a residency and your goal; what you would like to discover or work on during your stay with us. We would also welcome pictures of old or recent work, as well as your CV. All this information will facilitate a focused artistic mentoring during your stay with us. 

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Basic materials like plain paper, cardboard, markers, pencils, glue, scissors, cutters,  cutting boards, and magazines are available. Artists may bring their own materials if they like, or send us a list of what they need and we will make sure it is all there when they arrive (at the artist's expense). 

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The IRIS ART CENTRE welcomes artists with limited mobility. The building, studio, bedrooms, bathrooms, the swimming pool and surrounding natural environment are all wheelchair-accessible. The sink in the studio can be used by people in a wheelchair. The centre has an elevator.                                    ​

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Artist Coaching Residencies Dates 2024

•  Early Spring: 2 March - 20 April

•  Late Spring: 11 May - 8 June

•  ​Summer: 13 July - 10 August 

•  Autumn: 7 September - 19 October

 

Prices 2024    

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If you would like to come outside these planned timeslots, please contact us and we will check if we can accommodate you.

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What we offer

• an en-suite air-conditioned private room with balcony and garden view

• full board stay, all meals and drinks are included

• two hours of one-on-one artistic mentoring a day Mon-Fri

• use of the studio 24/7

• use of the swimming pool (1 June till 15 October)

• WiFi 

• a shared studio space

• pick-up/drop off at Metamorfosi train station (where trains from the airport arrive every 20 minutes)

• pick-up/drop off at Afidnes train station (where trains to Athens depart every 2 hours) whenever you like

 

Apply

• fill in the online application form

• write a residency statement (about 500 words) describing the reason you would like to join this residency and your goal; what you would like to discover or to work on during your stay with us.

• Attach relevant pictures of old or recent work

• Attach a short CV

 

Upon confirmation of the availability of the requested week(s), please send your deposit of € 250 via bank transfer or PayPal within three weeks. All transfer costs are for you, please check. PayPal's transfer cost is € 15 so the button on the website transfers € 265.

When we have received your deposit you will get an email confirming your participation in the residency. The remaining amount is due four weeks before arrival.