WILDLIFE ARTIST WORKSHOP ADVENTURE
Immersive Art Experience in Yellowstone National Park with Artist Carla Grace
In June 2026, Skyline Guest Ranch is honored to host internationally renowned wildlife artist Carla Grace for an immersive six-day, seven-night retreat in the heart of Yellowstone National Park. More than a painting workshop, this experience is a creative journey and adventure, designed to help artists connect deeply with the landscapes and wildlife that inspire their work. Guests will spend an average of six hours each day painting, with the rest of the time devoted to unforgettable moments in the field, observing, sketching, and photographing Yellowstone’s incredible wildlife and scenery. By drawing from firsthand experiences rather than relying solely on photographs, artists will capture the true essence of their subjects. From the moment you reserve your spot, your training begins, culminating in a week that will enrich your artistic voice, deepen your connection to the natural world, and inspire creations for years to come.
Dates: June 15th-22nd, 2026
Location: Skyline Guest Ranch, Cooke City, Montana, USA
Pricing: Pricing ranges from $5,500 to $6,700, depending on accommodation type. Non-artist spouses, partners, and friends can join the fun for $2,950. Premium accommodations include our Colter Room, Bunkhouse Cabin, and Luxury Glamping Tent.
Shared Accommodations: $5,500 per person
Private Standard Accommodations: $6,500 per person
Private Premium Accommodations: $6,700 per person
Non-artist Spouses, Partners, & Friends: $2,950 per person
Includes:
-
Transportation to and from the Bozeman, Montana Airport
-
Seven Nights of Lodging at Skyline Guest Ranch
-
All Meals and Non-Alcoholic Beverages
-
Multiple Wildlife Safaris with Skyline Safari into Yellowstone National Park
-
Education and Experience with Expert Guides and Professional Wildlife Photographers
-
High-end Spotting Scopes, Binoculars, and Field Gear for All Excursions
-
Horseback Riding Options, including a backcountry ride into Yellowstone
-
Guided Hikes with Hiking Equipment
-
Live Music, Wagon Rides, Evening Campfires, & Chuckwagon Dinners
-
All Access to Carla Grace Creative tutorials from the Date of Booking
-
Two Live Meetings Before the Workshop
-
All Art Materials Included
-
One-on-one Coaching and Painting with Carla Grace
-
Artist Field Sketch Book and Materials, with Written Tutorial, Keepsakes not Available on the Carla Grace Create Tutorial Platform
Not included in the package price are airline flights to and from Bozeman, Montana, alcoholic beverages, guide gratuities, and travel insurance.
Listed below is the tentative itinerary:
DAY 1
WELCOME TO THE WILD
Arrive at Skyline Guest Ranch and settle into your cozy accommodations before gathering for a warm welcome dinner. Meet your fellow artists and receive your retreat gift package, complete with a plein air sketchbook kit. We’ll walk through the lesson plan and studio notes to set the stage for the week ahead. The evening wraps up with a relaxed campfire hangout under a star-filled sky.
DAY 4
FULL COMPOSITION STUDY
Begin the morning in the studio, diving into a full composition study for your Yellowstone-inspired piece. Midday brings an unforgettable adventure. Choose between a horseback ride through the mountains to a hidden alpine lake or a scenic hike to Trout Lake. Enjoy a picnic lunch and take time to sketch on location before returning to the ranch. The evening unfolds with an outdoor dinner experience, complete with wagon rides and live music around the campfire.
DAY 7
ELEVATING THE FINISH
Spend the morning in the studio, refining the final details of your piece. After lunch, head to 10,000 feet along the Beartooth Highway for an unforgettable plein air painting session surrounded by sweeping alpine views. Return to the ranch for your last studio time, putting the finishing touches on your Yellowstone masterpiece. The retreat concludes with a farewell dinner and a campfire gathering, a perfect ending to a week of creativity, connection, and inspiration.
DAY 2
CAPTURE THE MOMENT
Begin the day with a guided wildlife safari and photography session, gathering the reference material that will inspire your week’s artwork. Back at the ranch, the afternoon studio session is devoted to reviewing your images, sketches, and field notes. Together, we’ll select your workshop painting goals and begin shaping the vision for your Yellowstone-inspired masterpiece.
DAY 3
PRELIM PAINTING & PREPERATION
Spend the morning in the studio laying the groundwork for your preliminary painting. Midday, enjoy a special lunch experience with our guest ecologist, featuring an up-close study of a bald eagle and an owl. In the afternoon, return to the studio to continue refining your work before heading out for your first plein air painting session, capturing the magic of dusk in Lamar Valley, complete with dessert in the field.
.jpg)
DAY 5
ESTABLISHING FORM
Start the day with a breathtaking sunrise in Yellowstone, capturing reference photos bathed in golden light. Then, settle in for a full day in the studio, focusing on establishing form and bringing structure to your work. In the evening, unwind with a refreshing walk to a nearby waterfall and along forest trails, stretching, moving, and recharging after a productive day of painting.
