El Taller del Aire

History

El Taller del Aire was founded with the purpose of offering rigorous artistic training focused on the study of classical principles and their application to contemporary practice. Since its creation, it has become a meeting place for artists, students, and thinkers, combining technical instruction with humanistic education. Today, it offers classes in academic drawing and painting alongside theoretical courses in aesthetics, art history, and creativity. This year, the academy has incorporated painter and instructor Ester Lloveres and launched a full-time and part-time program designed to train professional artists through an academic and structured approach.

Philosophy

At El Taller del Aire, we conceive art education as a holistic process that unites the technical rigor of classical art with aesthetic reflection and the artist's inner development. Our program is based on the principles of technical excellence, the observation of nature, and the philosophical pursuit of truth and beauty.

We understand figurative art not only as a technical discipline but also as a path to knowledge and sensitivity. Therefore, we integrate the practice of drawing and painting with the study of art history, aesthetics, and philosophy, fostering a humanistic and interdisciplinary education.

For us, art is a language that connects reason and emotion, technique and expression. A fully formed artist must not only master the craft but also understand its meaning, its historical context, and its transcendent potential.

Our teaching rests on four pillars:

– Technical mastery as the foundation of creative freedom.

– Theoretical and humanistic study that fosters reflection and critical thought.

– Personal and artistic growth through an introspective and mindful environment.

– Artistic community as a space for dialogue, learning, and the transmission of craft.

Program Structure

First Year – Drawing and fundamentals of representation

The first year is entirely dedicated to learning drawing as the essential foundation for every painter, with the aim of training the eye and acquiring the fundamental principles of realistic representation.

At the same time, we will explore an initial approach to artistic thought.

Techniques: Graphite, charcoal, chalks, and sanguine.

• Drawing from Geometric Figures
• Composition, Proportion, and Measurement
• Chiaroscuro and the Construction of Volume
• Drawing Plaster Casts
• Still Lifes
• Introduction to the Nude and Portraiture

 Humanities Training:

• Introduction to the History of Art from Antiquity to the Late Middle Ages
• Basic Philosophical Concepts Related to Representation, Form, and Beauty
• Reading and Analysis of Fundamental Texts for Artistic Learning

Second Year – Oil painting, color study, and artistic thinking

The second year focuses on the practice and technique of tempera and oil painting and on the theoretical exploration of the artistic process.

Techniques: Soft pastel, tempera and oil.

• The Kitchen of Painting: Priming canvases, panels, and cardboard; manufacturing and tubing oil paints; mixing tempera.
• Color Theory and Practice
• Tonal Values ??and Temperature
• Introduction to Pictorial Composition
• Painting Plaster Casts
• Painting Still Lifes from Life
• Painting the Human Figure

 Humanities Training:

• History of Art from the Renaissance to the 19th Century
• Introduction to Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art
• Poetics: The Power of Image, Symbol, and Meaning in the Work of Art
• Analysis of Works and Artists from a Critical Perspective

Third Year – Personal projects and artistic development

The third year is geared towards the development of personal projects, in which the student integrates the knowledge acquired and begins to define their own language within realism.

• Advanced figure drawing and painting
• Composition and artistic planning
• Development and monitoring of personal projects
• Individual feedback and corrections
• Individual tutoring and critical critiques

Humanities Training:

• History of Modern and Contemporary Art
• Personal Poetics: Constructing One's Own Discourse
• Relationship Between Image, Idea, and Context
• Introduction to Reflection on Professional and Artistic Practice

Facilities

The Air Workshop is a spacious, naturally lit studio, ideal for teaching drawing and figurative painting. It includes:

– A main workspace with easels, tables, and storage areas.

– A modeling area with controlled lighting.

– A still life and painting section with natural light.

– A library with specialized art books.

– A classroom for lectures and discussions.

– A reading, relaxation, and meeting area.

– Offices for instructors, restrooms, and a small kitchen.

The academy offers a tranquil, inspiring, and disciplined environment where, upon request, students can stay outside of class hours to continue their work and research.