2026 Digital Sculpting with Ben Ridgeway
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
Join us for a weekend immersion in digital sculpting. This hands-on workshop explores 3D sculpting and how it can be integrated into a number of art forms including sculpture, jewelry design, digital art, and animation.
Learning The Language of Love, Ben Ridgeway
The current field of digital art is exploding and is having an incredible influence on the visionary art movement. Exciting new frontiers of expression are opening up in this new era of artist-friendly digital tools and affordable hardware.
Bioenergetic, Ben Ridgeway
A few new creative areas that utilize digital art include fine art, mixed media art, sculpture, video projection, stage/installation art, architectural design, animation, virtual reality, augmented/mixed reality, and interactive art. This is just the tip of the iceberg. The number of applications that use digital art as a means of expression is constantly growing.
Older Than Old, Wiser Than Wise, Ben Ridgway
WHAT TO EXPECT:
The process of learning about 3D sculpting will begin with learning about the basic software interface and controls. You will be able to dive directly into sculpting and learning about different sculpting techniques on the first day. In addition to live demonstrations that you can follow in class, there will be open studio time to receive feedback and additional instruction.
Zbrush work in progress, Ben Ridgeway
You will leave the class with a solid foundation on how to create sculptural forms in ZBrush along with a deeper understanding of how to apply 3D sculpting to your art.
Invisible Landscape, Ben Ridgeway
The primary software that will be used in the class is ZBrush and Photoshop. You must bring a laptop or equivalent with the software installed and a drawing tablet to participate. Trial versions of ZBrush and the Adobe Creative Suite are available online and can be used for the workshop.
Alex Grey & Allyson Grey, participating in Digital Sculpting for Visionaries with Ben Ridgway at CoSM, 2019
Class of 2019, Digital Sculpting for Visionaries with Ben Ridgway at CoSM
SCHEDULE:
All times for this 2026 class are listed in EDT
Friday, July 31
- 3pm-5pm: Guests arrive by 5pm and check-in to their rooms.
- 6pm: Dinner & Orientation are part of the workshop for all participants.
- 7:30pm: Opening circle and session one
Saturday, August 1
- 8am - 10am: Self-serve breakfast in the Dining Hall
- 10am: Work Session in the Art Lab
- 1pm: Lunch in the Dining Hall
- 3pm: Work Session in the Art Lab .
- 6pm: Dinner in the Dining Hall
- 7:30pm: Open Studio in Art Lab
Sunday, August 2
- 8am - 10am: Self-serve Breakfast in the Dining Hall
- 10am: Work Session in the Art Lab
- 1pm: Lunch in the Dining Hall
- 2pm: End of Workshop
- 6pm: CoSM closes
CoSM and Entheon are open weekly on Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 12pm - 6pm when CoSM Grounds close. Tuition includes day passes during open hours to CoSM facilities and grounds for the duration of the workshop.
You are welcome to extend your stay to the Thursday before the workshop by emailing [email protected].
YOUR INSTRUCTOR:
Ben Ridgeway
Ben Ridgway is a Professor at San Francisco State University in the School of Cinema.
"I am an innerspace excavator. My goal is to dig deep into the inner spatial worlds we inhabit and bring them into physical form. Where words fall short, visual language, sound, and all of the senses can be used to communicate worlds of abstraction in a universally understandable manner."
threyda.com/collections/ben-ridgway
www.facebook.com/ben.ridgway.101
MATERIALS:
SOFTWARE NEEDED:
- Maxon Zbrush software
- Photoshop
- We will be using the desktop version of ZBrush. The IPad version is not covered in the class.
HARDWARE NEEDED:
Laptop (possibly a desktop if it’s portable?)
Digital drawing tablet - Here are a few options-
Tables, chairs, power strips will be provided for each student.
CoSM WORKSHOP SETTING:
Class sessions will take place in the MAGI Art Lab (Mystic Artists Guild International).
The Grey House, CoSM's Visionary Victorian guest house, provides accommodations for all participants. Residing onsite together is encouraged as part of this immersively creative weekend, providing maximum benefit & enrichment.
Accommodations in Grey House are offered in a variety of economies, in addition to the workshop fee.
Participants are welcome to extend their overnight stay at CoSM to the Thursday before the workshop.
WORKSHOP AMMENITIES
Available for the duration of the 3-day workshop:
- Healthy meals by CoSM chefs, starting with dinner on Friday and ending with lunch on Sunday
- Coffee, tea and snacks available in the Art Lab between meals
- Access to Grey House common spaces — The Library, The Parlor, The Dining Hall & Gallery Spaces on all three floors.
- Yoga mats for self guided practice
- Accommodations include private rooms and shared dorm rooms—femme only or co-ed options.
- The Wisdom Trail offers a contemplative walk through the CoSM woods, including a labyrinth, outdoor sculptural installations by visionary artists
Participation also includes Day Admission to CoSM: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 12pm - 6pm:
- Access to Facilities, grounds and self-touring Entheon
- Students are welcome to experience Entheon and Grey House Galleries, including both CoSM Shop & Entheon Shop.
- Beverages and light fare will be available for purchase in the Mushroom Cafe
TUITION:
Tuition for the 3-day Digital Sculpting workshop includes meals - $400.00.
- Accommodations are additional.
- Payment plans are available, with all funds due one month before the start of the workshop.
For further information, contact [email protected].
ACCOMMODATIONS:
The Grey House, CoSM’s Visionary Victorian guest house, offers accommodations for all participants. Works of art by Alex Grey, Allyson Grey and accomplished artists of the international Visionary Art community are featured throughout the guest rooms and common spaces of the guest house.
Onsite accommodations are an enriching part of the course experience and are available in a variety of economies. Pricing for the two night stay, arriving Friday, July 31 and departing Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, reflective of the 10% workshop discount:
- King with ensuite bathroom $495.00
- Queen with ensuite bathroom $450.00
- Private Queen/shared bath $360.00
- Dorm bed: Single $216.00 *co-ed & femme-only options available
Workshop accommodations must be booked directly through the workshop department with confirmation of workshop registration, rather than through the booking engine on the website. After purchasing tuition, you will be contacted regarding accommodations.
Questions about tuition or accommodation fees, payment plans, travel, retreat amenities, materials etc.?
Contact us at: [email protected] | +1 (845) 297-2323