Painting & Drawing
Gel Plate Transfers: Color, Pattern and Layers
with Holly Hughes
| Open to All
Holly Hughes, Winner's Medal
Holly Hughes, Winner's Medal
Code: D1227-26
Aug 17 - 21, 2026Past
9 AM - 5 PM
Upcoming Workshops by Holly Hughes
Upcoming Workshops in Painting & Drawing
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January Studio Sessions: Painting & Drawing
Jan 4 - 29, 2027
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Advanced Mentored Studies: Topics in Painting: Studio Practice and Critique
Aug 9 - 13, 2027
Discover the Workshop
Gel Plate monotype is a low-tech, inventive, and user-friendly printing method that offers kitchen-table convenience for making art at home as well as portability for travel. Students learn the basics of this fun, press-free approach, launching their work in this medium for fun and discovery of new directions. We make finished prints and experiment with imagery and motifs for other artistic practices like painting and ceramics, and learn an “invisible” collage technique to combine works on paper into larger format works. Simple tools like brayers, rubber tipped clay shapers, brushes, and cut paper allows for complex layered prints.
View All Painting & Drawing Workshops
Media & Techniques
Gel Plate printing, collage, stenciling, splicing, in-painting
Meet Your Faculty
Holly Hughes
Holly Hughes is a frequent Ranch faculty member and professor emeritus of painting at Rhode Island School of Design. Having exhibited nationally and internationally, Hughes’s painting has been greatly influenced by both ceramic and printmaking practice and research. She loves “Salon Style” installations—the mixing of these genres on the wall—such as her BLAZON created for the Dorsky Museum. Her most recent exhibit was “Salad Days” at Pamela Salisbury Gallery in 2024.
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].
What You Need to Bring
Required Tools & Supplies
- Prohibited supplies: power tools, torches, spray paint, encaustic, turpentine, resin, plastisol, any solvent that isn’t low VOC
- X-Acto knife**
- Palette knife, trowel-shaped**
- Assorted brushes, including a 3/4" or 1" flat**
- Speedball soft rubber brayers, at least one 2” and at least one 4” (if you would like more variety, 3” and 6” are also recommended but not required)
- Gelli Arts Printing Plate, 8” x 10”, 3/8” thick
- Set of Golden Open Acrylics with thinner – Mixing Colors (set of 12) or Landscape Colors (set of 7) recommended
Optional Tools & Supplies
- White (or light colored) t-shirt for screen printing**
- Here is a link to a Blick shopping list with all specific products and quantities. Please note that two different Open Acrylic sets are on the list. You do not need to buy both - please pick at least one! Additional Black Ink paper is optional but recommended.
- 25 sheet pack of Black Ink Unbleached Mulberry paper, 9” x 12” – you will be provided with one of thesepacks, but if you think you might print a larger volume, bringing extra is recommended
* 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.
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.
Getting to the Ranch, local transportation, and amenities in and around Snowmass Village.
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].
Studio access, shipping, campus policies, and other information for workshop participants.
Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please read the workshop description carefully to make sure the workshop is appropriate for your skill level. You must be at least 18 years old to attend an adult workshop.
Payment: A deposit of $650 per workshop is required to reserve a space (with or without housing). The balance of tuition, studio and registration fees, and housing is due 60 days prior to the start of your first workshop and is automatically charged to the credit card used for the deposit.
Cancellations: With at least 60 days’ notice, we will refund your payments less a cancellation fee of $250 per workshop. Cancellations made within 60 days of the start of your workshop will result in a full forfeiture. Housing cancellations follow the same 60-day notice, less $200 per week of housing reserved.
Transfers to another workshop or housing option are possible, space permitting, with at least 60 days’ notice and a $25 transfer fee.
Painting & Drawing
January Studio Sessions: Painting & Drawing
with Lindsey Yeager
Jan 4 - 29, 2027 · 9AM - 5PM
Total: $5,200
Portfolio Review Required
Full
Painting & Drawing
Advanced Mentored Studies: Topics in Painting: Studio Practice and Critique
with Holly Hughes, Stephen Westfall
Aug 9 - 13, 2027 · 9AM - 5PM
Total: $2,600 · Advanced
Portfolio Review Required
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.