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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.