Radical Play at Anderson Ranch: Embracing Artistic Discovery

April 20, 2026

Posted In: Workshops

Tags: 2026 Summer Workshop Guide

Radical Play at Anderson Ranch: Embracing Artistic Discovery

Since its founding in 1966, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, located in Snowmass Village, Colorado,  has championed art as a living, breathing practice. For decades, our foundation has rested on a simple but profound belief: the magic happens in the mistakes. This enduring spirit of creative exploration—what we call “radical play”—has always stood at the heart of our mission, honoring our history while nurturing artists eager to experiment and discover new modes of expression.

Radical play means letting go of rigid expectations to embrace the unexpected, the messy, and the wildly imaginative. It is a philosophy that respects the long history of artistic experimentation while opening doors to contemporary techniques. From traditional crafts to new media art workshops, our core emphasis remains firmly on discovery.

We welcome creators of all skill levels to take risks, learn directly from acclaimed Guest Faculty, and grow through shared experiences. When you step into our studios, you enter a thriving ecosystem of knowledge sharing where expert guidance naturally pairs with the freedom to explore happy accidents.

The following workshops represent our ongoing commitment to fostering that artistic growth. This week’s curated guide invites you to make bold moves, challenge your process, and let the act of making surprise you. Dive into these upcoming classes and experience how radical play can transform your approach to art.

Included in this guide:

• Observation, Color and Vision
• Sculptural Paper Casting and Forming
• Alternative Processes Unleashed: Platinum/Palladium Printing
• Woodcarving Animals
• Printmaking: Screen Print X Collage
• Printing with Colored Clay: Building Ink Prints on Unfired Ceramic Slabs

Observation, Color and Vision

Dates: June 1 – 5
Faculty: Paul Collins

In this acrylic painting workshop for beginners, students use observation to develop skills in color mixing, composition, and brushwork by embarking on a new painting each day, culminating in a significant independent work. Beginning with studies in black and white, this course utilizes individual instruction, group discussion, and extensive demonstrations to give students confidence in color mixing to create chromatic strength, tackle complex color relationships, and reveal individual voice. Students work from still life and landscape with an emphasis on tonal structure and color theory, and progress quickly to create fully realized independent works.

Why you’ll love it: There’s something magical about watching colors come to life under your brush, and Paul Collins makes sure every step feels approachable and rewarding. From mixing your first shades to creating a finished piece, you’ll explore the fundamentals of painting in a way that’s both structured and playful. By the end, you’ll leave with a collection of paintings that reflect your journey and the confidence to keep exploring on your own.

Paul Collins, Not Asleep

Sculptural Paper Casting and Forming

Dates: June 15 – 19
Faculty: Leah Aegerter

In this foundational paper-making workshop, students transform pulp into one-of-a-kind cast-paper sculptures. Beginning with dry abaca pulp, participants learn to reconstitute, beat, dye, and cast sheets using a traditional mold and deckle. Abaca paper, with its long fibers and impressive wet strength, is ideal for sculptural manipulation. Students mold wet sheets onto objects brought from home, found in the studio, or discovered in the environment. Sewing and gluing techniques are used to combine dried paper forms into cohesive sculptural creations. By the end of the week, students gain a versatile set of paper-making and sculptural skills that can be adapted to any studio environment.

Why you’ll love it: Your hands will be immersed in wet pulp, forming it over shapes, and watching as it dries into something entirely new. Leah Aegerter guides you through the alchemy of turning paper into sculpture, where every fold, seam, and layer becomes a playful experiment in form and texture. It’s messy, tactile, and endlessly surprising. You will feel like you are rediscovering the joy of making for the first time.

Leah Aegerter, After Staring at the Sun, 2024, Abaca paper, natural pigment, basswood, graphite paper

Alternative Processes Unleashed: Platinum/Palladium Printing

Dates: Jun 22 – 26
Faculty: Diana Bloomfield

Discover the exquisite beauty and timeless allure of hand-crafted platinum/palladium printing in this immersive workshop. The combination of platinum and palladium yields prints with remarkable tonal depth, subtlety, and unmatched permanence. Participants will learn to create digital negatives from their own images, brush-coat light-sensitive emulsions onto watercolor paper, and expose their prints to UV light. No prior experience is necessary, making this a highly accessible entry point for anyone interested in fine art photography workshops.

