Furniture Design & Woodworking
Code: W0715-25
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I
Level I
Students are new to Furniture Design & Woodworking and have no formal training.
Beginning Furniture Design
Jul 14 - 18, 2025
9AM-5PM
Concept
This beginner’s workshop focuses on introducing and demystifying the world of woodworking. Arriving with designs in mind, students spend the week making basic stools and small tables, learning how to make their designs come to life. Students learn how to operate and understand the machinery, focusing on safety and craftsmanship. At the end students leave with beautiful, personalized, well-built furniture that will stand the test of time.
Media & Techniques
Wood, hardware, tablesaw, bandsaw, sanders, routers, hand tools, woodworking, shaping, joinery, assembly, woodshop best practices
Faculty
Lane Preston
Studio Coordinator, Furniture Design and Woodworking
Lane Preston, originally from Houston, Texas, received his BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago with an emphasis in Photography and Sculpture in 2016. After graduation he worked as an exhibitions coordinator and photographer for art and design galleries to put on exhibitions all over the world. In 2021, he went to Florence, Italy, for his MFA in Furniture Fabrication and Design, after teaching abroad for two years.
Patch and Grain Collection, Wood and Mixed Media
Furniture Design & Woodworking
The Furniture Design & Woodworking program at Anderson Ranch draws upon the world of studio furniture, but pushes the boundaries of woodworking by mixing contemporary and traditional techniques and incorporating alternative materials. Anderson Ranch offers an inspiring range of workshops for all levels in topics such as cabinetry, wood bending, kinetics and carving.
The Maloof Wood Barn, divided into a machine room, assembly room, and bench room, provides participants the ideal workshop for realizing technical and creative goals. The machine room houses stationary equipment including SawStop table saws, jointers, planers, bandsaws, drill presses, edge sander, disk sander, drum sander, spindle sander, radial arm saw, chop saw, router table and multi-router. In the assembly and bench rooms, a library of clamps, hand tools, and hand-held power tools line the walls for student use to complete their woodworking projects.
Anderson Ranch Arts Center is a historic, rustic campus that features gravel pathways and uneven terrain that may pose challenges for individuals using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. We strive to provide accommodations to ensure all guests can access and enjoy our programs and facilities. With advance notice, our staff can offer personalized assistance and coordinate access to studios and campus spaces. For questions or to request an accommodation, please contact us at (970) 923-3181 or [email protected].

The Furniture Society and Anderson Ranch are partnering this year to offer a scholarship for one BIPOC applicant to attend a workshop for the 2026 summer season. This opportunity includes tuition for a one-week workshop, room and board for a Furniture Design and Wood workshop, and a 1‑year membership to The Furniture Society. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
Anderson Ranch is happy to extend a 20% tuition discount for summer one- or two-week adult furniture design and woodworking workshops for Furniture Society members at the student membership level or above. Please email [email protected] with your Furniture Society membership information prior to registering and we will send you a promo code to complete registration with your discount applied. You are also welcome to call 970-924-5089 to register after verifying your membership with us. **Please note, this discount must be approved prior to registering and cannot be applied retroactively. The Furniture Society discount does not apply to Advanced Mentored Studies programs or Destination Workshops, nor can it be combined with any other discount, scholarship or special offer
Workshop Details>
Workshop Supplies
For general information about studio access, shipping, and more, please visit our info page.
If you have any questions regarding your supplies for your workshop, please contact Lane Preston, [email protected].
Provided by Anderson Ranch
Equipment
- Bandsaw
- Chisels
- Drill Press
- Gouges
- Hand Planes
- Jointer
- Orbital Sander
- Planer
- Spokeshaves
- Tablesaw
Supplies
- Domestic Lumber
- Glue
- Panel Lumber
- Sand Paper**
What you need to bring
Required Tools and Supplies
- Personal Dust Mask (N95 or higher) or Respirator**
- Personal Hearing Protection
- Personal Safety Glasses**
Optional Tools and Supplies
- Blue Masking Tape**
- Bubble Wrap**
- Cardboard boxes**
- Erasers**
- Packing tape**
- Pencils**
- Sharpies**
- Sketchbook**
- Tools you own that you would be unhappy without
- Water Bottle
* Available for purchase in the studio.
** Available to purchase at the Anderson Ranch ArtWorks Store for 10% off. The store aims to stock comparable items, though specific products from the supply list may vary based on inventory.
Learn more about shipping supplies and artwork to and from the Ranch in the Student Handbook.
Lodging & Meals
Housing is limited and includes shared and private lodging options. Reservations will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier you reserve housing, the better your chance of receiving your preferred option. Please note: Workshop costs do not include accommodations.
NEW: Course fees includes a welcome dinner and lunches. In our effort to foster a stronger sense of community and accessibility at Anderson Ranch, we include the welcome dinner and all lunches as part of course fees for summer workshop students. Our hope is that this adjustment will encourage all students to come together to share meals and engage in meaningful conversations. The Ranch Café Meal Plan, which is included with Room and Board fees, strives to provide healthy, creative meals that will nourish your artistic creativity. Learn more.
We have established a Business Safety Plan with added layers of precaution that prioritize the health and safety of our staff, students, faculty and guests while continuing to provide you with the Anderson Ranch experience that you know and enjoy.
Scholarships, College Credit & Discounts
Making Art Accessible
Applications for scholarship support are encouraged. Specific scholarships are funded by Ranch supporters, either through endowed funds or special gifts.
Many colleges and universities offer college credit for workshops taken at Anderson Ranch. Discounts are available for students and teachers.
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December Studio Sessions: Furniture Design and Woodworking
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December Studio Sessions: Furniture Design and Woodworking
Lane Preston
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Code W5002-25
Anderson Ranch’s Studio Session approach provides artists the opportunity to work on independent projects while receiving regular one-on-one mentoring and critique sessions with Anderson Ranch artistic staff and interns. Each participant receives an assigned studio space, orientation and access to equipment, as well as five hours of weekly technical guidance in the Ranch’s state-of-the-art facilities. This program affords artists the experience enjoyed by national and international artists who access our state-of-the-art studios. Participants may expand their practices, take artistic risks, try new media or complete works for exhibition. *Bench and gluing rooms open 24 hours a day. LIMITED machine tool room access from 9am – 5pm, Monday - Friday Studio Sessions are available to artists with prior experience in woodworking, tools, and safety. All participants will be required to attend safety orientations for the facilities and specific tools they will use. TO APPLY: Portfolios will be accepted on a rolling basis. Instructions on how to submit your portfolio are as follows: Submit digital images of your work via email directly to Betsy Alwin, Artistic Director of Ceramics and Expanded Media: [email protected] Include 3-5 images of your work with image identification that lists the title, media, dimensions, and year of each image. Please include a short proposal of your goals, intentions, and how you will use your time in the studio session. Include processes, equipment, and finishes. This helps us understand how to best serve you and if we can accommodate your requests. Please provide a phone number where you can be reached and a link to your website, if you have one.
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