Master Classes

Take Your Practice Further

Master Classes at Anderson Ranch Arts Center are highly selective, limited-enrollment workshops which provide advanced students with even greater access to world-renowned artists and educators. These rigorous classes are geared toward professional and committed artists who want to take their work to the next level with mentoring from master teachers, but who may not have the time for a years-long committed mentorship or residency. In the interest of continuity, some Master Classes also offer additional virtual sessions following the in-person summer workshop. Master classes require a portfolio review for admission.

Concentrating on aesthetic, technical and conceptual development, classes specifically address how to improve one’s work through group discussions, individual sessions with the instructor and studio time. Students dive deeply into the dynamics of their art-making and medium. The goal is to unleash a student’s potential with rigor and exploration, direction and critique. Our Master Classes are a dynamic new offering as well as an essential addition to our artistic programs.

Master Classes

  • 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.

  • IV

    Level IV

    Students have advanced skill and knowledge of painting and drawing. Students are highly motivated and self­-directed, have a minimum of five years experience in their field and have multiple portfolios of their artwork. Portfolio review is required for admittance to some Level IV classes.

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    Master Class

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Jun 29 - Jul 3, 2026
9 AM - 5 PM

Advanced Topics in Painting

Craig Drennen

Tuition $1,295
Code D0510-26

Master Class This course is designed to improve our work through full immersion in the discourse of contemporary painting. We examine theory and critical dialogue as it pertains to individual practice, and explore the history and craft of paintings within a contemporary context. Through readings and discussion, artists have opportunities to broaden the scope of their practices and continue to hone their artistic voices. This course uses the term “painting” in the most expanded contemporary manner. We engage in individual critiques, group critiques, reading assignments, group discussions, and the creation of new work. Students should bring a digital portfolio of current studio work.

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  • III

    Level III

    Photography students have some formal training and significant experience making, capturing and digitally processing images using Adobe Lightroom and/or Adobe Photoshop. New Media students have some formal training in conceptual and technological aspects of video, multimedia, coding or animation and are versed in the appropriate software applications. Students have a portfolio of their artwork.

  • IV

    Level IV

    Photography students have advanced skills and knowledge of photography and digital image processing. New Media students have advanced skills and knowledge of video, multimedia, coding or animation. Students are self­-motivated and have multiple portfolios of their artwork.

  • MC

    Master Class

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Jul 20 - 24, 2026
9 AM - 5 PM

Home, Reimagining Interiority

Dr. Deb Willis

Tuition $1,195
Code P0817-26

Master Class This workshop invites participants to rigorously re-imagine the experiences of migration, home, beauty, and work through innovative discourses on memory and desire. By engaging with a curated selection of films, artworks, and readings, participants are encouraged to take creative risks as they explore how to rethink the cultural dimensions of migration, narratives of work, and evolving concepts of beauty. We print original work and utilize archival images as valuable resources for inspiration and context. A commitment to dedication, mutual respect for peers, and a passion for artistic exploration are essential components of this transformative experience.

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  • III

    Level III

    Photography students have some formal training and significant experience making, capturing and digitally processing images using Adobe Lightroom and/or Adobe Photoshop. New Media students have some formal training in conceptual and technological aspects of video, multimedia, coding or animation and are versed in the appropriate software applications. Students have a portfolio of their artwork.

  • IV

    Level IV

    Photography students have advanced skills and knowledge of photography and digital image processing. New Media students have advanced skills and knowledge of video, multimedia, coding or animation. Students are self­-motivated and have multiple portfolios of their artwork.

  • MC

    Master Class

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Jul 20 - 24, 2026
9 AM - 5 PM

Seeing Machines

Trevor Paglin

Tuition $1,200
Code P0819-26

Master Class This master class and intensive seminar examines photography in the era of artificial intelligence. Each day combines morning theory sessions with afternoon practical workshops. In the mornings, participants engage in seminar-style discussions on the history, politics, and aesthetics of computer vision (CV) and AI, using readings from the instructor’s forthcoming book as a foundation for critical dialogue. Afternoons focus on hands-on practice, where students experiment with Python, OpenCV, and large language models to develop their own computer vision tools through “vibe coding.” No prior programming experience is required. The course emphasizes critical inquiry and rapid experimentation, preparing students to create original projects at the intersection of photography and AI.

