Painting & Drawing
Portrait and Figure in Watercolor: Curiosity and Awareness
with Brian Shure
| Open to All
Brian Shure, Untitled
Brian Shure, Untitled
Code: D0103-25
Jun 2 - 6, 2025Past
9AM-5PM
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
Bring the face and figure to life with the transparency and immediacy of watercolor. This extremely expressive media can also be highly controlled. We work from life as well as photographic sources in this deceivingly direct paint medium. With daily demonstrations and a series of simple and accessible studio exercises, students develop skills controlling resoluble colors, reserving and pulling back highlights and maintaining brilliant and delicate tones that are unique to water-based media. We focus on capturing the essence of the portrait and figure through taking time to look and record what we see.
View All Painting & Drawing Workshops
Media & Techniques
Under-drawing pencil and light brushwork, transfer grid, stretching/flattening larger paper, transparent gum-based colors in tube and cake form, gouache, wet and dry-brush, tint washes, scumbling, fine tone modulation
Meet Your Faculty
Brian Shure
Master Printer-in-Residence
Brian Shure is the Master Printer-in-Residence of Anderson Ranch Editions. Brian Shure is represented by Planthouse Gallery in New York, where he curated the 2018 show Bathing. He has taught at RISD, Brown, and Cornell and conducted classes in China, Japan, Mexico, and Germany.
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
- Arches Watercolor Paper Block, Rough, 11" x 14", 140 lb**
- Chinese brush set
- Hake brush**
- Large calligraphy brush, like this one
- Watercolor or gouache of choice (ex: W&N Cotman, W&N travel tin, Kuretake Gansai Tambi)**
- Watercolor paper of choice (ex: Fabriano Artistico hot press 22" x 30", 140 lb)**
- Prohibited supplies: power tools, torches, spray paint, encaustic, turpentine, resin, plastisol, any solvent that isn’t low VOC
Optional Tools & Supplies
- White (or light colored) t-shirt for screen printing**
* 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.