The Studio at Black Rock Art Ranch
Welcomes artists of every level.
Classes are regularly scheduled across a wide range of disciplines — papermaking, paper weaving, paper folding, iris folding, Gelli plate printing, pour-on acrylics, marbling and spinning/dyeing of fiber. Private sessions can also be arranged.
The studio has wonderful lighting and is air conditioned. It inventories an extensive collection of materials: including a large selection of papers and paper fibers, acrylics, alcohol paints, paper additives, and adhesives. When a class calls for it, the supplies are almost certainly already here.
Purpose
Black Rock Art Ranch exists to make art accessible — offering instruction, materials, and hands-on support across a wide range of creative disciplines. Whether you're picking up a new technique or deepening an existing practice, the Ranch is here to help you do the work.
Location
Black Rock Art Ranch, nestled in the picturesque Highlands of Caldera, offers breathtaking mountain views and a serene, unhurried atmosphere. The charming village of Caldera, approximately 25 minutes from Boquete and 45 minutes from David, is a delightful destination. Access roads are newly paved and easy to navigate, ensuring a smooth journey. The weather here closely resembles Hawaii, with days consistently reaching around 85°F and nights dropping to a comfortable 70°F.
Chris McCall
Chris brings a life's worth of creative and technical experience to Black Rock Art Ranch. At just 15½ years old he became one of the youngest photographers ever to work for the Associated Press — a career that led naturally into motion pictures, where he spent years as a cameraman and editor working on equestrian films and a documentary on native tribes in the Philippines.
From there his path wound through fiber arts, glasswork, and entrepreneurship. He founded The Stained Glass School and Supply, and created Denver Glass Machinery. He later wrote software for women's healthcare. When Chris moved to Panama, he designed and served as contractor for Rancho de Caldera.
Through it all, teaching has been the constant. Chris has been offering classes in Boquete for fifteen years, and the Ranch is the fullest expression yet of that passion — a place built for people who want to learn, experiment and try new art forms, and be surprised by what they are capable of.
