Classes & Workshops

Let's Get Crank'n!

Welcome to the workshop! If you’ve ever felt unsure where to begin with kinetic art, you are in the right place. Below you’ll find more info about what to expect and a current list of upcoming classes.

What to Expect

Let's learn together.

In my classes and workshops, you’ll find an inspirational environment designed to unlock the magic of kinetic art, regardless of your previous experience.

Whether we’re assembling and decorating one of my pre-made automata kits or building a whimsical creation out of wood from scratch, you’ll learn the foundational mechanics necessary to make kinetic art.

My ultimate goal is to build a community of automata & kinetic artists here locally in Eugene so we can all grow, support, learn and play together.

—Gary

Classes & Registration

Upcoming Workshops

Cardboard Automata Workshop

Date: Sunday 11/22/2026 2pm-5pm
About this Class: I’ll be teaching this in-person class in my workshop on 2100 West Broadway here in Eugene Oregon.
We’ll look at at how to use an offset cam to make automata come to life using common things you can find for free or easily gather really inexpensively.
I’ll demonstrate a few variations and how to control speed, direction, movement and other considerations so you can design your own scene.
We’ll focus on getting the mechanism working first and then build out and decorate your artistic vision.
This class is beginner friendly and a great opportunity for parents and kids to work together.
You will go home with a working automaton and the skills to make more of them whenever you want.
All supplies will be provided.

Kit Assembly Class

Date: Saturday 12/13/2026 11am-2pm
About this Class: I’ll be teaching this in-person class at Wildling Collaborative Arts 250 Taylor Street in Eugene Oregon.

We’re going to be assembling a kit I’m affectionately calling “The Gift that Keeps on Giving!”
It’s going to be a gift box with a little hand crank on it. When the crank is turned a middle finger (“the bird”) will pop out of the gift box and then slowly retract as the crank is turned.
We’ll walk through step by step assembling the box and mechanism together and then spend some time decorating our little gift boxes to give to that special person in your life that has a good sense of humor.
This class is beginner friendly and a great opportunity for couples, siblings and good friends to work together.
You will go home with a working automaton and a bit of working knowledge on how they go together and operate.
All supplies will be provided.

I am currently working on a few big projects and have not had time to plan my next wooden automata class. I’ll update here and send out a Substack post when I have a new class schedule.

Individual Mentorships

How Mentorships Work

My workshop doors are open to makers of all skill levels. Because every mechanical sculpture and automata project is unique, I prefer to kick things off with a direct conversation rather than a rigid form.

How to get started:
Send me an email or a text message with a few details about your idea. Don’t worry if it’s just a rough sketch right now!

- Email: gary@spetzlerdesigns.com
- Call or Text: 1-541- 357-1846

To help me understand your goals, please mention:

1. Your Idea: What are you hoping to build, animate, or repair? (e.g., a moving sculpture, a specific mechanism, a toy restoration).
2. Your Experience: Have you worked with hand tools or basic mechanics before? (Absolute beginners are completely welcome!)
3. Your Location: Are you local to Eugene for workshop sessions, or are you looking for virtual design help?

I will get back to you within 48 hours to set up a FREE 30-minute introductory chat.

Mentorship rates are $30/hr or a flat rate per week or month based on the level of support you need.

We will agree on a rate and cap (or total commitment) before we ever begin and you can cancel a weekly or monthly schedule at any time.

What My Mentees Say

Nicole Wiemholt

Eugene, OR

I discovered automation inspiration via Spetzler Designs on instagram and was stoked to discover this artist was in Eugene, OR. I reached out to Gary — not really expecting much. Within hours, he responded and invited me to his workshop just to look around and get inspired.

I showed up with a box of random upcycled materials and honestly no clear plan, feeling like a total newbie next to his incredible automated art. Gary never made me feel that way. He was patient and kind from the very first conversation, laid out his mentoring rate upfront with no pressure, and when I came back over a week later with a completely different idea than we'd first discussed, he just rolled with it — offering guidance and options while still leaving the vision fully mine.

He taught me to use tools I'd been genuinely intimidated by — a table saw, belt sander, drill press — and in just three hours, helped me bring my piece to life: a dancer that actually twirls and lifts like she's really dancing. He didn't disappear after that either; he asked for follow-up photos and checked in to make sure everything still worked.

If you're on the fence about reaching out to Gary, don't be. He meets you exactly where you are, removes all the intimidation around the tools and process, and makes this work feel accessible no matter your experience level.

More opportunities are in the works for this fall. Check back here for new workshop announcements or subscribe to my Substack to get notified of upcoming classes & workshops when I post them!