Clay + Ride Retreat
Creating with Clay under the Big Sky
July 31st - August 3rd 2025
This Clay and Ride Retreat invites participants to experience a multi-day clay experience, with riding opportunities, in one of Montana’s most wild and scenic locations. The Centennial Valley is a significant landscape due to its intact ecological systems, crucial wildlife migration corridor, expansive wetlands and regenerative ranches. With a 3-night stay at the J Bar L Ranch, participants will have enough space and time to unwind, unplug and connect to the land. We will drop in and really get immersed in creating some pottery! As we disconnect from technology and busy daily life, we will spend quality in-person time, with other like-minded humans creating art. With two full working days, we will have time to build our clay forms (using a few different hand building techniques), and then decorate! Christine will teach a scraffito technique that she loves. When you are not working with your pottery, you can immerse yourself in the landscape on horseback, or by hiking, exploring and relaxing. You’ll be energized and inspired as you enjoy nourishing catered meals, our historic restored accommodations, ranch horses and abundant wildlife weaving throughout your surroundings.
This workshop is open to all levels of experience - from beginner to career artist - all are welcome and will be met where they are at!
Itinerary
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4 pm: Arrival/Exploration
5 pm: Welcome/Introduction, Possible carving demo
6:30 pm: Dinner
7:30 pm: Evening gathering, plan for tomorrow
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8:00 am: Breakfast
9:00 am: Hand building demos, everyone gets hands-on clay!
Noon: Lunch
1:30 pm: Optional horseback ride or rest, journal, ranch nature walk, continue clay building etc.
6:00 pm: Dinner
7:00 pm: Evening gathering, possible campfire
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8:00 am: Breakfast
9:00 am: Carving /decorating demo, discussion about composition, decorating themes — and get to decorating!!
Noon: Lunch
1:30 pm: Optional horseback ride or rest, journal, ranch nature walk, continue carving + decorating etc.
4:00-6:00 pm: Free time/Work time
6:00 pm: Dinner
7:00 pm: More time to hang out, carve and decorate
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7:30 am: Pack up and leave lodging
8:30 am: Breakfast
9:30 am: Next steps - what to expect for receiving your creations, group photos, goodbyes
10:30 am: Departure w/ packed lunch available
Itinerary is subject to change.
Meet Your Artist Facilitator
Christine Sutton
Christine Sutton was born and raised in eastern Montana, where she enjoyed a childhood filled with animals and nature. From an early age, Christine was intensely interested in art, and went on to earn a BFA from the University of Montana in Missoula. After college, Christine took a break from art and worked as a horse packing guide in both the Greater Yellowstone area, and as a NOLS instructor doing horse packing courses in the Wind River mountains of Wyoming. During the school year she was a Montessori teacher, where she started discovering the joy in teaching art and other subjects. Christine returned to making art while having her own babies, and that’s since become her full time passion and pursuit. She loves combining natural history, art, and creative expression in her teaching style. Christine now lives with her family in Bozeman, Montana where she has her home art studio.
Retreat Price: $1,495
Reserve your spot via the button below.
*Shared room lodging, catered meals, and one horseback ride included. Airfare/transportation NOT included.