Workshops

Workshops

Design Ranch 2025 Workshop Leaders

We’ve wrangled up the best workshop leaders from across the land to deliver unique, engaging programming.

HANDSTYLE

Led by Julian Alexander

This workshop combines typographic influences from graffiti, fonts, and hand painted signs to create expressive letterforms. The letters and/or words created will be drawn and or painted with analog techniques, emphasizing uniqueness over precision.

Julian Alexander is a visual artist, GRAMMY-award-winning art director, and founder of Brooklyn-based design studio Slang Inc. His iconic album artwork can be seen on packages that have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. Julian champions authenticity in design by speaking about his path for audiences ranging from TEDx to high school students. In 2020, Julian started the Supremacy Project which addresses systematic oppression through art. Since then, he has focused on creating the art he believes should exist in the world.

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Super Mexican Signs!

Led by Giovanni Bautista / Rotulo Mexicano

Mexican brush sign workshop with flavor and tradition of Mexico. In addition to learning the basics of the craft, we will make a wooden sign, a very popular and economical method that allows for more controlled contact of the brush. We will experiment with themes, compositions and colors typical of the traditional style Mexican.

Giovanni Bautista is a visual artist and sign maker whose work is a fusion of traditional Mexican lettering and artistic imagery. As the creative director of Rótulos Bautista, a workshop founded by his father Arturo Bautista in 1983 in Villa de Etla, Oaxaca, Giovanni honors his family’s legacy while pushing the boundaries of signmaking. His work, characterized by vibrant colors and Mexican humor, has been featured in collaborations with brands like Levi’s, Netflix, Disney, and HBO. Giovanni has also led workshops and conferences across Mexico, including the San Agustín Arts Center, Tipografília, and the México Typography Congress. In 2023, he co-hosted the First National Meeting of Mexican Signmakers, celebrating and preserving the art of traditional signage.

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Get Weird with It: Letting the Canvas Dictate your Illustration

Led by Erikas Chesonis

Staring at a big blank canvas can often be the most paralyzing thing when beginning an illustration. But what if we start with an obscure canvas shape and let the dimensions dictate the flow and shapes of our illustration, instead of trying to squeeze a premade design into it? Join illustrator and designer Erikas Chesonis as he walks you through one of his favorite exercises to get the creativity flowing. Everyone will be given interesting shapes cut out of wood to use as a canvas, and use limited color palettes of paint markers to embrace the abstract and create unique pieces of artwork with forms and styles you may not have come up with had you not been forced into these limitations!

Erikas Chesonis is an Austin-based illustrator and designer with over a decade of experience working for agencies and clients of all sizes. Specializing in editorial and marketing illustration, as well as branding, his style is rooted in simple color palettes and geometric shapes, inspired by mid-century design and folk art. His work distills complex subjects into basic shapes and patterns, presenting them in fresh, unexpected ways to bring client ideas to life. Originally from New York, Erikas spends his free time birdwatching with his duck-tolling retriever, Sammy, or cheering (and occasionally yelling) for his favorite sports team.

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Thread Wrangler

Led by Chelsea Craft

Students will learn a variety of classic embroidery stitches from beginner to advanced or straight stitch to chain stitch. They will utilize their learnings by practicing on a western design that they can customize on a tote bag to bring home. Materials will be provided.

Chelsea Craft is an embroidery artist redefining a traditional craft often associated with past generations. However this isn’t your Nana’s embroidery. Drawing inspiration from modern architecture, fashion, nature, and textiles, she creates vibrant, thoughtful designs that blend contemporary aesthetics with meticulous craftsmanship. Her unique color palettes and bold vision set her apart, making her pieces sought-after gifts that bring joy to both giver and recipient with every tiny stitch.

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Emily Eisenhart & Industry Print Shop present: Spontaneous Screenprints

Led by Emily Eisenhart

Workshop attendees will be guided through artist Emily Eisenhart’s playful creative process while exploring unconventional techniques of screen printing led by Industry Print Shop. Participants will walk away with an art print they design and print themselves, focused on creating from scratch with limited resources.

Emily Eisenhart is a multidisciplinary artist and creative director whose work transforms spaces into immersive, art-filled environments. Specializing in murals, sculpture, and creative consulting, she blends brand strategy with artistic vision to create dynamic, story-driven work. Emily’s background in Cultural Anthropology informs her practice, as she explores the culture of a place to craft vibrant, reflective art. Her client roster includes brands like Whole Foods, YETI, Warby Parker, and Austin FC, as well as real estate developers and architects. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, and her recent partnership with Community First! Village received ULI’s 2024 Best Project Innovation award.

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TEXAS TURN ‘EM: Card Weaving a Texan Surprise

Led by Liza Feldkamp

Connecting to trees at Camp Waldemar, participants will tablet weave wristbands
adorned with Texas-inspired botanical designs. Dating back to the early Iron Age in Europe,
this technique transports makers to a nostalgic space imbued with nature’s hues. Some
fibers (wool or cotton) used in this workshop will be plant-dyed with Texas native plants, and
all designs will reflect the flora of local terroir. Participants will select a fiber and colorway,
then watch the imagery appear as they weave. They may also choose to add elemental
charms to their bands to evoke the intention woven into their work.