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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.

  • IV

    Level IV

    Students have advanced skill and knowledge of painting and drawing. Students are highly motivated and self­-directed, have a minimum of five years experience in their field and have multiple portfolios of their artwork. Portfolio review is required for admittance to some Level IV classes.

  • MC

    Master Class

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Aug 10 - 14, 2026
9 AM - 5 PM

Investigating Spatial Relationships in Painting

Hilary Pecis, Liz Ferrill

Tuition $1,350
Code D1123-26

Master Class In this master class workshop for advanced painters, students investigate their intentions and concerns within their painting practice, while working at a rigorous pace in the studio. Class consists of one-on-one and group critiques, discussion, and ample studio time to make new inquiries into their work. Participants are challenged to explore new avenues and dive deep into the content and methods behind their practice. Topics for discussion include source material, negative/positive space, zooming in on a painting and working from a crop, content, color and gesture, and symbolism. Students are asked to bring a digital portfolio of recent work to share with the class. * Please note: Hilary Pecis teaches daily from 9 am – 3 pm. Late afternoons are dedicated to independent studio time with Liz Ferrill present for feedback and dialogue.

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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.

  • IV

    Level IV

    Students have advanced skill and knowledge of painting and drawing. Students are highly motivated and self­-directed, have a minimum of five years experience in their field and have multiple portfolios of their artwork. Portfolio review is required for admittance to some Level IV classes.

  • MC

    Master Class

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Aug 17 - 21, 2026
9 AM - 5 PM

Making and Dialogue in Painting

Linda Geary

Tuition $1,350
Code D1226-26

Master Class This advanced painting workshop is for students working in any painting medium, and is designed to be a catalyst for making art within a broadly-defined painting language. Students work on individual projects while digging into experimental processes that boost the forward momentum of their work. Presentations, prompts, and critiques support purposeful discussions addressing how work is communicating. Questions and topics covered include,How can time be captured through color? What is tactile knowledge? Who are your art ancestors and what is their role in the building of your visual language? What and how does your work communicate within the context of contemporary art? Students are asked to bring a digital portfolio of current studio work.

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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.

  • IV

    Level IV

    Students have advanced skill and knowledge of painting and drawing. Students are highly motivated and self­-directed, have a minimum of five years experience in their field and have multiple portfolios of their artwork. Portfolio review is required for admittance to some Level IV classes.

  • MC

    Master Class

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Aug 24 - 28, 2026
9 AM - 5 PM

New Avenues and Investigations

Chitra Ganesh

Tuition $1,295
Code D1329-26

Master Class In this master class workshop for advanced painters, students investigate their intentions and concerns within their painting practice while working at a rigorous pace in the studio. Class consists of one-on-one and group critiques, discussion, and ample studio time to make new inquiries into their work. Participants are challenged to explore new avenues and dive deep into the content and methods behind their practice. Topics for discussion include content, color and gesture, and symbolism. Students are asked to bring a digital portfolio of recent work to share with the class.

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  • IV

    Level IV

    Students have advanced skill and knowledge of the printmaking fields. Students are highly motivated and self­-directed, have a minimum of five years experience in their field, and have multiple portfolios of their artwork. Portfolio review is required for admittance to some Level IV classes.

