Painting & Drawing
Code: D0734-26
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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.
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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.
Beyond Judgment: The Work of Critique
Jul 13 - 17, 2026
July 13, 15, and 17, 9AM-12PM
Tuition: $150.00
Course Fee: $0.00
Registration Fee: $0.00
Concept
In Against Interpretation, Susan Sontag writes, “What is important now is to recover our senses. We must learn to See more, to Hear more, to Feel more.” This community focused, discussion and critique-based workshop encourages artists to investigate their artistic intentions within a supportive environment of critical thinking, looking, and responding. As a cohort of artists who are active participants in the act of observation and interpretation, the intention is to expand one’s understanding of how to speak about the work of our peers without judgment or categorization. Though this is not a traditional critique class, we focus on building skills in how to guide a studio visit with questions, avoiding art world sound bytes but rather spotlighting authentic and unique feedback. This workshop is for serious artists who are searching for community, dialogue, and honesty within a cohort. Participants are encouraged to bring physical work as well as digital images to share and discuss, with emphasis on awareness and being present among the group.
View All Painting & Drawing Workshops
Media & Techniques
Critique, seminar, choice of media. Students bring physical work to class as well as a digital portfolio of work to share.
Faculty
Paula Crown
Paula Crown earned her M.F.A. in painting and drawing in 2012 from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has had solo exhibitions at the Aspen Institute; Dallas Contemporary; Marlborough Gallery, New York, NY; The Goss-Michael Foundation, Dallas, TX; 10 Hanover, London; Studio Cannaregio, Venice, concurrent with the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale; Fort Gansevoort, New York, NY; and Hebrew University Arts Website, Jerusalem, Israel. In 2025, Crown joined the Consortium for Art + Culture for America, a non-partisan, non-profit organization, to support the cultural sector as economic, diplomatic, educational, and health drivers for civic cohesion and development. In 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Crown to the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. She also serves as a Trustee for The Aspen Institute: Aspen and Washington DC.
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.
Paula Crown, The Reverse Side Bell
Tuition: $150.00
Course Fee: $0.00
Registration Fee: $0.00
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 Lindsey Yeager, [email protected].
* 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.
Painting & Drawing
Painting & Drawing Studio in Aspen / Snowmass
The Painting & Drawing Studio at Anderson Ranch Arts Center, located in Snowmass Village near Aspen, Colorado, is a professional studio environment designed to support immersive artistic practice across a wide range of media. The space provides dedicated work areas, natural light, and technical infrastructure for artists working in oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, and drawing.
Interested in enrolling? Explore the full schedule of Painting & Drawing workshops at Anderson Ranch.
Make, reflect, consider, engage—these are all critical elements of the Painting and Drawing workshops at Anderson Ranch. Our exceptional workshops combine focused, hands-on art making with critical feedback for artists of all levels. Painting and Drawing guest faculty are phenomenal artists and educators with experience supporting students by offering technical knowledge and encouragement.
The bright, natural light of the Wyly Painting and Drawing Building provides an inspiring environment where students can explore and expand their artistic practice. Our facilities are equipped with individual worktables, wall space, easels, rolling palettes, odorless solvents, a wide range of hand tools, computer access with Adobe software, wifi, printing, scanning, and projection capabilities. Spend a week here— or several—and engage in a variety of activities that will fuel your practice throughout the year.
Don’t know where to start? View the skill levels for Painting and Drawing workshops.
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].
Related Events
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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