Why you’ll love it: Imagine brushing light-sensitive emulsions onto paper, exposing your image to UV light, and watching as it transforms into a velvety, luminous print is an unforgettable experience. Under Diana Bloomfield’s expert guidance, you’ll turn your photographs into one-of-a-kind treasures. If you have been looking to explore contemporary photography workshops or digital and new media workshops, this hands-on approach offers a beautiful bridge between historical techniques and modern vision. It highlights exactly why studying photography and new media at Anderson Ranch is so highly regarded.

Diana Bloomfield, Up in the Attic, 2025

Woodcarving Animals

Dates: July 27 – 31
Faculty: Sachiko Akiyama

This inventive and exciting workshop, open to woodworking students of all levels, introduces participants to hand tool carving, power carving, and machine use. Through creating a wood sculpture of an animal form, students explore an array of carving techniques while considering surface detail, form, gesture, and balance.

Why you’ll love it: Acclaimed sculptor Sachiko Akiyama brings her mastery and love of storytelling to this hands-on workshop, where you’ll carve your own animal sculpture full of character and life. From the satisfying rhythm of carving to the joy of shaping something uniquely yours, it’s an invitation to play, experiment, and connect with the timeless art of woodwork.

Sachiko Akiyama, Night Visit, Wood, Resin, Paint, 2024

Printmaking: Screen Print X Collage

Dates: Aug 10 – 14
Faculty: John Alleyne

Explore the dynamic intersection of screen printing and collage through unhinged silkscreens, layered imagery, and texture. Participants begin by creating bold screen printed works using hand-drawn or photo-based methods. Prints are then transformed through cutting, tearing, and pasting onto new substrates such as paper, vinyl, or found materials. This hands-on workshop welcomes all skill levels and emphasizes intuitive play, composition, and storytelling through composition and negative space. Demonstrations, open studio time, group critique, and one-on-one guidance support students in developing unique works that merge screen print and collage into vibrant hybrid artworks.

Why you’ll love it: John Alleyne’s workshop is a deep dive into storytelling through print and collage. Inspired by his Barbadian roots and the energy of hip-hop and street art, Alleyne’s process transforms materials into layered narratives. You’ll cut, tear, and layer prints, creating works that challenge conventions and celebrate individuality. This is where culture, identity, and creativity collide, offering a space to experiment and make art that feels personal and alive.

John Alleyne, I Am My Brother’s Keeper

Printing with Colored Clay: Building Ink Prints on Unfired Ceramic Slabs

Dates: August 31 – September 4
Faculty: Pam Porter

Clay printing, also known as clay monoprinting or printing with colored clay, offers a unique way to use clay—not by firing slabs, but by transforming them into richly detailed printing plates. Using pigments made from clay slips and universal tints, participants layer colors, textures, and patterns onto a slab of leather-hard clay to create one-of-a-kind imagery. Once the design is ready, special canvas is placed on top and hand-rolled, capturing the clay’s intricate surface in a vibrant monoprint. The workshop combines clear instruction with playful experimentation, making it ideal for artists and enthusiasts eager to explore a new approach. Students leave with a collection of unique two-dimensional works on canvas.

Why you’ll love it: Clay becomes your printing plate in this workshop, where layers of colored slips and textures are transformed into vibrant monoprints. Guided by Pam Porter, a pioneer in clay printing, you’ll explore a process that’s tactile, experimental, and endlessly creative. Perfect for ceramicists and printmakers alike, it’s a chance to push boundaries and create art that’s as dynamic as the medium itself.

Pam Porter, Crystal River

Join Our Creative Community

Radical play requires a supportive environment, and that is exactly what our founders set out to build. When you step onto the Ranch, you are doing more than just taking a class. You are joining a historic lineage of makers who believe in the power of creative exploration. Whether your interests lie in painting, sculpture, or photography workshops, we invite you to experience art together with us.

Ready to discover your artistic potential? Review the links above to register for your favorite workshops before they fill up. We look forward to welcoming you to campus in Snowmass Village, CO and seeing what incredible ideas you bring to life.

Explore all summer workshops.

Not sure where to begin? Our friendly artistic staff are here to help guide your creative path. Email us at [email protected], and we’ll match you with the perfect workshop.