Digital Fabrication Workshops
Contemporary Digital Fabrication Workshops
Anderson Ranch Arts Center offers cutting-edge digital fabrication workshops that merge the newest visual arts technologies with traditional creative processes. These workshops provide powerful tools for self-expression in the hands of innovative faculty, creating dynamic opportunities for artistic exploration and technical advancement.
Immersive Digital Fabrication Workshops for Artists at Every Level
Our digital fabrication workshops offer hands-on instruction in CNC routing, 3D printing, laser cutting, and digital design, taught by expert faculty. Designed for beginning, emerging, and professional artists, the program emphasizes technical mastery and creative experimentation with state-of-the-art equipment.
Advance Your Practice in an Inspiring Creative Community
Located in the Rocky Mountains, Anderson Ranch provides a transformative environment where ceramic art, innovation, and community intersect. Artists gain new perspectives, refine their techniques, and experience meaningful creative growth in a setting built for focus, risk-taking, and discovery.
Not sure where to begin? View our workshop guides for additional programming insights and our workshop FAQ’s for details. Our friendly artistic staff is also here to help guide your creative path. Email us at [email protected], and we’ll match you with the perfect workshop.
Digital Fabrication Workshops
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II
Level II
Students have basic knowledge of 2-D art making including form, negative space, value and line.
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III
Level III
Students have formal training in critical issues of 2-D art making, experience with public critiques and a solid portfolio of their artwork.
Sep 7 - 11, 2026
9 AM - 5 PM
Beyond the Canvas: Digital Fabrication and Sculptural Painting
Damien Davis
Tuition $1,295
Code D1532-26
In this hands-on workshop, students use the Fab Lab’s laser cutter and CNC router to translate personal imagery and visual ideas into hybrid works that combine digital precision with analog expression. Pushing two-dimensional painting onto three-3 dimensional surfaces creates a dynamic sense of wall power, and lets us explore painting as an object through individual experimentation. Incorporating physical elements, and painting on a variety of substrates and collage develops a sense of physicality, space, and texture. Painters and sculptors alike are invited to step outside of the rectangular picture plane, developing a deeper understanding of material relationships and the sculptural potential of the painted surface.
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O
Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
Oct 19 - 22, 2026
9 AM - 2 PM
Windwalkers & Anderson Ranch
Liz Ferrill, Sheri Gaynor, Andrea Jenkins Wallace
Tuition $800
Code P4301-26
This immersive four-day workshop invites participants to discover the powerful intersection of equine-assisted exploration, personal experience, and interdisciplinary art-making through a unique collaboration between WindWalkers and Anderson Ranch Arts Center. A key component of the workshop introduces participants to digital fabrication tools, transforming 2D drawings into 3D forms. Students will create sculptural interpretations of horses, hybrid animals, or imagined creatures—extending their emotional and symbolic responses into new dimensions. The workshop emphasizes themes of connection, embodiment, transformation, and the human–animal relationship, encouraging experimentation, play, and personal expression. Through guided demonstrations and hands-on exploration, students will learn how to move fluidly between image-making, material exploration, and object-based practices, expanding their understanding of what their work can become. Days 1–2: WindWalkers — Equine Experience Participants begin their journey at WindWalkers through engagement with the natural environment and guided equine-assisted experiences. Through simple bookmaking, expressive sketching, and close interaction with horses, students explore presence, trust, emotional awareness, and nonverbal communication. These sessions are designed to foster reflection and personal insight, creating a strong foundation for their creative work. Days 3–4: Anderson Ranch Arts Center — Art Making Participants transition into the studios at Anderson Ranch Arts Center, where they translate their experiences into visual and sculptural form. Working from photographs, sketches, and memories developed during their time with the horses, students will explore both intuitive and structured approaches to art-making. This workshop is perfect for artists, creatives, and seekers of all kinds who are ready to go beyond the canvas — exploring nature, presence, and the wisdom of the herd as a source of creative inspiration.
Additional Summer Workshops
Anderson Ranch Arts Center is thrilled to present over 150 workshops in seven mediums led by world-renowned faculty. Whether you’re exploring a new passion or refining your craft, there’s a seat waiting for you. View all workshops.
About the Studios
Digital Fabrication Facilities
The FabLab at Anderson Ranch Arts Center offers state-of-the-art digital fabrication facilities supporting contemporary, experimental, and interdisciplinary creative practices. Digital fabrication equipment is integrated throughout multiple studios across the Ranch campus.
Equipment & Technology
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4-axis CNC (computer-numerically-controlled) routers
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Formlabs SLA Resin 3D printers
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Prusa MK3S FDM 3D printers
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Bambu Lab X-1 Carbon FDM 3D printer
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Epilog laser cutters
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3D scanners
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Roland UV printer and vinyl cutter
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Vacuum formers
Software & Support
- Powered by Rhinoceros 3D, Adobe Creative Cloud, Autodesk Fusion 360, Meshmixer, and various 3D printing slicing software
- Expert faculty and staff provide technical support and creative problem-solving
Together, these facilities make Anderson Ranch a premier destination for digital fabrication education and advanced making technologies. Learn more about our studio spaces.
Additional Resources
Reach out! We’ll help you find the perfect workshop.
Are you overwhelmed by workshop options? Or do you know which workshop to take but are unsure about the skill level, faculty, or techniques? Our staff is ready to answer questions and assist in selecting the perfect workshop for your next creative journey. Please feel free to reach out any time, and we can point you in the right direction!
Betsy Alwin
Director of Ceramics and Expanded Media
Call: 970-924-5054