Painting & Drawing
Code: D1021-24
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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.
Color: Theory and Practice
Aug 5 - 9, 2024
9AM - 5PM
Concept
This fundamental painting class focuses on delving into the world of color through the lens of Josef Albers’s color problems and the Munsell Color System. The week begins with exercises meant to sharpen the ability to see and differentiate color. In the latter half of the week, students apply course material to their own creative projects. The goal of this workshop is for students to gain a deeper understanding of color relativity, a more efficient and heightened control of paint color, and a stronger appreciation for color as a visual phenomenon.
View All Painting & Drawing Workshops
Media & Techniques
Acrylic painting, collage
Supply ListFaculty
Mary Laube
Mary Laube received her MFA from the University of Iowa. Her recent exhibitions include Ortega y Gasset Projects in New York City, the Knoxville Museum of Art, and Monaco in St. Louis, and her residencies have included Yaddo and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. Mary is an associate professor at the University of Tennessee.
Mary Laube, Parallel to the Earth
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].
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].
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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III
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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.
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MC
Master Class
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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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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P
Portfolio Review Required
Students have advanced skill and knowledge of painting and drawing. Students are highly motivated, have a minimum of five years experience in the field and have a portfolio of their artwork. Typical students are academics and professional artists.
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AMS
Advanced Mentored Studies
Aug 10 - 14, 2026
9AM - 5PM
Advanced Mentored Studies: Topics in Painting: Studio Practice and Critique
Holly Hughes, Stephen Westfall
Tuition $2,600
Code D1122-26
The second year of this three-year advanced mentorship program encourages each student to push their studio practice. Working at a rigorous pace, engaging in critical dialogue with the group and with the instructors in individual critique, artists refine and expand their investigations. Wide-ranging topics include concept and approach to contemporary art practice as well as technical and material explorations. Students are expected to work independently with the support of their class peers and instructors, raising the ambition of their own studio goals. Although primarily a painting workshop, participation by installation artists and other artists working across media is encouraged. The goal of the series is for students to gain community, develop insight into their work and, through discussion, challenge themselves to reflect on their artistic intentions.
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O
Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
Aug 10 - 14, 2026
9 AM - 5 PM
Abstract Painting: Mark, Surface & Gesture
JJ Peet
Tuition $1,295
Code D1124-26
This workshop encourages students to approach abstraction with spontaneity and mark making as an emphasis when forming an image. With an intention to challenge painters to engage in surface and materials, we focus on our response rather than preconceived notions about image making. Students are encouraged to interact with drawing and painting materials in a physical way, while considering color palette, speed, and gesture to aid in the process of developing paintings that are strikingly personal and visually compelling.