DAY 6
MID PHASE PAINTING
The morning is yours to choose: embark on a four-hour horseback ride into Yellowstone’s backcountry, enjoy a shorter scenic ride before returning to the studio, or simply stay in and paint all morning. The afternoon and evening are devoted entirely to your studio work, allowing you to dive deep into the mid-phase of your painting and make meaningful progress on your piece.
DAY 8
.jpg)
THIS SPECIALITY EVENT IS LIMITED TO 10 ARTISTS.
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO SECURE YOUR SPOT!
FAREWELL
Gather for a final farewell breakfast at the ranch, sharing stories and laughter from your week in Yellowstone. Afterward, depart for the airport with your luggage full of artwork, materials, and memories to last a lifetime. Every sketch, brushstroke, and canvas you’ve created during the workshop is yours to take home as a lasting reminder of your time here.
CARLA GRACE
Australia Wildlife Painter
Carla was born in South Africa in 1991 and spent her early years moving through Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Zambia, and Australia, each place deepening her connection to wildlife and fueling her creative spirit. Her artistic journey began at age 13 when she won her school’s top art prize in New Zealand, confirming her natural gift. At 16, while living in rural Zambia with limited resources, she began drawing birds in detail, eventually taking paid commissions that quickly filled her afternoons. She pursued a diploma in Fine Art in New Zealand, later settling in Australia, where she founded Carla Grace Art at age 23. Her pivotal breakthrough came in 2016, when she sold a life-size grizzly bear painting for $3,000—an achievement that solidified her career as a full-time wildlife artist.
Today, Carla is known internationally for her realistic yet slightly surreal depictions of wildlife, paintings that capture not just what an animal looks like, but what it feels like to stand in its presence. Alongside her studio work, she is passionate about teaching and mentoring other artists, helping them refine their skills, discover their artistic voice, and recognize the depth of their own craft.
-
WHERE IS SKYLINE GUEST RANCH LOCATED?Skyline Guest Ranch is located just seven miles from Yellowstone National Park’s Northeast Entrance, near Cooke City, Montana. Nestled in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, our location offers unmatched access to the Lamar Valley, often called the “Serengeti of North America”, and the breathtaking mountain scenery that surrounds it. No worries about getting here though. Complimentary shuttle service from the Bozeman, Montana airport is included in the event package price.
-
WHEN IS THE WORKSHOP?Monday, June 15th to Monday, June 22nd, 2026
-
HOW MUCH IS THE ALL-INCLUSIVE PACKAGE?For this seven night, all-inclusive retreat the prices are as follows: Private Standard Accommodations: $6,500USD per person Private Premium Accommodations: $6,700USD per person Shared Accommodations: $5,500USD per person Non-artists partner: $2,950USD per person The package price is subject to a 5.6% tax. A $2,000 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your reservation. The remaining balance is due 30 days prior to the event start date. In the event of a cancellation, the non-refundable deposit can be applied to a future event or service offered by Skyline Guest Ranch. INCLUDES: Airport Transportation to and from Bozeman, Montana Lodging at Skyline Guest Ranch All Meals and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Multiple Wildlife Safaris into Yellowstone National Park with Expert Guides and Professional Wildlife Photographers High-end spotting scopes, binoculars, and field gear are provided for all excursions Horseback riding options, including a backcountry ride into Yellowstone Guided hikes with Hiking Equipment Use of Moose Ridge Cabin as an Art Studio Live Music, Wagon Rides, Evening Campfires, Specialty Chuckwagon Dinners, Etc. NOT INCLUDED: The only things not included in package price are air transportation to the Bozeman airport, alcoholic beverages, guide gratuities, and optional travel insurance.
-
CAN MY PARTNER COME?A non artist participant is an additional USD$2,950 and covers all of the same meals, activities, and excursions (except for the art instruction)
-
HOW DO SHARED ACCOMMODATIONS WORK?For shared accommodations, you’ll stay in a double room with two queen beds and a private bathroom, paired with a fellow participant of the same gender. If you have a friend or fellow artist attending the retreat, just let us know—we’ll be happy to arrange your shared lodging together.
-
WHAT ART MATERIALS DO I NEED TO BRING?Only your camera and tablet or iPad. Carla Grace Art will provide all the art materials that you will need, and you will be able to take most of what you use home with you (if you want to), such as the brushes you use, the canvases, field journals and pencils.
Para obtener información sobre cómo reservar su propio retiro, contáctenos en:
(406) 838-2380
LUXURY ACCOMMODATIONS
Skyline prides itself in offering beautifully designed lodging options inside our main lodge, premium bunkhouse cabin, and our glamping tent. Whichever option you choose, we invite you to immerse yourself in the lap of luxury amidst the breathtaking landscapes of the Beartooth Mountains of Montana!
ELEVATED HOME COOKING
At Skyline Guest Ranch, we elevate home cooking to an unforgettable experience, serving gourmet dishes like filet mignon, elk tomahawks with red wine reduction, and mountain trout. Our desserts are just as memorable, from raspberry lemon cheesecake and peach pie to decadent chocolate creations. And to make every day a little sweeter, we bake fresh cookies daily, adding a cozy, homemade touch to your stay.