  • MC

    Master Class

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Sep 7 - 18, 2026
9 AM - 5 PM

Investigations in Lithography: Honing the Essentials

Valpuri Remling

Tuition $1,890
Code R1515-26

Master Class In this two-week workshop, advanced printmakers explore direct mark-making on ball-grained aluminum plates as well as photographic and hand-drawn imagery with film positives on pre-sensitized photo plates. Developing an understanding of efficient methods for processing and printing are the foundation to producing consistent lithographic editions. Prior background in lithography or extensive work in other printmaking media will serve as the basis for image preparation, plate processing and printing techniques. This workshop does not require that students be proficient in lithography, but they must have significant experience in the field of printmaking. Please feel free to submit portfolio images that aren’t lithographic prints. IMPORTANT DETAILS: In order to conduct the required portfolio review, we will need to see digital images of your work in one single PDF (as opposed to individual JPG attachments) sent directly to Anderson Ranch Studio Coordinator, Lindsey Yeager, via email at [email protected]. Please include 10 images of 10 works (they do not have to be lithos but they should be examples of print work). Additionally, please include an image identification list that includes: title, media, dimensions and year. These materials must be submitted as a single PDF (less than 10 MB) to be considered. Please include “Advanced Portfolio Review” in the subject line of your email, as well as the title of the workshop to which you are applying. Submissions that do not follow the requested directions will not be reviewed. Portfolios are currently being accepted. We will email you regarding your status by early February, and we will continue to accept portfolios on a rolling basis. If you are accepted, a deposit of $500 will be required within one week of notification of acceptance to hold your place. Housing will be assigned on a space-available basis upon enrollment. Please note, if we receive your materials after Feb. 5, you will be considered on a space-available basis.

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Master Class Faculty

Craig Drennen

Craig Drennen is a 2018 Guggenheim Fellow represented by Brigitte Mulholland Gallery in Paris. His recent solo exhibitions include The Suburban in Milwaukee, WI and Freight+Volume Gallery in New York City. He served as dean at the Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture and manages THE END Project Space.

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Liz Ferrill

Artistic Director of Painting, Drawing & Printmaking; Artists-in-Residence Program; Critical Dialogue Program

Liz Ferrill is the Artistic Director of Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking at Anderson Ranch. She received her MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. She has had solo exhibitions nationally and internationally, including in Aspen, Nashville, Omaha, New York City, and Berlin, Germany.

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Chitra Ganesh

Brooklyn-based artist Chitra Ganesh has been exhibiting in New York City and internationally for 25 years. Her work, rooted in painting and drawing, sheds light on the potential of iconic figures and speculative storytelling to offer new modes of relating to both art history and our contemporary moment.

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Linda Geary

Linda Geary is professor and Chair of Painting at California College of the Arts in San Francisco. Her permanent mosaic, “River,” is installed at the San Francisco International airport. Geary lives and works in Oakland.

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Trevor Paglin

Trevor Paglen is an artist whose work spans image-making, sculpture, investigative journalism, writing, engineering, and numerous other disciplines. Paglen holds an MFA from the Art Institute of Chicago and a Ph.D. in Geography from University of California Berkeley.

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Hilary Pecis

Hilary Pecis makes paintings and drawings in which tableaus rich with interlocking fields of saturated color, geometric patterning, and bold linework provide views of sun-drenched domestic still lifes and landscape environments. She has been the subject of solo exhibitions at TAG Art Museum, Qingdao, China; Rockefeller Center, New York; Timothy Taylor, London; Spurs Gallery, Beijing; Rachel Uffner Gallery, New York; and Crisp-Ellert Art Museum, Flagler College, St. Augustine, FL.

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Valpuri Remling

Valpuri Remling is the master printer and workshop manager at Tamarind Institute in Albuquerque, NM. Prior to relocating to the US, she worked at Helsinki Litho, a lithography workshop in Helsinki, Finland, as a master printer and artist, simultaneously teaching planographic methods at the Academy of Fine Arts. Remling holds an MFA in printmaking from the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki and has studied in the Estonian Academy of Arts and the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, Czech Republic. As a master printer she has collaborated with numerous national and international artists and mentored the future of collaborative printers.

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Dr. Deb Willis

Deborah Willis is a curator and a professor in the Department of Photography and Imaging at New York University, Tisch, and is the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship and a Guggenheim Fellowship. She is the author of The Black Civil War Soldier, and Posing Beauty: African American Images from the 1890s to the Present.

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