Children's Program
Code: K0916-25
-
O
Open to All
Subject to specific age requirements, students of any skill/knowledge level.
-
Ages 6-8
Elemental Art - Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, and Heart
Jul 28 - Aug 1, 2025Past
9AM-3PM
Upcoming Workshops in Children's Program
-
After School Art: October Session
Oct 7 - 21, 2026
-
Fall Art Break
Oct 12 - 16, 2026
-
After School Art: November Session
Nov 4 - 18, 2026
-
After School Art: December Session
Dec 2 - 16, 2026
Concept
Discover the power of the five elements through hands-on art! Young artists will explore wind, water, fire, earth, and space by using swirling watercolors to capture the breeze, sculpting explosive volcanoes with papier-mâché, creating rain-inspired drip pastels, and crafting glowing lanterns that symbolize fire. Along the way, they’ll learn how artists from different cultures have been inspired by nature’s forces—from Japanese woodblock prints of ocean waves to Indigenous sand painting traditions. Through texture, color, and movement, students will bring the raw energy of the natural world to life in their own unique creations!
Faculty
Alex McQuillan
Alex McQuillan is an educator with over 11 years of experience, including four at Aspen Middle School, where he fosters curiosity and engagement in his classrooms, believing in art as a tool for connection and understanding. He is also the author and illustrator of “The Karakol Diaries,” a graphic novel inspired by his years teaching and exploring in Kyrgyzstan. His work captures the beauty and depth of human experience through travel and its tribulations. Alex’s educational and artistic mission centers on creating moments of curiosity, empowerment, and engagement through adventure and exploration, fueled by inspiration from mountains and the wisdom of his grandmothers.
Kids in Emil Gormans Adventures in 3d workshop showing off their projects. 3D printed glasses and Boardgames
Upcoming Workshops in Children's Program
-
After School Art: October Session
Oct 7 - 21, 2026
-
Fall Art Break
Oct 12 - 16, 2026
-
After School Art: November Session
Nov 4 - 18, 2026
-
After School Art: December Session
Dec 2 - 16, 2026
Workshop Details>
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.
You Might Also Be Interested In>
-
Ages 7-10
Oct 7 - 21, 2026Every Wednesday, 1:30-3:30PM
Exception Date: October 14
After School Art: October Session
Emily Katebini
Tuition $165
Code ZFK4102-26
Location: Aspen Elementary School art room This October Anderson Ranch brings its creative spirit back for Wednesday programming! Students dive into a new creative project each session. From sculptural builds to intricate paper art to hands-on bookmaking. Kids explore new materials and techniques all season long, building skills and confidence one project at a time. The program is a student favorite!
-
Ages 7-10
Oct 12 - 16, 20269AM-3PM
Join us for $75 per day or $375 for the entire week!
Fall Art Break
Emily Katebini
Tuition $375
Code ZFK4201-26
Join for a single day or the whole week! Bugs and Birds: Life Below and Above! From the tiniest beetle tunneling underground to the highest hawk circling overhead, this week takes young artists on a journey through every layer of life on Earth. We start low, sculpting clay bugs and building tiny dioramas of the hidden world beneath the rug, in the dirt, and under fallen logs. Then we climb upward, painting layered skyscapes and crafting birds, bats, and bugs that take to the air. Along the way, we study real creatures- their shapes, colors, and camouflage - and use them as inspiration for our own imaginative critters. By the end of the week, we’ve built a whole ecosystem of artwork from the ground up to the clouds! REGISTRATION: If you are interested in registering for single days, please reach out to our Registration Department at [email protected] or call 970-924-5089.
-
Ages 7-10
Nov 4 - 18, 2026Every Wednesday, 1:30-3:30PM
After School Art: November Session
Emily Katebini
Tuition $165
Code ZFK4503-26
Location: Aspen Elementary School art room This November Anderson Ranch brings its creative spirit back for Wednesday programming! Students dive into a new creative project each session. From sculptural builds to intricate paper art to hands-on bookmaking. Kids explore new materials and techniques all season long, building skills and confidence one project at a time. The program is a student favorite!