Liza is an artist, herbalist and educator based in Austin, Texas. Her work is rooted in historical tradition and a deep reverence for nature. After studying abroad in Germany for a year, Liza studied ancient and modern textile arts at Capellagården in Sweden. Since 2008, Liza has facilitated student exchange with Koblenz, Germany through Austin Sister Cities International. As a Lead Artist in 2011, she co-created and installed the Deep Eddy Mural mosaic at Austin’s beloved spring-fed pool. She costumed multiple stage productions by Present Company Theatre from 2013-2016. This year, Liza is an apprentice at Ace of Cups School of Medicinal Herbal and Botanical Studies, and is concurrently pursuing a Master’s Degree and Yoga, SEL, and Mindfulness certification with Breathe for Change.

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Block by Block

Led by Aaron Michalovic

Get ready to get inky with Aaron in this fun, experimental block printing workshop. Participants will explore the art of pattern-making using wooden printing blocks and hand-carved designs. Whether printing on fabric like tote bags or experimenting with paper, this session encourages layering, texture play, and creative expression. Suitable for all skill levels, this workshop blends technique and artistic freedom.

Inspired by hand-made, process-evident building and art making, Aaron's work ranges from timber frame structures to furniture and useable goods to wood collages. Growing up on the coast of Maine, Aaron has always had a deep love for colors seen in the natural world. After moving to Austin a little over ten years ago, he started collecting reclaimed materials that were being thrown away as houses in his neighborhood were torn down. Using these materials, he started experimenting with different paints and patterns to make art. As a woodworker, Aaron has a passion for the use of hand tools and is obsessed with the minute details.

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Mosaic Meditation

Led by J Muzacz

Mosaic mandalas – minimal cutting, maximum Zen
Make a circular mosaic coaster(s) / trivet / tray / tabletop, using assorted pre-cut and repurposed glass tessera.

J Muzacz is best known for his exciting and energetic large-scale mosaics, vibrant murals, and unique style of community engagement involving community members of all ages and abilities. Inspired by cultural diversity, humanitarian leaders, and the natural world, he bestows reverence on every project by creating site-specific artwork that uniquely speaks to the area’s history and culture. Muzacz ultimately creates an uplifting environment of individual empowerment and collective celebration around each unique art installation and experience.

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Existencil Shifts

Led by Francisco Reyes, Jr. (Never Made)

Step into the world of stencil art with Francisco Reyes Jr. (Never Made) in this hands-on workshop! You’ll get the chance to create your own spray-painted stencil pieces using exclusive imagery provided by Francisco himself. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just getting started, this session is all about embracing the DIY spirit, experimenting with bold visuals, and bringing stencil art to life. Get ready to cut, spray, and create!

Francisco Reyes, Jr., better known as Never Made, is a Los Angeles-based artist and designer with over a decade of experience in graphic design. Influenced by his DIY ethos from his days as a musician and skateboarder, Francisco built his career from the ground up, eventually landing a position at Shepard Fairey’s Studio Number One. Under the moniker Never Made, he blends fine art, limited-edition screen prints, murals, neon sculptures, and more to create bold, impactful work. Drawing inspiration from street art and punk culture, Francisco has turned his vision into a celebrated creative brand that pushes the boundaries of graphic design and visual storytelling.

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Layered Rodeo: Mixed-Media Street Art Posters

Led by Chris Tobar Rodriguez

Design meets street art in Layered Rodeo, a hands-on poster workshop exploring bold composition, mixed-media techniques, and urban aesthetics. Using collage, spray paint, and acrylics, you’ll build a character-driven poster that plays with texture, contrast, and layered visuals. This is about process as much as outcome—expect to experiment, break rules, and embrace imperfection. By the end, you’ll have a finished piece that merges street art grit with a refined design sensibility—perfect for your portfolio or studio wall.

Chris Tobar Rodriguez, known as Tobar, is an Austin-based artist, curator, and designer who thrives on blending bold visuals with rich storytelling. Influenced by his Afro-Latino heritage and experiences in Chicago and Orlando, Tobar’s work challenges norms and fosters deeper connections. As a designer, he has collaborated with major brands like TikTok, Red Bull, Disney, Hilton, and the University of Texas, as well as community-focused organizations like _OFCOLOR and Black Makers Market, amplifying diverse voices and creative communities. Winner of an Adobe Jam Session, Tobar’s art and curation have been showcased in cities across the U.S., inspiring creators to push boundaries and embrace their full creative potential.

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Viva la Mâché

Led by Katherine Talley (&Daughters)

Dive into the colorful world of paper clay sculpting through the lens of Mexican cartonería and piñata making! Led by Kat Talley, an El Paso-raised artist and sculptor behind &daughters, this hands-on workshop invites you to explore traditional papier-mâché techniques while transforming everyday materials into vibrant 3D sculptures. Inspired by the textures and bold colors of piñatas, this class will guide you in crafting unique, durable pieces of functional decor or playful art.

Kat Talley is a multidisciplinary artist and founder of &daughters, a female-led studio in Austin, Texas. With a background in sign painting, fabrication, and large-scale installations, Kat combines precision and creativity to bring bold ideas to life. Her work reflects a passion for craftsmanship and creating pieces that resonate with communities and businesses alike, leaving a lasting impact on the spaces they transform.

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