European traditions
Plein-air traditions of Europe
Painters from Lithuania, Poland, Denmark, Latvia, Georgia and Ukraine bring a lineage of working outdoors, directly from the landscape, from Baltic coasts to Caucasus valleys.
Himalayan Plein-Air
Mastiff Wildcrest 2027 edition
An elite international outdoor painting residency capturing Kangra's tea gardens, heritage, and Dhauladhar peaks at Gopalpur, Himachal Pradesh.
- Dates
- Feb 24 – Mar 10, 202715-day residency
- Venue
- Mastiff Wildcrest, GopalpurDharamshala, Kangra Valley
- Title Host
- Mastiff WildcrestMastiff Hotel
- Curator
- Arijeet ChandaCurator & Founder
The vision
The Vision
“Art becomes the medium; cultural dialogue becomes the lasting outcome.”
- IndiaHost nation
- Lithuania
- Poland
- Denmark
- Latvia
- Georgia
- Ukraine
Kangra Valley
Fine art legacies of the Himalaya
Kangra miniature painting, the Andretta artist village and Tibetan thangka and woodcarving traditions meet the European easel in the valley below the Dhauladhar.
15 days · 24 Feb – 10 Mar 2027
The residency itinerary
Five days of regional scouting, eight days of plein-air painting with nightly garden sundowners, and a closing public exhibition and sale.
5 days
Arrive, settle in at Mastiff Wildcrest, and scout the valley's heritage sites before choosing where to paint.
Airport transfers from Kangra Gaggal (DHM) or Pathankot (PTK) to Mastiff Wildcrest, Gopalpur. Orientation, followed by a welcome dinner at Tangelo.
Thangka and woodcarving masterclasses at the Norbulingka Tibetan Institute, then the Dalai Lama Temple Kora Walk in McLeod Ganj.
The stone battlements of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Kangra Fort, followed by the Kangra Art Museum.
Sobha Singh Art Gallery, the Norah Richards Mud House, and a pottery wheel demonstration at Andretta Pottery.
Morning yoga and meditation at The Art of Living Kailash Ashram (Village Gujrehra, Gopalpur), then a site selection walk for the painting days ahead.
8 days
Painting outdoors by day; each evening closes with a themed Garden Sundowner at Mastiff Wildcrest.
Garden Sundowner at Mastiff Wildcrest: a traditional Himachali Dham feast.
Garden Sundowner at Mastiff Wildcrest celebrating Baltic and Lithuanian culture.
Garden Sundowner at Mastiff Wildcrest celebrating Polish culture.
Garden Sundowner at Mastiff Wildcrest on the Indian miniature painting tradition.
Garden Sundowner at Mastiff Wildcrest recognising the residency's partners and sponsors.
An evening of Tibetan music and dance with the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA).
Garden Sundowner with a private preview of the residency's work for collectors.
Curatorial studio session framing the finished works ahead of the public exhibition.
2 days
The residency's work goes on public view and sale on the Mastiff Wildcrest lawns.
Public Pop-Up Exhibition and Fine Art Sale on the Mastiff Wildcrest lawns, catalog release, 60% artist revenue share payout, and the closing Gala Dinner.
Mastiff Hotel collection acquisitions, followed by airport and station departures.
Excursions & field sites
A living cultural landscape
Six regional hubs, reached by the GHAS 4×4 fleet, anchor the scouting days and the painting sites that follow.
For participating & invited artists
Artist portal
Everything is hosted for the full residency. Artists arrive with their paints and personal gear; the residency provides the rest.
01
Artists Field Guide
Everything you need before and during the residency
PDFDownload
02
Artists Check-list
Paints, field gear, clothing and travel documents
PDFDownload
03
Detailed Itinerary
All 15 days, 24 Feb – 10 Mar 2027, day by day
PDFDownload
04
Mastiff Wildcrest 2027 application form
Applicants can download the application form, fill it and send to curator
DOCXDownload
Send the filled application form to the curator: arijeet@himalayanpleinair.com
With our partners
Sponsors & Partners
Mastiff Wildcrest 2027 is made possible by the partners who host, support and champion the residency.
Title Host Partner
Mastiff Hotel
Mastiff Hotel · Mastiff Wildcrest · Tangelo Restaurant
- Destination branding for Mastiff Wildcrest and Kangra
- Original paintings acquired for the hotel's permanent collection
- F&B revenue growth through Tangelo
- National and international PR coverage
The venue
Mastiff Wildcrest, Dharamshala
Gopalpur, Kangra Valley, Himachal Pradesh, near Chamunda Devi Temple in the Palampur region, with the Dhauladhar range as a daily backdrop.
- Nearest airports
- Kangra Gaggal (DHM) · Pathankot (PTK)
- Title Host
- Mastiff Wildcrest
- Dining
- Tangelo Restaurant